Most small businesspeople, especially creative ones, have a hard time separating themselves from their businesses. Often, the name of the company is “Joe Smith Photography” or “Betty Martin–Designer” which only enhances this connection. On one level, that can be seen as a positive–you are the creative force behind your creative business and so you want the world to know it’s all about you, Baby! When the creative part of the creative business is highlighted, all is well.
But it gets negative very quickly when the business part of the business needs to be in first position. When you need to get a business loan or talk to the Accounts Payable department of that deadbeat client, suddenly being the Creative doesn’t work. You need to be the Businessperson.
It’s also negative when you can’t not be working. That is, if you can’t turn off the work and spend (regular, repeated) time with your friends or family, then the you/work line is definitely gone and you are headed for trouble.
I tell clients (and especially students/newbies) that it is vital to make your business as business-like as possible for exactly these reasons. It’s a hell of a lot easier to put on your Businessperson hat and demand payment when you have separate business accounts at the bank, separate business credit cards, business stationery, a business accountant and a business lawyer, etc. Incorporating, if it is the right thing for your business financially and legally, can go a long way to helping this process.
When you aren’t at work, when you keep the parts separate, you are more likely to have healthier relationships with those you love and with yourself (mental health and physical). This makes you more productive when you are at work. Isn’t that nice how it works like that?
In my case, I think it is easier for me to keep my head in the right place at the right time because I have taken many steps to “separate” myself from the business I run. They are closely connected, but I am me and it is it. For example, I get up every day at the same time and go to work. Even though I work out of my home, I go to work–because I have a room that is the Burns Auto Parts office, it serves no other purpose than to be the office. So, I get up every day, get dressed (that’s important–don’t work in your PJs or your robe–it’s a real damn job and you should respect that), and go to work. When I’m at work, I (usually) do not answer the home phone (caller ID helps me decide if it may be an emergency or not). I have regular working hours and when someone calls outside of those hours, the call goes to voicemail; after all, I am not at work then. The business has its name filed with the relevant governmental offices and I pay a business tax to the city of San Diego, just like any other local business.
I am Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua. I work for Burns Auto Parts.
And I’m proud of both statements.
Who are you and what is your business? How can you make these two things less interwoven? Do you have all your accounts, insurance, etc., separated out? Do you get paid regularly from your business? What steps can you take today to respect yourself and respect your business, as two separate things?