In the book Atomic Habits, James Clear writes about one of life’s counterintuitive lessons being that in order to gain energy, you need to spend a bit of energy.
He speaks about getting up and moving to feel better - because “it’s harder for the mind to be slugging when the body is moving”.
So what does this mean when we apply the same habits and thoughts to business?
A lot of people believe that if they stop working on or in their business, it will stop. And for most of us, that’s true. If you stop answering emails, stop sending orders, stop doing the work.
But what if we look at what energy it is your actually spending. Are you spending the right energy to get the right energy back?
Busy Doesn't Always Mean Productive
There is no shortage of things to do when you run a business - emails need answering, customers need looking after, orders need sending, meetings need attending.
There is always another task waiting to be ticked off the list, and sometimes, getting through that list can feel like progress.
But being busy and moving your business forward aren't always the same thing.
You can spend an entire day working incredibly hard and still finish it exactly where you started. Or, worse, find yourself spending energy on things that aren't actually helping your business get to where you want it to go.
This isn't to say that the day-to-day work isn't important, of course it is, but when you're constantly working in the business, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to work on it.
And that's often where the bigger opportunities are hiding.
What Energy Are You Actually Spending?
Think about where your energy goes during a typical week - how much of it is spent reacting?
Reacting to emails, reacting to customer requests, reacting to problems that come up unexpectedly, or reacting to the next urgent thing that lands on your desk.
Now, how much of your energy is spent thinking ahead?
Looking at where your business is going, identifying opportunities, reviewing what isn't working, or making decisions about where to invest your time and resources.
For many business owners, that second list is the first thing to disappear when things get busy. And, it makes sense - the immediate tasks are right in front of you and often need your attention, just like the squeaky wheel.
But continually putting all of your energy into today can make it difficult to build for tomorrow.
Sometimes You Need to Spend Energy to Create Momentum
This is where the lesson from Atomic Habits becomes a good refence point. Sometimes, spending a little energy is exactly what you need to create more of it.
In business, that might mean taking a few hours away from the day-to-day to look at the bigger picture.
It might mean having the conversations you've been putting off, looking at the numbers you haven't had time to review, or finally making a decision that's been sitting in the too-hard basket.
Or simply giving yourself the space to ask: Is what I'm doing actually working?
That time can feel difficult to justify when there are so many other things demanding your attention, but spending energy on gaining clarity can often give you more direction, focus and momentum than simply pushing through another week on autopilot.
Working Hard Isn't the Same as Working in the Right Direction
Most business owners don't need to be told to work harder, if anything, the opposite is often true.
The question isn't always whether you're putting enough energy into your business, it's whether you're putting that energy into the right areas.
Are you focusing on the customers and opportunities that are right for your business? Are you investing in marketing activities that are helping you reach your goals? Are there processes taking up more time than they should? Are you saying yes to things simply because you've always done them that way?
These aren't always easy questions to answer when you're in the middle of running everything.
Sometimes you need to step outside the day-to-day to see the business properly.
The Value of Stepping Back
There can be a misconception that taking time away from the day-to-day means you're not working.
But thinking is work. Planning is work. Having the time and space to review your business and make better decisions is work.
In fact, it can be some of the most valuable work you do, because when you have clarity around where you're going, the decisions you make every day become easier.
You know what deserves your attention and what doesn't which gives you focus into putting energy into the things that will actually move your business forward.
Where We Can Help
At Silk & Sunsets, our Business Development Sessions are designed to give you that space.
They're an opportunity to step away from the immediate demands of your business and look at the bigger picture with fresh eyes.
Together, we can explore where your business is now, where you want it to go and the opportunities or challenges standing in the way.
Sometimes that means identifying areas for growth, sometimes it's about getting clear on your priorities, and sometimes it's simply having the time to talk through the things that have been sitting at the back of your mind for far too long.
So, i you've been feeling busy but unsure whether you're moving in the right direction, a Business Development Session could be the place to start.
Explore our Business Development Sessions and find out how we can help you step back, gain clarity and move your business forward.