by Loralyn
Let’s get real for a second. Okay, I’m always real, but I digress. If you’re a small business (SMB) owner, you know the drill. It’s like you’re under the big top in front of an audience (your social media channels) and you’re expected to perform. You’ve got all these plates spinning—your business, marketing, customer service, social media, and maybe even some personal stuff like walking the dog or spending time with your partner.
It’s exhausting, and honestly? Sometimes it feels downright sad because you don’t see when you will ever get to just chill out and watch someone else spin a few of the plates.
The Juggling Act
You have big dreams – but then that reality thing clicks in. You’ve got this grand vision for your business where you envision growing, expanding, and maybe even take over the world (or at least your corner of it).
But then reality smacks you in the face. You don’t have the cash flow you need to hire a team to help you achieve your dreams and goal. Instead, it’s just you—doing everything from accounting to marketing while trying to keep your sanity intact.
The Substack struggle is real.
And let’s talk about content creation for a sec. You know you should be writing regularly on Substack or whatever platform is hot for you right now. You start out with all the best intentions—“I’m going to share my wisdom with the world!” But then life happens. You miss a week, then two, and suddenly it’s been three months since your last post. It’s like your best intentions are trapped in some black hole of “I’ll get to it later.” Spoiler alert: later never comes.
The Personal Life Balancing Act
The Emotional Hangover
If I’m honest, the weight of all this can feel pretty damn heavy sometimes. You’re juggling all these responsibilities and trying to keep everything from crashing down around you. It’s exhausting! And there’s this gnawing feeling that you’re not living up to your potential—that your business could be so much more if only you had the time and energy to focus on it instead of just surviving.
And just when you think you might catch a break, here comes the urge to volunteer or help others out in your community because you’re truly a social entrepreneur. Because why not add another plate to the mix? It’s noble and what I wholeheartedly want to do, but let’s face it: it often just leads to more chaos and burnout.
Finding Your Way Through the Madness
So what do you do when the weight of all this starts feeling like too much as a small business owner? Here are two tips if you operate an SMB that might help lighten the load:
- Embrace Strategic Neglect:
Seriously, let go of the idea that you have to do everything perfectly. I’ve forced myself to walk (okay, RUN) away from all that PhD scientist stuff I learned about being 99.9999% about everything. Eff that. I’ll take 80% at this point and call it a win. Identify what really matters for your business and focus on that. Everything else? Just let it slide a bit. Maybe that means posting on Substack less often but with more heart when you do write — or using those dog walks to really think about things and wholly embrace gratitude for all the stuff that is going right. For me, the latter is a critical part of my life; it’s how I begin every day. - Build Your Support Squad:
No one said you have to do this alone! Look into bartering services with other small biz owners. I’m just starting to explore this and I think the idea has legs. Join local entrepreneur groups or online communities where people get what you’re going through. Sometimes just venting about your struggles can be a huge relief. Heck, I used this article to vent and I feel better already!
Parting Thoughts About Juggling
Being a small business owner is often romanticized as this glamorous adventure filled with freedom and creativity. Sure, it can be and definitely is for some. Especially those who have found the magic balance between “killing it” and not killing it so effectively that they are out of control with rabid growth.
For those of us who own an SMB that could be doing better, it can feel more like an uphill battle against time and exhaustion. But by accepting the chaos and finding ways to prioritize what truly matters—both in business and life—I believe that you can keep those plates spinning without losing your mind (or your sense of humor).
Sure, there will always be some melancholy in this circus act we call entrepreneurship, but there is also lure of the chance to perform in front of a crowd. With a little strategy and support, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
So, take a deep breath, keep spinning the plates that you think are the most important, and don’t cry when a plate crashes to the ground because that might be the best thing that could have happened …