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By Kathy Henderson, Director of Economic Development

We’ve all heard the saying “the love of money is the root of all evil”.  But that is not entirely true.  That statement says the love of money it doesn’t mean money itself.  Money can also be used for good.  

Loving money more than anything else including your loved ones is when it becomes a bad thing.  But there are some other things that are more important than money, and if you don’t pay attention to them all, your hard-earned money will be worthless.

Your faith.  I’m talking about your faith in yourself and in your business.  You can have the best product or service in the world, but if your customers and your employees don’t see your enthusiasm it won’t matter. You have to believe not just in yourself and your business but your employees also. Give your employees the tools they need to do their jobs, then have faith in their abilities and let them do the job you hired them to do. 

Health.  All the money in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t have your health. Don’t stress over the small things and above all don’t be a micro-manager. 

Learn to let go and pay attention to your health.  You’re the boss. And if you’re not around, your employees don’t have a job, and your family doesn’t have an income to support them. So, take the time to take care of yourself.  Make and keep that doctor appointment.  You owe it to yourself and everyone who depends on you.

Let’s talk about your family.  As a business owner, you tend to put in long hours because that’s what a business owner is supposed to do right?  You may think that by working 70 – 80 hours a week you will be able to give your kids a better life when in reality all they want is you and your undivided time.  If you’re spending that much time at work, it doesn’t mean that you’re a hard worker; it means that you are really bad at time management and setting boundaries. 

Go home.

Why did you want to be an entrepreneur?  Every entrepreneur that I know wanted to start his/her own business, so they didn’t have to work for someone else.

That’s great; however, working unsustainable hours isn’t normally the first thing that comes to mind when you were dreaming about working for yourself.  Entrepreneurs want to grow their passion, make money from it and then be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors. 

Make the time to take a trip even if it’s just for a long weekend.  You don’t have to go far to recharge your batteries and make some amazing memories. 

Many entrepreneurs don’t think enough about their legacy.  After you’re gone, the legacy you leave behind is what will be important to people.  You can leave a pile of money to your family, but what they will remember most is who you were and how you treated them that will have a lasting effect. 

Make people your priority by treating them with kindness, respect and compassion.  Be there for them when they need a shoulder. 

Remember, money can be used for good; it also makes it easier to take care of your health, your family and your employees.  Let that be your legacy.