By Henry Brown
There’s an idea amongst budding entrepreneurs that going fast is the only way to be successful. They have this idea that you must work from sunrise to sunset (and even beyond that) if you’re going to cement yourself as the future of business. But, this isn’t necessarily true, and there are plenty of reasons to make a case for why entrepreneurs should take it slow and steady.
You’ll find more clarity
Going too fast means you could easily take a wrong turn and find yourself lost somewhere that is not where you want or need to be. This can disrupt your plans and might mean you make mistakes that are hard to recover from.
By slowing down, you get to admire the scenery, you can take in your surroundings, and you can notice things that perhaps aren’t what you want. Even if you feel you don’t have the time to slow down entirely, you can, at the very least, give yourself an hour each week to take stock of where you are, where you’ve come from, and where you want to go next.
You won’t burn yourself out
Burnout is a genuine thing in business, and it’s something that few people realize is happening until it’s too late. You cannot find the business success that you have always craved if you’re too exhausted and anxious to do anything.
If you stop yourself and adjust your habits, you’ll be able to prevent burnout while still operating as efficiently as before. If you work until bedtime every night, reevaluate your workday. Give yourself a set time to finish each day so you can unwind before hitting the hay. This will stop you from working 24/7 and prevent burnout, boosting productivity.
You can make better decisions
Going too fast means you aren’t able to make the right decisions. You might act on impulse, which could send all your hard work crashing down into the rubble. While you might easily make some decisions, such as the color of your app background or where to meet investors for lunch, other choices are more critical.
Slowing yourself down will give you the chance to think about these decisions. You can analyze the pros and cons, the potential headaches, and the possible benefits. By taking it slow, you can be more methodical in your decisions, giving you time to think about it.
You can reduce stress
All business owners will be stressed, and they should be. Running a business is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think it is.
Part of slowing down is shifting responsibilities to others, even if you feel you need to do everything yourself. This can include everything from web design to cybersecurity, and also bookkeeping services. You have enough to worry about as a business owner, so don’t be afraid to take some of the stress load off and pass it along.
Slow and steady
While you should always endeavor to move forward when running a business, you don’t need to always be going a million miles per hour. Instead, don’t be afraid to take it slow and enjoy the benefits that come with this.
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Henry Brown is an online marketing executive. When he isn’t talking shop, he’s roaming the streets of London, uncovering the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.
