To “keep it together” is a very broad goal in the grand scheme of things. You may try keeping it together during a tense business meeting. Maybe you’re only goal is to get through dinner with the in-laws. It could be that your need to keep it together differs from that of the guy next to you. Regardless, everyone has to do a juggling act at some point in their life to attempt to maintain smooth sailing on all horizons.

When one goes into business for his or herself, the act of keeping it together becomes an art-form. They’ve thrust themselves into the role of owner, manager, seller, worker bee, etc. Basically, they “wear the hat” of every role, as some might put it. If they’ve been in a leadership role before, this transition is a lot easier to make. But, when someone decided to go into business on their own without previous experience (see yours truly), making the change from employee to CEO is stressful, confusing, stressful, scary and did I mention stressful? What are some things that can be done to alleviate some of that stress and make building a business from the ground up more like a ride on the Gravy Train instead of the Struggle Bus?

Write it Down/ Make Lists

Making lists will help you separate each task, piece by piece, allowing you to focus on each task as you accomplish them. So, what kinds of lists should you be making? Maybe you need to invest in some supplies before you can really get it off the ground. In that case, make a shopping list! Are there positions that you need filled? Make a list of those positions and the requirements for each of them. That way you won’t feel overwhelmed when interview time comes along.

The biggest benefit of writing everything down is that you’ve got a solid, physical copy to follow rather than trying to cram every single idea in your mind. Just like a computer, your brain can only hold so much. It’s best not to over do it.

Prioritize

It can feel like every single thing you need to get done is of the utmost importance. But, when you hold every task on a pedestal like this, we put extra pressure on ourselves which can cause unnecessary stress. Sit down. Think about everything you’ve got to get done. Now, order them from most urgent to least urgent. Doing this allows you to focus on what needs your immediate attention and gradually make your way to the menial tasks.

Prioritizing your schedule and to do lists will improve your state of mind immensely and keep you from making mistakes that are usually easy to avoid. Less mistakes equals less worries. Less worries equals more peace of mind. It’s impossible to keep it together with an anxious mindset.

Use Your Time WISELY!

Being your own boss and working for yourself comes easier to some than it does to others. One of the biggest struggles is keeping yourself on task without wasting time that could be used by being productive.

It’s important to separate play time from work time to work more efficiently. It’s tempting to slack off and work more leisurely but, part of going into business for yourself is using the time you have to build that company that you’ve been talking about. As everyone says, “Actions speak louder than words.”

When you use your time to your advantage, you’ll get more accomplished. And with that, you’ll feel more confident in your mission to get your business really going. Have you ever known a business to keep it together without believing in themselves? Neither have I!

Be the Boss

Taking leadership is a lot more than just saying that you’re a leader. You have to act like a leader. When you’re in charge of a group of people, you have to lead by example. Show off the work ethic that you hope to see in your employees. Being respectful to those you hire will garner their respect for you. This is key to cementing your role as a leader. You can’t expect to manage a team without their respect and succeed.

When you start acting like the boss, you’ll feel like the boss.

Ask For Help

There has never been a leader who didn’t ask for help when he or she needed it, a real leader that is. When worse comes to worse, or when there’s just too much on one’s plate, a real leader knows when to call on the troops to help better the team. You may be in charge but, that doesn’t mean that you should burden all of the responsibility. The phrase keep it together doesn’t just refer to a mindset. Keep it together can also refer to the act of keeping your business team on the same page.

Entrepreneurs sometimes take on more than they think they can handle. But with the right tools, actions, and people with them, they can keep it all together better than most of us. If you’re going into business for yourself, you’re very brave. It is scary. But, you know what you’re doing.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” ~ Walt Disney