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34 May 2014 | beautystorebusiness.com What is the difference between bal- ance and rhythm? The word "balance" conjures up a picture of a scale with equal weights on either side. "Rhythm," on the other hand, denotes high notes and low notes that create a melody when put together. In seeking the right rhythm between work and the rest of your life, you should look to set a tone that allows you to meet the demands of owning your own beauty store business while achieving happiness at home. So how can you find the right rhythm between work and life? What follows are five recommendations that you can follow to tune your life with a rhythm that works for you, whatever your cir- cumstances might be. Be at Home When You Are at Home Call it the 168-hour rule. Everyone who owns a business has 24 hours spread out over a seven-day week for a total of 168 hours in a week. While this is constant, what you do with those hours is the key to finding the right rhythm. The first order of business is to follow the example of John Gordon and determine your life's priorities, then live your life according to those priorities. If family is high up on the list, then you need to let home time be home time. Sure, some interruptions are unavoidable, particularly in the age of smartphones and instant information access. But if your mind is on work 24/7, you will not be effective as a spouse, partner or parent. To pull this off, you will have to come to grips with the fact that some work will remain undone when you are with your family. Just remember that the counter to this is also true. If work dominates your life, then family time will not get done. And it is rare that you hear someone utter on his deathbed, "My only regret is that I did not spend more time at work." To make home time a consistent priority, you will need to commit to some non-negotiables in your time manage- ment. Sign up to coach your child's sports team and be there every time. Join a bridge club or dinner group with your spouse or partner. The key is to be there when you say you will be there, no matter what comes up at work. Other non-negotiable events might include: • Attending church with your spouse and/ or family every Sunday • Having lunch with each of your children once a week—or even once a month • Attending your children's school programs and sports games as often as possible • Picking a couple of days a week to be the driver of the car pool • Joining an Indian Guides, Indian Princess or Scout troop with your child • Attending your spouse's office parties or social group events • Enjoying a regular date night with your spouse or partner • Volunteering with your spouse to work in a community or church group • Engaging in any activities that bring you closer to your spouse or children Set Reasonable Expectations You started your business knowing that it would not be a 9-to-5 career. In fact, you likely find yourself working a lot more 5-to-9 days to ensure success! With this in mind, setting reasonable expectations regarding work time and home time is key to finding the right rhythm. Failure to do so will result in broken promises and hurt feelings, or worse. You must avoid the temptation to over-promise and under-deliver. There will be certain days that you know will be crazy at work before you even leave the house. Alert your spouse or children in the morning so they won't be surprised when you are home late for dinner or can't make the ballet recital. There are also certain times of year that are busier than others. When these busy seasons arrive, make sure your family is aware of them. Some will be obvious and understood. For instance, every retailer is incredibly busy in the fall preparing for Christmas sales. But you will likely have other busy times—such as taking inventory, preparing to file taxes or getting ready for a trade show—so be sure and give ample fore- warning to avoid disappointments. On the flip side, there are periods during the year when things slow down. Many entrepreneurs still find a way to work 80-plus hours a week even during iStockphoto.com Continued on page 38 www.MalibuC.com | 1.800.622.7332 PRESCRIPTIVE WELLNESS TREATMENTS HAIR SCALP SKIN 100% vegan gluten sulfates parabens propylene glycol DEA FREE OF: Normal & Dry Skin Hydrate Exfoliators Masques Tattoos wellness solutions wellness solutions wellness solutions Sensitive Skin Acne wellness solutions ink well wellness solutions ness solutions malibu C ® Color Hard Water Blondes Swimmers Hair Repair Scalp J u g g l i n g Y o u r W o r k a n d L i f e . i n d d 3 4 Juggling Your Work and Life.indd 34 3 / 3 1 / 1 4 2 : 1 6 P M 3/31/14 2:16 PM