One of the hardest challenges faced by small business owners, is that of planning, and working forward, and not just keeping up with the screaming demands of today. It is very hard to balance getting work done that lightens the load in certain areas when the load in those areas is so heavy you have no time to work to install structures to make it less burdensome in the future!

A twisted little Catch-22.

The only way to break it, is to do it. It takes a shift in mentality. And maybe some pleas for help.

But it is the difference between grim survival, and thriving. It is the difference between hand to mouth existence, and prosperity. A difference worth making some sacrifices for.

As little as an hour or two a week, spend on work that takes you forward, instead of just keeping you where you are just barely keeping up, can move you into a more manageable environment within weeks.

I’m not just philosophising here. I’m speaking from experience. I’ve been against the wall and ready to sit down and just cry because I could not cope with the load anymore. I’ve had to make choices when it seemed there was no choice.

It can get better. It takes a shift. In thinking, and in priorities. It takes the realization that the only way to stop today being so overwhelming is to do a bit that makes tomorrow a little lighter. If you choose the right tasks to do today, then they will go on making many tomorrows lighter.

There’s a kind of miracle in that… and it works.

The above post is from our Guest Blogger, Laura Wheeler, owner of  Firelight Business Enterprises.  She is an incredible wealth of knowledge about the internet and building website businesses and has been a valuable resource to me.