One Entrepreneur On Balance: Todd Gilman

This is part of a series called "The Entrepreneurs On Balance."  This interview is with Todd Gilman.

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

Balance is certainly necessary for an entrepreneur to maintain fresh perspectives and to cope with the massive amounts of stress that a business puts on both professional and personal lives. However, in my experience, the main focus of the entrepreneur shouldn’t be achieving balance at all costs from the get-go but, instead, working-in balance as their venture matures.

In the beginning, an entrepreneur can’t have it all and expect to create a successful business – you are either giving 100% of your effort to your new venture, or you are setting yourself up for failure. However, that 24/7 lifestyle isn’t sustainable, and a balanced personal / business life will become necessary. Failure to do so will crush an entrepreneur’s spirit and impair their long-term judgment (you can’t stay in the weeds forever!). Take a weekend off here and there. Shut down work after 5pm on Friday. If you’ve built your business right, you shouldn’t need to work 24/7 after your enterprise has gotten legs.

When will an entrepreneur know when to start creating balance in their life? They won’t, it’s just a gut feeling guided by maturity, but it doesn’t hurt to schedule some “me time” every few weeks just to be safe.

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

Like many entrepreneurs, I have a Type A personality, and my biggest struggle is accepting the idea that more hours working doesn’t always translate into positive outcomes. After a few bad business decisions due to lack of sleep, I soon learned that you can’t live in the weeds forever and expect that you can work your way through problems. It’s OK to clear your mind through exercise. It’s OK to recharge on the weekends with family and friends. It took some time, but I now appreciate that the benefits to balance aren’t immediate, although they make for a more well-rounded, thoughtful entrepreneur over time.

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

Good communication and “expectations setting” are the biggest keys to success I’ve personally found when creating balance between my professional and personal lives. You can’t be in two places at once, and there are only 24 hours in a day, so don’t make commitments you know aren’t feasible. Let your friends and family know that you are going to be focused on your venture for months to come; tell them that their support means a lot to you and be upfront about how busy you will be. Don’t feel bad about turning down fun events; your friends will understand if you’ve already communicated properly with them, and you won’t be filled with regret for being dedicated to your professional endeavor in the near-term.

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

Keeping a daily “to do” list with tangible, achievable goals is my personal secret to maintaining balance.  Lay out the 10-15 items you want to accomplish today, and make sure they are specific (“build website” is a terrible to do list entry, whereas “sign up for a domain name” is much more achievable”). The tangible daily to do list keeps a business owner motivated throughout the day (since it’s enjoyable to see the list dwindle as the hours pass by). But, more importantly, it forces an entrepreneur to stop work at some point in the day. There’s always more work to be done with a business venture, and daily to do lists are great ways to avoid overworking while also maintaining efficiency during the day.

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

Balance is of paramount important to the success of a business owner. Entrepreneurs will struggle to keep fresh perspectives without balance, and will end-up wasting time on fruitless business endeavors if they can’t recharge from time-to-time. And, of course, finding balance is key to a happy personal life; the last thing an entrepreneur needs is the distraction from a messy personal life clogging their thoughts during the day.

Any final thoughts on finding and maintaining balance?

Balance is necessary but, like most things in life, it isn’t a black or white concept. Part of being an entrepreneur is learning your limits, and you’ll need to actively appreciate when it’s time to step-away from your venture. Working hard in the beginning is necessary, and a business won’t be successful without hard work. But, force yourself to lay-down your pencil at some point during the evening, and actively take time-off work starting with a few free weekends. You’ll maintain a fresher perspective, and you’ll soon develop a keen sense for when it’s simply time to stop working and enjoy your friends and family.

Todd Gilman is the founder of United We Tab, an online startup that creates and sells accurate, legal guitar tablature (a form of sheet music preferred by guitarists). United We Tab has developed the “iTunes of Tablature” by bringing advanced software, a wide selection of legal products and affordable pricing to market. The company’s website, UnitedWeTab.com, launched in April 2010 with more than 12,000 legal guitar tabs.