TriLeaf Designs

One of the hardest things is deciding what takes the highest priority

As a young business owner I think the hardest decision I have made has not been how to gain clients and keep them. Nor has it been how much to pay people or where to use our limited budget. The hardest thing I had to do is decide what to give my time to.

In life, as in business, you need balance. Balance between work and play. Between getting clients and keeping the ones you have. The biggest pull I have is between myself, family, employees and clients.

Myself. Sometimes I wonder even who that is anymore. With the early mornings, and late nights. I could not even tell you the last time I did something just for me.  Sometimes I wonder what if I did have time just to me what would I do. Correct that. If I had time all to myself, and everything was done, what would I do. I have to put that little disclaimer in for we have been in our house for almost three months now and even my cloths are still in boxes.

Family. Currently my family consists of my husband Keith, dog Abby, turtles Bella and Crush, and dragons Spartacus and Sandstone. Turtles seem happy to see me when I come home. Dragons just stare, Abby jumps up and down and my husband looks like a little puppy sadly staring out the window waiting for me to come home. He drags me to Home Depo and Walmart just to spend time with me. He tells me I need to be home more. There for I am now not working weekends. Also I am taking two nights off a week to be home. He always asks me, “is this the night you are going to be home”. Most of the time the answer is no.

Employees. My other family. Over the years I have groomed TriLeaf to run by itself. The amazing people in which I work with do an amazing job taking care of things and doing others. But it is when I hear from them that I need to be here more, that you know something is just not working. Now, just like at home, I am setting aside time just for my peeps. Two hours a day I am in the office and not out on meetings. This was the first week I did it, and I have to say it has been amazing. So much more done and so much more instruction given. But I have to say, I do not feel as productive out there growing my business.

Clients. The most important thing. I could spend 24/7 working on things and still have more I could do, more events to attend, and more phone calls to make. This is a on going battle which is the center of all my time constrants. But I enjoy my clients and working with them. If it was up to me it is all that I would do.

With all these different elements pulling on me, what is a girl to do? I guess make a schedule, stick with it, and hope that everyone gets the time they need from you. That hard part though it making it so I get time with myself. First I took a little time away from clients for family. Then for my staff. Maybe in a year I will be ready to take it for myself.