Being a business owner is a lifestyle choice.
You enthusiastically chose to become a business owner because you thought you could do things differently.
You thought you could do things better.
You may or may not have realised when you chose to become a business owner that you also chose to become a leader.
Leadership is a lifestyle choice, too.
In my 21 years of business ownership, my motivation, energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment of leading my business have had many ups and downs. Oftentimes ups and downs during the same day!
I didn't realise it until recently, but, there have been times when I have become jaded with my business.
Jaded is defined as 'not having interest or losing interest because you have experienced something too many times'.
Another definition of jaded is that 'you feel bored, tired, and not enthusiastic, because you have had too much of the same thing.'
Being a business owner is relentless.
But we don't have to become jaded. I chose to become jaded, and I'm not proud of that.
However, I'm still here, I'm still leading my business and I've found ways to regain the enthusiasm I needed.
I discovered that I've had these jaded bouts in my business life from a reflection on some advice I heard from Australian media personality Eddie McGuire.
In a podcast interview, Eddie was asked what the key to success is for him. His response included not to be jaded.
He expanded on his answer with an example from his time working in AFL football:
“You see a lot of people, a lot of AFL footballers, towards the end of their career, you can't get them to turn up to anything. And in five minutes after they retire and finish their career, you can't get rid of them [from the organised club events that they wouldn't attend just a few months earlier!]. You get a moment in time. Take that moment in time. Don't become jaded."
He continued with another example of commentators and broadcasters of the AFL:
"You've seen over the years, people in our caper, they get to July [mid-season] and, oh, geez, how long's the season going? [You've] gotta keep going. I'll tell you what the season's going. It goes for six months. And that's it! And everyone who's watching it, it's their favourite moment of their week. So come in and be ready to go and give your best every week.
So I think that's the secret is not be jaded and every time you turn up, you turn up as if it's life and death and have a go and leave nothing behind.”
Being a business owner, you are also the CRO (Chief Reminding Officer!) for everyone in your business. That job is relentless, just like showing up week after week as a professional athlete or as a sports broadcaster.
The years of my life that I choose to be a business owner is NOT my entire life. It's a part of it. A season, of sorts.
From now on, I choose 'not to be jaded' for more than some short moments before I reflect, realise what's happening and self-correct.
As Eddie McGuire said: "You get a moment in time. Take that moment [and make the best of it]."
Keep at it.
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PS - In 2025, I am working with small business owners to simplify and strengthen their business culture. HERE's how I could help you.