Business Advice
is your arsenal for developing and maintaining sound financial plans and business strategy.
Inside: Budgeting | Compensation | Valuation
Free Trial: Intuit QuickBooks
Simple Start Free Edition 2009 for Windows
Departments
Pondemonium by Greg Wittstock
May 7, 2008
Living the Lifestyle
Posted at 11:32 AM
Tony Sargeant from Atlanta is someone I've billed as "one of my favorite customers." Tony's the rare bird who spends his time doing what he loves and is good at it while not being overwhelmed with running his business. Which also means he spends his time building and selling water features during the day and then comes home at night to Live the Lifestyle with his bride of 25 years. I wonder how many entrepreneurs out there started out doing what they love and were good at it only to find themselves dragged down to doing things they hated and subsequently weren't that good at -- all in a desperate attempt just to keep their heads above water while managing their own businesses? How nuts is that?!
Michael Gerber chronicles the trappings of entrepreneurs in his classic business book "The E-Myth." Aquascape's customer base is a classic Gerber case study in technicians who start businesses to free themselves from laboring at a trade for someone else -- only to find themselves enslaved by their own two hands. Often the allure of being your own boss soon becomes a case of "be careful what you wish for."
The irony is that so often those who work to help create the lifestyle for their customers end up doing so at the expense of their own lifestyles. Tony has managed to avoid that trap, and that's why he's one of my favorite people. Anyone who spends five minutes with the man will see the positive impact that living the same lifestyle he sells has had on Tony, his wife, and all those he touches. He's so filled with life, love, and optimism -- is it any wonder that his business is flourishing?! If only you could bottle a little bit of what Tony's got and get others to drink it, the world would be a better place. Now that's the kind of Kool-Aid I'd like to sell!
But, alas, for every Tony there are dozens more who feel trapped in a cage of their own making. The good news for all those who feel that way is that the solution is at hand. One of the things you need to do is to try to do what Tony did: Focus most of your effort on doing the things you're good at and try to off-load the things you're not good at. And if you think that involves hiring people with money you don't have -- think again. Tony downsized from multiple crews and multiple headaches to one full-time and one part-time guy. Today, his profits are better than ever! Just goes to show that finding the elusive Holy Grail of a work/life balance might just be as simple as living the lifestyle you sell.
Try a RISK-FREE Issue of Inc. Today!
Select Services
- Home |
- Contact Us |
- About Us |
- Subscribe |
- Advertise Online |
- Legal Disclaimers |
- Media Kits |
- Press |
- Privacy Statement
Copyright © 2009 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All rights reserved. Inc.com, 7 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007-2195
Mansueto Digital Network: Inc.com | FastCompany.com | IncBizNet.com | IncTechnology.com | FastCompany.tv
Best Blog Yet Greg !
"I wonder how many entrepreneurs out there started out doing what they love and were good at it only to find themselves dragged down to doing things they hated and subsequently weren't that good at -- all in a desperate attempt just to keep their heads above water while managing their own businesses? How nuts is that?!" and
"But, alas, for every Tony there are dozens more who feel trapped in a cage of their own making."
So very true - I love the fact that I can create beautiful enviroments for people to relax in and rejuvenate themselves. I just hate being stuck in the office end (a necessary evil & I am not the type to 'work on my business instead of in it)
As I work on changing my business model & excepting where I need to be in life as a business (a slow process so as not to sink w/the debt load I carry from trying to become one of the 'big' guys) my new goal is to mimic Tony's business model. Too many years spent working too many hours & loosing sight of what is really important in life - family.
Who writes your blogs???? We all know that you don't know how to use the computer..............
He writes them. Can't you tell by his style of writing? You don't know him at all. Just cause he is too busy to type them up and post doesn't mean someone else wrote them. Use a little common sense.
Common sense?????????????? The fact that you defend him shows YOU have none. He is a busy man. :-) YEP! How do you know his style so well???? I have common sense. I no longer work for him.
Common sense would tell you that if you didn't like the man, you wouldn't continue to read his blog, and spend time posting comments. It must be nice to have so much free time, unlike the rest of us successful business owners.
curiousJ: you seem to have just as much free time.
I think it is ironically funny that a question is directed to Greg and someone else answered it for him. I guess the question of "who writes for Greg" is answered.
God, grow up!! And I am no longer an employee either. Just an interested reader. I love Aquascape and if you don't STOP READING!!
Do you kids want me to stop this car and come back there right now?!!!???
I wonder who makes the better business owner? One who enters into a business from a purely investment/money making aspect, or one who enters into a business as having the burning passion for what they do and turns it into a business for the money making aspect. If I am not mistaken, Tony seems to have done both! Tony seems to have reduced it to the ridiculous, by simplifying his operation and figuring out where best he fits in. I have always heard, “let the bean counters count the beans and let the producers, produce.” I guess half the battle is recognizing which role it is that you assume or are best at. If we can all take from his example, I think there will be a whole heck of a lot more satisfied and accomplished business owners! Good one Greg! Way to go Tony!
So... it is evident that Greg does not write his own articles as he has not submitted his own 'rebuttle' in this discussion. Enough said Ladies and Gents... put a fork in it.
It's a shame that this blog has become a playground of children who want to put down/bash/or just complain. I think Dr Bill should not only stop the car he should throw half of you out.
comments being edited / deleted ?
my comment to the blog has been removed ?
Wow, It was not even a negative comment ?
See ya folks!
This blog's censorship of light hearted response or references to wisdom of the ages makes it pretty clear my time is wasted here.
I got ponds to build!
Inc and/or AI are showing some true colors, here.
Have you got YOUR Dr. Bill?
Whenever I read about the need for work/life balance, I automatically feel guilty because I can't/don't/won't emulate the Tony Sargeant lifestyle. But I have come to the realization that work/life balance is in the eyes of the beholder. Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop, when asked how she balances work with family, answered "I don't...Because what is work for me isn't work." I like that answer. Most of us entrepreneurs don't view what we do as "work" and it certainly is not in the traditional sense. And because we don't think it is work, we put in more hours and more effort then we ever would at anything else in our lives. And, because we are building a company, we often are required to do "stuff" we wish we didn't have to do. But we do it anyway. The trick is when we are able to get rid of the "stuff" we don't like to do or don't do well (for me anything computer related)by giving it to someone else to do we must take that action.
I'm not suggesting we ignore family, but I am suggesting we do not try to be something we are not. To quote a sage for the ages "Be what you are not what you are not. Folks who do this have the happiest lot." Mr. Wizard. We should not try to copy someone's else's work/life balance plan, no matter how attractive it seems, (thanks for the example of what a successful life can be Tony, but it is not for me. I need bigger, more complicated, just more). We should do what makes us happy and in that process, hopefully, we will make those around us happy also. Just some thoughts.
Thanks to Greg, I've started my own blog: http://www.trainingeverydayleaders.com/blog. Maybe I'll see you there.
GREAT blog! This topic of being able to live your life while still being an entrepreneur ties right in with the book i just read. It is called "The Answer" by John Assaraf and Murray Smith. The whole premise of their book is to teach small business owners the tools and strategies to grow their business while still living an extraordinary life! You should all grab a copy.
Not to mention that the authors are also hosting a Million Dollar Business Makeover campaign that is giving away 1.2 million dollars worth of prizes. Truly an exciting idea, already i have won free downloads and a ticket to their conference in Las Vegas. check it out and see for yourself www.themilliondollarbusinessmakeover.com
pRzPW7
Post Your Own Comments