Overcoming Distractions is Key to Entrepreneurial Success

This past weekend I went home to NY for Thanksgiving. I spent most of the four days eating, drinking, and just hanging out with my family and friends. It was a great time. But guess how much work I got done over the long weekend - that's right, absolutely none of what I brought home to do. It illustrated to me how damaging distractions can be to being a succesful entrepreneur.

Now, for just those four days it was completely fine with me to skip out on some work, it was even probably good for me. I hadn't seen my friends and family for a few months and I won't see them again until Christmas so I enjoyed every minute I spent with them and I am glad I didn't get any work done.

For me it's easy. I am now back in CT and back in my routine. But I know there are a lot of people who are constantly "distracted" by friends and family when they would rather have time to work on their business. It's hard to get anything done when your parents/siblings/friends are calling every five minutes to hang out or "just talk". As an entrepreneur you can't do everything. If you need to spend five hours a day on the phone with your friends and family then entrepreneurship might not be for you.

Friends and family mean well, but you need to pick and choose your spots. You don't need to play poker watch the game, or go to happy hour EVERY time your friends do. Limit youself so that you can focus on your business. If your friends and family truly care about you and your passion (and I am sure they do), they will understand and support you. While they may miss having you around at first, they will be your biggest supporters as your venture begins to succeed.

One word of caution: make sure that you still keep your priorities straight - friends and family are more important than whatever job you do, so make sure to be there when they need you, and don't miss important events because of your business.