Avoiding Business Burnout

A while back, I read the book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. I picked it up at a time when I was in a lull at work, and I found the idea of being stuck on a hamster wheel so relatable.

I was especially intrigued by Duhigg’s explanation around why we create habits.

The synopsis: a habit is essentially our brain’s way of creating a shortcut - it’s a behavioral automation. We have an energy reservoir each day, that only allows for so much new. And in order to allow us to reach maximum productivity each day, our brain automates certain tasks to create space for more.

Moving into a new role of any kind exposes knowledge gaps. Ever wonder you feel drained at your new job? In your new living situation? It’s because it’s consuming your daily energy reservoir. Your brain hasn’t identified any of those shortcuts yet.

The trickiest part of entrepreneurship is that it feels like it all has to happen simultaneously for your business to function.

In a frenzy to overcome so much new, we establish shortcuts of our own. But warning: they’re often inefficient or quick fixes to a problem that needs a more sustainable, thoughtful solution.

Why does this matter?

Let’s revisit the hamster wheel. The worst part of the wheel is we usually don’t know we’re on it. The risk? Being stuck with our quick fixes permanently.

So how do you hop off the hamster wheel as painlessly as possible, while giving yourself grace to create short-term habits? The answer lies in an innovation mindset.

One of my favorite quotes is, “make it work, then make it better.” It’s the idea that our work is never done. Just because it’s functioning, doesn’t mean you stop. So while, yes, it’s necessary to create quick solutions for take off, the people who succeed are the ones who take time to revisit each component of that machine and find ways to continually improve.

While you can function with your quick fixes short term, the inability to innovate will eventually come back to bite you.

But how do we continue to look at problems and process with fresh eyes? Here are the strategies I use to maintain an innovation mindset:

#1. Stay inspired.

Sounds cliché, I know, but stick with me for a minute. The key to this one is not just following outlets that teach, but those that challenge you to think about your business in a fresh way. One of my favorite forms of inspiration is taking a resource I find interesting but that doesn’t seem to intuitively connect to my area of focus; I then find opportunities to force connections and apply learnings in a new way. For example, I follow content from a behavioral investigator, Vanessa Van Edwards, who runs, “The Science of People.” Her content explores body language and human behavior, but I love personifying brands, then using Vanessa’s content to humanize brand stories. Find content that challenges you to look at your business with fresh eyes.

#2. Consult with an expert.

This can be a true consultant, but it can also be a friend who works in the space and is willing to sit down with you and teach. I’m all about the barter and love tapping my very talented network to trade time. But the key here is having someone truly teach you how to find your answers, not just execute the work on your behalf. Saving the “figure it out” time can immensely expedite your success. Tap this resource early, do what you can on your own, then maintain the relationship for ongoing guidance.

#3. Don’t lose your mission.

I recommend revisiting your “why” on a quarterly basis and rekindling your passion for your work. Why did you start your business and how does it fulfill you? Then connect that mission to each area of your business. How can you connect your mission to your internal culture? Your external marketing? Your process?

Entrepreneurs who maintain a “functioning” expectation for themselves succeed for a while, but eventually plateau. While you may feel like you’re “fine,” complacency is the most dangerous mindset for an entrepreneur. The win lies in innovation.

What are your current pain points? Is there a topic you’d like me to dissect? Shoot me a note.