Beat Burnout

Simple and low-cost ways to recharge

The Feb./March 2007 MyBusiness cover story focused on how to beat the burnout that all business owners face at some point in their careers. Are you bored with your business, but can't afford to hire a board of directors right now or take time off to rejuvenate? Is your business still in the start-up phase with a skeleton staff, making you reluctant to hand off responsibilities just yet? Here are some other ways to recharge.

Change the scenery. Altering the physical environment of your business can be an easy way to lift your spirits around the workplace. Pick a look that suits the personality of your business. When Blue Marlin moved its headquarters from a warehouse to a century-old brick building with natural light, "it made a big difference in our daily outlook," owner Eric Steube says. If you can't afford to move or remodel, try cleaning house. When Marley Majcher, owner of The Party Goddess, gets restless, she organizes shelves and goes through inventory to regain a sense of satisfaction. "Sometimes, I think there is joy in motion," she says.

Seek support. Making friends with other entrepreneurs and meeting up with them regularly can be a great source of encouragement because you understand each other. Not only can talking with them give you fresh ideas and perspective, it can provide you with a safe place to vent your frustration. Every business owner struggles with self-doubt; having someone to empathize with you can keep it from overtaking you. Majcher calls her entrepreneur friends when she needs a boost. "We remind each other that we really love what we do," she says.

Lose the ego. Focusing on your commitment to the people you work with and work for is a sure weapon against apathy. "For me, it comes back to the obligation to people––that is always something you can get excited about," Steube says. Not taking yourself too seriously is another way to keep indifference at bay. "If I don't have something in a day that I get kind of bent out of shape about, then I know I haven't been at work," Majcher laughs.