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As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to navigate the responsibilities of running a business while still leaving room for creativity. The day-to-day responsibilities of running a business can overwhelm your bandwidth and prevent you from innovating. Here are two strategies to help you shed the unnecessary weight that is holding you back from creative freedom.
Related: 5 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Creativity – Even When It's Low
Letting go
Unpack your to-do list and consider letting go of those that no longer serve your success. Taking time to reassess your day's priorities can save you from feeling overwhelmed by upcoming obligations. When I start my day, I focus on what my team needs from me to keep projects moving forward. If there's a task that needs my approval, I make it a priority so my team can get on with their work.
Add a sense of urgency to the responsibilities that are most integral to today's schedule. By prioritizing certain tasks, you can remove unnecessary weight from your day and free up more time and space for creative thinking.
Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to your team. As an entrepreneur, it can feel like you're the only person who can get the job done. But this is not true. If a project can be outsourced, trust that your team has your support. Being legally blind, I had to rely on others to be the eye of projects that I cannot see. What some might consider a disability has allowed me to organically grow my business by sharing projects with others.
Outsourcing projects can also lead to a higher quality of work. More attention to a project ensures that tasks are handled with care and greater attention to detail. Plus, you never know when a team member might have one innovative solutions.
Learn to let go of projects and ideas when necessary. As an entrepreneur, it is important to acquire the necessary skills to know when to move on. Notice when you're constantly hitting a brick wall and either let go or pivot and start over.
When I evaluate a campaign for my business, I track the number of successes along with times when no leads converted. I hand those results over to a professional with more skill than myself and remain humble as they report on the campaign's potential. Allow space for others to point out yours blind spots it is essential to the growth of your business.
Talking through the project with another professional helps you hold yourself accountable and acknowledge when a project has run its course. Withdrawing an idea is not a sign of failure. It is only from a place of raw truth that you can bounce back and fly higher than before.
Related: How I Transformed My Business by Ditching Low-Value Tasks and Focusing on High-Impact Activities
Looking ahead
When you feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, visualizing your future success can help you maintain a positive mindset. You want to taste, smell, see, hear and touch what it will be like to achieve your ultimate goals.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of negative thinkingbut it is essential to protect your sanity by choosing hope and endurance. Try saying words of affirmation or embodying mantras that nourish your heart and vision to maintain a positive mindset.
My visualization is that I consider my mind as a neighborhood. There is no litter on the sidewalk or bars on the windows. The streets are clean and full of enthusiastic energy. I allow the momentum of this vision to flow through the words I speak, the actions I take, and the results I achieve.
Through visualization, you help shape your thoughts into positive action. Take time each day to refocus on hope and resilience to help you overcome obstacles and achieve success. Even the best idea can be ruined by circumstances. Reassess your goals on a quarterly or annual basis to make room for any necessary adjustments to your budget, staff or vendors. There is always room for growth and to embrace new ideas.
I learned to do education priority in my business. I embrace workshops and partner with experts to continually expand my skill set. But it's up to me to turn that knowledge into action. By reassessing, I give my targets the wings they need to fly. Create one vision board to put out into the universe what you want to achieve. These can be pictures that remind you of your goals taped to your fridge or having a dedicated space in your office for images that motivate you.
When I discuss my business, I talk about it as if it were a person. I give him legs and eyes and I give him life. I envision my business growing from a child to a teenager to an adult. This helps me better understand his journey and protect him when I share my goals with others. Personalizing your business can help you gain motivation to achieve your goals. Allowing yourself to visualize your future success opens your mind to new possibilities and helps you stay creative amidst your business responsibilities.
Related: Vision Boards: A Powerful Tool for Achieving Your Goals
CONCLUSION
Cutting the weights that hold you down frees you from unnecessary stress. By delegating and learning to let go of projects, you invite more room for innovation in your business. As an entrepreneur, it can often feel like all the responsibility falls on you. Trust your team to take a weight off your shoulders to allow your business to grow. Use visualization techniques to help you stay positive during the many ups and downs of business ownership.