Do you know that entrepreneurs also suffer from a loss of interest in their business at one time or another? Commonly referred to as entrepreneurial burnout. It is a time when the entrepreneurs have lost enthusiasm in their businesses. Explaining why some entrepreneurs sometimes say: “It’s just not exciting anymore.”

One may asked: What are the tell-tale symptoms of entrepreneurial burnout? Feeling of fatigue and loss of interest, what else. Many times the feeling of loss of interest extends to other things outside the business. Many times too, the physical appearance of the entrepreneurs betray the occurrence of entrepreneurial burnout. An entrepreneur suffering from entrepreneurial burnout looks haggard, tired, and irritable. As if body and mind just can’t seem to go any further.

Many of us are familiar with the common causes of burnout. Usually entrepreneurs start small. They are their own bosses and they control decision-making. In short, the entrepreneurs at the start are in control of everything. But as the company grows, it is no longer possible for an entrepreneur to do everything. He cannot be in charge of all things. Even if he wants to. He has to loosen his grip of the company. He must let go of other activities in the company and delegate the tasks to others.

Closely linked to control of the business is the decision-making aspect. At the start, an entrepreneur has a monopoly of decisions – all kinds of decision. But as the company grows, this arrangement is no longer possible. No matter how competent and organized an entrepreneur is, there comes a time during the growth of the company that it is physically impossible for him to handle all the decision-making aspect of the company.

Otherwise, the entrepreneur will be under stress due to decision overload.

How then should entrepreneurs cope with this problem of entrepreneurial burnout – sometimes referred to as entrepreneurial power failure? The entrepreneur should immediately reset his business priorities. Otherwise, he might end up having a nervous breakdown.

Business is not all business. There are many successful businessmen (including entrepreneurs) who have happy family life. There are many successful businessmen who share their time and money with others. There are many successful businessmen who never forget that all their blessings come from our Lord God. A balance life. A fulfilling life. A compassionate life.

Hopefully, this reminder about entrepreneurial burnout will be ingrained in the minds and hearts of entrepreneurial wannabes.

Especially now that we are in the midst of a great era of entrepreneurship in our history… today, more and more Filipinos, both young and old, both men and women, both the educated and the uneducated have dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Have a joyful day!
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NOTE: To those who are interested in “natural farming” (no fertilizer, no pesticide, no weeding, an environmental-friendly sustainable farming that makes all inputs from natural materials, observes the law of the Nature and respects the rights of crops and livestock) – there is a Natural Farming and Gardening Seminar to be held today (January 30th, Saturday), 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Flor’s Garden, Marcos Highway, Antipolo City sponsored by FINEX Research and Development Foundation. Speaker is Andry K. Lim, Founder/Consultant of Tribal Mission Foundation International Inc. and the DA Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Organic Agriculture Initiative: Individual Advocate Category 2009. For further information, please call Cherry S. Basilio at telephone nos. 811-4184 and 811-4052 or e-mail at crsalazar@finex.org.ph.