Lessons from the Field: Know that you will never get it all done

This blog post continues a series of lessons from the field for a new event business. See: Lessons from the Field: Be Open for Business; Lessons from the Field: Focus on Great Strategy; Lessons from the Field: Become an Expert, not a Jack; Lessons from the Field: Find Yourself a Great Team

Lesson 5: Know that you will never get it all done.
I am a guy who has always worked in small companies. There was a thrill for me in the ability to wear multiple hats in an organization and contribute to the work being done. While, when you go into business with yourself – that experience is taken to the extreme. Every hat is your hat and quickly I had to learn that I just would not get everything done. That the client might have to be called back tomorrow. That the website would take another week or month. That there is no way I can keep up with my tweets, let alone blog! (Ghost writers anyone, I am hiring!) The illusion that leaving the comforts of a 9-5 job is that you will have freedom over your schedule is somewhat true – you do have control of your schedule, but your job is now 24/7 and at a client’s whim your plans will regularly change. The challenge is to find a schedule and rules that work for you (and it you have employees, for them as well). Limiting distractions is critical in keeping focused when you answer to yourself. Because when you are the boss, it is much easier to take long lunch, sleep in or grab drinks early than it was when someone was watching you!