Many entrepreneurs want to start their own business to gain freedom. Yet most business owners complain that they don't have enough time or money, and therefore, they have no freedom.
Many entrepreneurs want to start their own business to gain freedom. Yet most business owners complain that they don't have enough time or money, and therefore, they have no freedom.
When I started my real estate business, I was looking for a way to make more money. I found a successful strategy that worked for me to make a lot of money. It felt great making 7 figures. But at what cost? The amount of money I had grew, but the amount of time I had to spend with my family and loved ones dwindled. It caused broken and hurt relationships. And no amount of money could fix those problems.
So I had the great idea of hiring more people to do work for me. That way, I could save time and spend it elsewhere. As I started hiring a team of workers, I did save time on many tasks. But my business was growing. So I had to put more time into hiring and training people. As well as strategize vision for our growth and all of the growing pains. The more we grew, the more time it seemed like my business required.
Not only that, but I found myself becoming more and more stressed out. The anxiety and stress of making sure I didn't lose the amount of wealth we were generating, making sure my employees and their families were provided for, while not getting enough time with my own wife and kids... it really caused a lot of pressure on me that affected my health. Even as I tried to implement more leaders in my business to force myself to spend some more time at home, I was always checked out mentally. My mind was still concerned about my business empire crashing and losing everything. The stress became so overbearing, I got to the point where I continually was checking myself into the hospital for EKGs and other tests to be done. I told my wife that I didn't think I'd live past 50. She just couldn't understand what was wrong with me and why I felt so overburdened.
It seemed like the more successful I became, the more freedom I was actually losing.
Thankfully, one day a business coach asked me if I even wanted to run my business anymore. Or if I wanted to let some one else run it while I sat in the owner's box. I responded by asking, "I can do that?" That thought never crossed my mind. I never realized that was even an option. I had to really sit on this and think about this. It seemed like it could be a great answer. But the more I thought about the dangers and risks of stepping out of my business as CEO, I was more and more afraid that my business would collapse without me involved directly.
But with life circumstances changing, I was forced into a tough decision, once again, of do I give myself more to my family or to my business? I realized investing in my family was much more important than spinning my wheels to hold up my business in my own strength. I finally made the decision to hand my business over to my COO. And it was the best decision I could have made. Since I've stepped out of the CEO position, my business has continued to grow and break new goals each year. But more importantly, I have a sense of deep peace and rest. I have sanity back in my life. And my wife and children are glad to have me around more, as I'm glad to have more time with them. And now I can work on other passion projects that God is leading me in.
I finally did find true freedom as an Entrepreneur. And I hope other business leaders and entrepreneurs will be able to find their freedom as well.
