Most of us have heard the expression "stop and smell the roses" which encourages us to slow down and enjoy the scenery instead of missing out on the small and special treats in life. When you run a business, this can seem like an impossible task. Personally, I struggle with taking the time to stop and smell the roses. I often feel that when I take a break, I have to go into overdrive to make up for lost time and find myself running on empty. Running has become an outlet for me to mentally slow down and be fully present. On a recent long-distance run at my sister-in-law's in Gloucester, MA I was struck by the almost over-powering smell of beach roses along the path. As I ran, I realized that I could run AND smell the roses as long as I made a conscious effort to do so. While running my business, I sometimes get so caught up in reaching the goal that I forget to enjoy the small joys of being an entrepreneur. So on a recent business trip, I decided to put the idea into practice. ((I left a day early (where I usually practice "just in time" airline juggling) and went out for a great dinner in my client's town. I brought a non-business related book and spent the evening reveling in the experience. The next day, I was ready to tackle the world of work. A smaller "pause" and a night at a nice hotel helped me re-focus, re-charge, and re-energize. Had I taken several days off, I probably would have been more stressed about the things piling up at my office and wouldn't be able to appreciate the small perks of business travel. This conscious effort to pause and smell the roses allowed me to enjoy running the business. Running a business effectively requires both great attention to results and intense focus on tasks. It also requires time to recharge the batteries and slow down the pace. Coming to a complete stop may not be an option, but by consciously looking around you to observe and appreciate the non-business moments going on in the vicinity, you are more likely to enjoy what you do while you are doing it. So try it! Don't stop and smell the roses and notice how it affects your business. 2009 Jessika M. Ferm & J.Ferm, LLC Jessika M. Ferm is a writer, coach, speaker, and consultant on leadership, management, and business topics and is known for her "no frills no fluff" approach to sharing information. She is also an amateur runner and incorporates her running experiences into her business writings. Her company, J.Ferm, LLC, is an international leadership consulting firm working with clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start ups. For more information or to sign up for the free "Leading Edge" newsletter, visit: http://www.jferm.com/
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