Stress is a killer!

[Steve]

How stressed out do you find yourself during the day? If you used to work for someone else, do you find yourself more or less stressed than when you were an employee? Work-related stress can kill, study finds - Work really can kill you, according to a study on Wednesday providing the strongest evidence yet of how on-the-job stress raises the risk of heart disease by disrupting the body's internal systems.

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I thank working for someone else is more stress, and working for yourself can be stressfull at times but I would rather work for myself any day, I thank if your to stressed out over work maybe the line of work your doing is not right for you and you shoud thank of a change , I find than stress leeds you no where fast you need to love the job your doing or it's not going to work out , but thats just how I feel! I know not evryone can just up and change jobs but if it's that stessfull start looking for something else soon you'll thank your self in the long run!!

[Steve]

Hi BJ,

For those reading this post who are not running their own business, is there any explanation you can give as to why someone running a business might feel less stressed out?

Steve your preaching to the choir with this one buddy, 14 months ago my bad cholesterol was over 300 points and the good was under 13, blood pressure was 210/180 when I seen the doctor, his reply to me was "son you're a walking dead man" all caused from stress of work, this is the reason I sold my previous company. Now that I have started this LCO I have been less stressed and changed my diet some and all is back down to normal or accutally better, its like I was 25 again.

BJ said it best "I think if your to stressed out over work maybe the line of work your doing is not right for you and you shoud think of a change." and that is exactly what I did.

Guys and Gals this will KILL YOU, dont let it happen to you, it is the Silent Killer, eat right and take care of yourself, take time, and yes you can make time. Find a hobbie or something to do other than work. When it comes to work and home leave the bags at the doors. In other words dont bring work home and dont take home to work. Even though you may feel fine one day and the next wake up with a headache that wont go away, you start feeling weak and tired all the time, go see your doctor, these are signs of an illness that can kill you in a split second, No matter how good of shape your in it can still and will happen to you just the same. I'm 6' 175# work out and in great physical shape and was knocked down but not counted out by this Silent Killer caused from stress.

When I said a walking dead man, most men my age would have suffered a major stroke, either died or in bad shape for a long time.

ASK YOURSELF THIS simple question, IS THIS HOW I WANT TO GO OUT?
My answer is I'm to young and NO way do I want to go like that.

[Steve]

Tim,

Out of the older and this newer lawn care business, what do you feel was the big change that made the difference? If you can say?

There might be a lot of people out there running a business now and feeling stressed out and may not see how running another business might change things.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Team Gopher @ Jan. 24 2008,3:06)]Tim,

Out of the older and this newer lawn care business, what do you feel was the big change that made the difference? If you can say?

There might be a lot of people out there running a business now and feeling stressed out and may not see how running another business might change things.

The Big difference was BURN OUT! just plan old Corp Burn out, when work directly with law enforcement agencies, military and governmental it has a way of becoming very stressful, then you add the Res customer base and Commercial/industrial to the equation and it calls for a large demand on you and your time, 16-18 hours a day 6 days just in the office and field work not counting being on call 24/7 every 3rd week for 7 days, and I went 5 years before taking a vacation at one stretch.
If you are juggling 5 techs, 2 office personal and 1800+ accounts, plus bidding jobs running service calls and designing systems for architects, scheduling, installing and sub-contracting, yes it can build up fast. and all this was when I cut back, at one time I had 25 Electricians, 14 apprentices and 12 Techs, 5 office personal. I started down sizing 6 years ago. and after DTV made changes to the Home Service Providers program I made more cut backs and *as of Jan 07, I sold the whole thing. NO ONE WAS EVER UNEMPLOYED, when I made cut back I had jobs for the ones I let go and everyone was happy. Honeywell bought my accounts so the last of the crew was employed by other companies before the deal was closed in Mar 07, I had no choice if I wanted to live.

So now I have started this LCO and I really enjoy going out there in a relaxed atmosphere and working at my own pace, not needing any employees or additional help comes from the family. With the other business my kids didn't want any part of it, now they all want part of this, LOL. So I know when enough is enough and that is what each and every small business owner should know, when enough is enough (customers work load that is), don't overload yourself and MAKE time for yourself to do other things than work. If you have your office at home, close the door at a set time, and stick to it, there is always tomorrow if you cant get it all done that day (referring to paper work). Basically don't cut yourself thin. The hardest task you will have is scheduling your time, set aside at the least one night a week (m-f) if you haven't already and eat dinner with the family, no TV, no rushed eating, just sit back talk about whatever for family night. Set monthly dates with your spouse, stick to it don't reschedule, if something comes up, it better have a death certificate with it before you cancel. Then one night a week (m-f) set a time to play golf in a league, bowling, fishing or whatever your interest my be, schedule all work around these dates and times. Lastly schedule family vacations at least 2-1 week vacations every 6 months or so. These are things you MUST do in order to stay fresh and on top of your game, if your worried about not getting a new customer or losing one then maybe you should think long and hard about your business venture. I know we all worry about those things but what I mean is you shouldn't let it stand in your way of living and family.

Prioritize your life for better living, Mine is as follows just in this order; God, Family, Job, Living Fun, Living Expenses and so on. You have to pay yourself first before you pay anything else.

Starting a new business can be exciting and overwhelming at he same time, don't let yourself get caught up in the RAT RACE you might just find yourself under the green grass rather than on top of it..

Good Luck in your Business Venture
Tim