One Entrepreneur On Balance: Sandy Abrams

This is part of a series called "The Entrepreneurs On Balance."  This interview is with Sandy Abrams.

What are your general thoughts on balance (do you think it's realistic, achievable, a top priority, etc.)?

Balance is absolutely achievable if you make it a priority. You have to schedule time for exercise, family, friends, vacation. If having a life in addition to working is important to you, you just have to commit to allowing yourself to enjoy your "balancing" activities. Be present while you are doing your fun activities, don't go to the beach and bring your documents to scour over. Go to the beach and enjoy the beach! You will be that much more refreshed and energized when you return to work.

What have been your biggest struggles when it comes to finding or maintaining balance between your business and personal lives?

It's a constant juggle to try and fit in everything I'd like to fit in for both biz and personal. Unexpected events pop up all the time, I tend to feel guilty about missing events that I'd like to attend.  But over the years, I've learned that the guilt is worse for me if I miss a personal event, so those now take precedence.

What have been your keys to success when it comes to finding or maintaining balance between your business and personal lives?

Learning what matters most in my life and letting myself make balance a priority. I love what I do for work, but I also love my rich family life, my time in a yoga studio or on the beach or biking. So, I make it a priority to feel balance, as ultimately it makes all aspects of my life better.

Do you have any techniques or routines that help you maintain balance (example, keeping a daily journal)?

Yoga practice clears my head. I like to begin the day simply thinking about or maybe writing goals and end the day reflecting a little bit and tweaking the goals. Allowing just a few minutes morning or night to just think allows me to feel centered and focused rather than scattered and overwhelmed.

How important is balance to your success as a business owner or entrepreneur?

Balance is critical for success of a biz owner/entrepreneur. Otherwise, burn out is inevitable. I take full advantage of today's technology to allow me to have more balance and productivity. I recommend services such as eVoice and eFax, as they enable a true virtual office.  eVoice is perfect for individuals like me who manage both business and family matters from a home office or cell phone, but still want business calls answered, routed and handled professionally.  With eVoice, I can be out of the office, while still being accessible and know who is trying to reach me. In addition, eVoice enables me to receive messages via audio files or text transcriptions to my computer or mobile phone, allowing me to respond regardless of my physical location and respond immediately.

Any final thoughts on finding and maintaining balance?

Once you allow balance in your life and get a grip on time management, you realize how productive you can be in a full day. Having time for family, friends & fun makes for a more whole person, which I believe makes for a better biz person. Making decisions from a place of balance and focus beats making decisions hastily and frantically. You will feel more energetic, creative and focused in your work life if you are balanced rather than exhausted.

Sandy Abrams: CEO/ Moisture Jamzz, Inc. Founded in 1993 around her signature Moisture Glove, Moisture Jamzz has counted among its clients Bath & Body Works; the Estée Lauder Company,H2O PLUS; Crabtree & Evelyn; Bare Escentuals; Bed, Bath, & Beyond; Linens 'n Things; Stroud's; Bloomingdale's; and, QVC.