Do you fall into the rut of chronic workaholic? I know a few who do (not only business women, but also men), and I’m a binge workaholic myself. I’m going to try to describe how I approach my work, which is the result of my experience. I have been working for large companies before I started doing business on my own, and I have come to quite a few insights on the differences between these two extremes. Working from home is quite different, and required a different type of mindset, than working for a company.

So how do I approach work? Well, I go in sequels.

I’m Not a 9 to 5 Chick

Most of my friends and family have always said I am too ambitioned and have to much zest to achieve my goals. I didn’t see a problem with that. I think you can never be too ambitioned in life; especially as a business woman!

Straight out of college, I worked for a financing company. In the following four years, I was spending most of my week traveling. Weekends were dedicated to preparing for the next week. I pretty much spent every moment thinking about work.

After a couple of years, I wanted more ground time. So I transferred. I managed a small office branch; only to find out that my work pattern hadn’t changed except for staying grounded. I went in early and stayed later.

This is where I realized that I was missing balance in my life. I wanted to reach the point where I felt I could open my own business. I planned to start small, and have the convenience of having a home office. So I decided to stay with the company another three and a half years before I would start my own business.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t what happened.

A Distraction

I had met a man on a business trip. We had been seeing each other for a year. The only problem between us was a five hour drive. So I put in for a transfer. When the transfer wasn’t immediately available, the guy gave me an ultimatum: quit my job, move in with him, and start my own consulting agency - or end the relationship. I should have realized at that point that he wasn’t the right guy.

The Thinking Process

I consider myself one of those people who take the time to look outside the box. In order to make a decision on his ultimatum, I needed time. Not just a day or a week - I asked for three months.

Subconsciously, I feel I was hoping for the transfer to come through. I packed my stuff up in boxes. I decided to put myself up to a test and lived on minimal means for those months. With most of my materialistic things absent, I discovered how pampered I had become living alone for so long.

I don’t know why I thought this test was of any value. I actually did it!

I Compromised my Goals

I ended up handing in my resignation, and relocated. You can say my blinders were on; to this day, I know I should have listened to my gut.

Within a year, things went to hell in the relationship. There is no better way of saying it. We broke up and I came back East.

That was few years back.

On my Own as a Business Woman

It is very important when you start your own business that you remember not to invest your entire savings. That you budget and structure the business for the first year. There are benefits of keeping the business reasonably sized for one person to handle it. This was the strategy I used so I could learn the business inside and out.

I had the advantage of signing most of my clients by word of mouth. I have a background in financial analysis, client management, presentation skills, and much more. As for networking, I had stayed in touch with people I consider mentors or advisors from my old job, and I had stayed in touch with friends in the business. This is the advantage of knowing the right people in the right places. Especially as a business woman, networking is immensely important!

I still invested money that I didn’t have to. Guilty as charged. When I hosted my first larger business meeting, I booked a conference hall reception with speakers. That usually doesn’t happen the first year in business.

I had a longing to show my clients what was in store for the following year. That was my biggest extravagance (better: abmition). I would have to say I felt the necessity to do this out of my past work experience.

I also invested 16 to 18 hours a day very easily. This is very easy to do when you work from home.

Work was my escape for not being able to sleep. I think many of you can relate to this. Why stay in bed tossing and turning? Then you know that sooner or later, you are going to start to think about things you are trying to escape from. As for what I was thinking, I beat myself up for leaving my job.

So, Work it is

It is very easy to fall into patterns when you are the boss. You can become sleep deprived and your diet suffers, no matter how much you try to live healthy. Outside meetings are such a pain in the ass, no matter how necessary. It feels like a total waste of a day.

During idle time, I still have a few things on my plate so if I get bored I can always go to the next. That’s a major advantage of being a business woman on your own. Lately I have been pretty happy with some new ideas.

I’m not thrilled with the clients that are calling too many times a day. The ones that are expecting me at their beckon call at any hour of the day. Like they are the only client that counts.

Perhaps there comes a time when you have to root out such clientele that sucks. Deal with the ones who are more significant to you. I am not saying cut the little guy off - the little guys add up but I would rather have one big guy than ten little ones. Then again, one big client can be as much work and stress as ten little guys…

Almost Every Woman’s Desire

I believe each one of us wants fulfillment, where the common phase of “wanting to have it all” is in fact different to each individual. Being number one is just as important as ever. It is being applied in several areas. Becoming an entrepreneur makes life interesting!

I don’t feel as though I have plateaued as far as my consulting career goes. I have several new ideas for that. I am also getting inspiration from Thumper all the time for other business ventures.

Having the time to work on your relationship is another thing; it is what sometimes tends to fall short when you aspire to be too much of a business woman. Don’t let it get to a point where all you do is work! Balancing your work and your private life is, in my opinion, the most important thing.