5 minute read
You can’t see the forest for the trees ...
By Jay Chapman
There’s this funny thing about running your own business. You start it with all the excitement in the world imagining freedom, creativity and the thrill of building something that’s truly yours. Fast forward a few years and you can suddenly find yourself knee-deep in tasks you hate wondering how on earth you ended up here! It can feel like the business is running you instead of the other way around.
Time for some over sharing!
I know this feeling because I’ve been there myself. (A few times!) On paper the business was humming along nicely but I found myself stuck in a role that just didn’t sit right. From the outside it looked successful but, on the inside, it was draining me. It’s a strange kind of mismatch. The numbers are good but you’re not.
The kicker is as a coach I can look at someone else’s salon and point out exactly where they’re off track. I can see the patterns, the gaps and the obvious changes that would help them grow. But doing the same thing for your own business is a whole different story. When you’re too close to it you can’t see the forest for the trees. That’s why even coaches need coaches. We all need someone on the outside who can hold up the mirror and remind us of what’s really going on.
One thing I’ve learnt about myself is that I don’t muck around when it’s time to make a change. Once I realised I’d drifted away from what energises me I reshuffled things quickly. I filled my week with the work I enjoy and passed on the tasks I hated to people who actually love them. And yes, those people really do exist.
I share this because I think every business owner hits this point sooner or later. We drift away from what feels good. We get caught up in habits or responsibilities that don’t line up with who we are or what we value. And when that happens you don’t just feel stuck in business you feel stuck in life.
time and actually sticking to my own rules around rest. Every time I let those slip I pay for it in business and at home.
That’s where your personal values come in. They’re not just a nice idea or something you pop on a wall. They’re the compass that helps you steer. When your business stops reflecting your values that’s when you feel that nagging sense of frustration, resentment or even dread.
And here’s the truth! You have got freedom of choice. It doesn’t always feel like it when you’re juggling clients, bills and a never-ending list of tasks. But you are in control. If the direction feels wrong, you can change it.
For salon owners the first step is simple awareness. Ask yourself…. Do I actually like the role I play in my own business? Am I spending more time on the things that give me energy or the things that drain me?
If the answer leans towards drain don’t stress. Start with small adjustments. Offload one or two tasks you hate either to your team or to an outsourced option. Even a few hours a week of getting the heavy stuff off your plate can change your whole outlook.
The next step is boundaries. This is one I see slip all the time with salon owners and I’ve been guilty of it too. Boundaries are what protect both your business and your personal life. For me it looks like saying no to opportunities that don’t serve me, shutting the laptop when it’s family
And while we’re at it let’s be honest. Sometimes you just need to suck it up and do the work. Every business has jobs that aren’t glamorous. That’s fine in the short term. But if you find yourself slogging away for months or years on the bits you hate that’s a recipe for burnout.
Here’s a quick exercise to bring this home. Think about the long list of personal values out there. Choose your top three. Write them down and add a note about why they matter most to you. Then brainstorm one or two small actions that would bring your business closer to those values. It might be as simple as delegating, saying no more often or carving out time for yourself.
The big picture here is simple. The whole point of running your own business is to create a life you actually want to live. It’s not about building something that looks successful from the outside but leaves you drained on the inside. You really do have freedom of choice even if it doesn’t always feel like it. And if you’re stuck in a role that doesn’t feel like “you” now might be the time to re-align and steer things in a direction that makes you excited again.
Follow Jay and his team on Instagram at ‘Your Growth Coaches’
