A Healthy Business Starts With a Healthy You
Let me just level with you: your business won’t be successful or healthy if you’re not healthy as well.
There’s this mentality among business owners, especially entrepreneurs, that we need to push ourselves hardest. That sets an example for the team and that if we’re not doing 200% then we’re doing 0%.
But that’s the wrong example to set. Because the reality is that for a business, if its leader is always ailing or out of commission, then how can you attend to the business? Even if you have a quality staff of dedicated people that you’ve delegated work out to, your main focus of growing and expanding the business is going to be hampered by your inability to bring your full self to the job.
Your Business Can’t Be Healthy If You’re Not
Past generations of business leaders worked themselves to the bone and made that the expectation for “hard workers” but I think it’s even harder to show up for yourself and your business—but with infinitely better payoff. It takes a lot of work to create a good and healthy lifestyle that can support the rapid pace of your business.
For me, that means getting up early every morning for a solid workout before the workday starts. I know if I wait until later after work, I’m going to have no energy and not do it. It means taking vacations and actually unplugging—something I can do because I have a top-notch staff who can cover for me in my absence.
I can’t say what exactly will work for you, but I do have a few tips to start building a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
1. Sleep
This is the bare minimum. Getting enough quality sleep is the first and best thing you can
do to make sure you’re maintaining your health. Have you ever heard of sleep debt?
Like other debts, it can add up fast!
2. Eat well
I think this one’s one of the hardest to adopt because it’s so easy to reach for junk food
when you’re at the office or onsite. But I’ll reiterate what you already know: eating
regular, nourishing meals can help you think clearly, deal with stress, and work longer.
3. Manage stress
This one’s a BIG one for business owners especially. But stress has been shown to
increase the risk of high blood pressure, depression, and heart attacks. Employing some
stress management techniques at work can help lay the foundation for a healthier life
overall. Problems are much more manageable when you limit how much the stress
impacts you.
Setting a routine is a great way to start managing some of the stress of your life by
creating a level of predictability your body craves.
4. Exercise
Even if it’s just getting in a walk every day or some chair exercises, regular exercise can
improve cardiovascular health, increase energy levels, reduce stress, and improve
cognitive function. It can also help you manage stress.
5. Establish boundaries
In and out of work, boundaries are important. For a lot of us, our work can be
consuming. If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, there are a lot of hats you often
have to wear. I get it. I’ve been there. Hell, I’m still there, and it’s something I work on
every day. The important thing is to suss out what are healthy lines for you to draw. For
me, that’s been taking on too much day-to-day work that was taking time away from me
working on the business. I needed to delegate. So I hired, trained up, and set those
appropriate boundaries so I could work on what I needed to for the good of the business
and me.
Find what works for you!
6. Get regular checkups
The only way to know your health is to see a professional occasionally. Even if you
feel healthy, regular checkups can help catch problems early when they’re easier to treat
and potentially prevent new ones from forming.
Construction Citizen: Top 3 Legal Mistakes Companies Make in the Construction Industry
Sometimes getting yourself into a pickle can turn into a learning moment – not only for yourself, but others who may find themselves in the same predicament. As a seasoned construction attorney, Karalynn Cromeens, Owner & Managing Partner of The Cromeens Law Firm, has learned a lot from her client’s mistakes and strives to prevent others from going through the same thing twice. In an article for Construction Citizen, Karalynn lays out the top 3 legal mistakes she is seeing in the construction industry and how they can be resolved. Learning your lien laws and paying closer attention to your contracts can make a huge difference in cutting down on risks. Interested in learning more? Read the whole article here.
The Connected Construction Show: Protect your Construction Business from Getting Screwed
Karalynn Cromeens of The Cromeens Law Firm joined The Connected Construction Show with Matt Sprague and Evan Hill to discuss how contractors can protect their business by being proactive and not reactive. In her journey of practicing construction law for the last 17 years, Karalynn has learned a lot about what can be done to prevent clients from the inconvenience of having to settle legal issues in court. Taking what she learned, she has been able to provide loads of FREE educational material and this episode pretty much sums up all the helpful information she is putting out. Matt and Evan do a great job of asking the right questions to better understand why all this information is important and who it best applies to. If you are looking to end the year learning how to protect your business, listen to the episode here.
PRO TALK with Attorney Karalynn Cromeens
The Power of a Solid Contract and Good Software
As the construction industry continues to advance in technology through better and more efficient software, there became a need for digital storage of documents. Karalynn Cromeens of The Cromeens Law Firm partnered with a construction management software company called JobTread to create a system that supports construction workers in their everyday project management while also providing a secure platform to store and create solid contracts that work for, not against your construction business. In Episode 498, Karalynn speaks about how this integration came about, what pain points it can correct within construction businesses, and why it has the potential to be a huge game changer in the industry. If you want more insight into this new and extremely convenient system designed specifically for contractors, then you will want to tune in to this podcast. Listen by clicking here.
Material Sourcing & Supply Chain Issues
During The Cromeens Law Firm’s trip to the Sunbelt Builder’s Show in Dallas, TX, Karalynn Cromeens got an opportunity to chat with other industry professionals about material sourcing & supply chain issues on The Dirt Nerds of TX podcast. With her experience as a construction law attorney as well as an owner of a material supply company, she was really able to speak to current trends in the industry and how she has been able to adapt to changes. This episode is loaded with knowledgeable experts who have great perspectives on hot topics pertaining to material sourcing & supply chain. If you want in on this conversation, you can tune in here.
How to Collect Your Money With All Due Respect
The Painful Task of Collecting Your Hard-Earned Cash
Asking for money can be an uncomfortable conversation to have with someone and most people try to avoid it all together. Karalynn Cromeens of The Cromeens Law Firm joined The Profit Toolbelt podcast as a guest to give tips on collecting your money “with all due respect.” What does this mean exactly? A lot of it has to do with building out a system that will keep the cash flow consistent. With Karalynn being a master money collector, she’s pretty much got this system down pat and is on a mission to share this knowledge with the construction industry. It’s great information to have and can essentially save your business from taking financial losses where it’s not deserved. All the hard work that goes into a project does not need to be dismissed by non-payment issues. Set your construction business up for success and learn the ins and outs of a good collection strategy. Start by listening to Episode 162 of this info-filled podcast and staying connected with all the educational material Karalynn Cromeens has to offer.
Home Building Hero: Protections and Pitfalls of Construction Contracts
The Formula to Business Protection
No one is expected to take up a career in construction and fully understand the legal side of the industry but the reality is that it’s a huge key to protecting your business and growing it to its full potential. Karalynn Cromeens of The Cromeens Law Firm joined The Home Building Hero podcast to address the different obstacles that contractors face and how to avoid them. A contract should be the foundation and beginning piece to every job and can help set expectations throughout the project and while there are many contract templates that contractors have found helpful throughout the years, having an attorney review your documents is always the safest route. Karalynn speaks to the progress that she has seen her clients make due to having the proper representation and how that motivates her to continue educating the industry on the legal side of construction. If you’d like to get in on this conversation and receive some great tips, click here to listen.
Construction Management Software (And How to Use it to Your Advantage)
How Construction Software Saves Time and Money
Want to help make your attorney’s job easier? Start utilizing systems that maintain and organize your important documents in case you need to find them in the midst of a legal predicament. Karalynn Cromeens of The Cromeens Law Firm has seen a lot in her 18 years of practicing law. This is why she was able to offer some great pointers in a recent Construction Citizen article on how contractors can use construction management software to make sure their businesses are locked and loaded with the necessary documentation in the event of a legal mishap. Having reliable software (like JobTread, for example) is a great way to be proactive and solve issues before they come about. If you’re interested in reading more about the benefits of a reliable construction management software, click here.
US Glass Magazine: The Gig is Up
Contractors Using Digital Platforms for Work
All money isn’t good money and sometimes, not reading your agreements could result in no money at all. Karalynn Cromeens with The Cromeens Law Firm is featured in US Glass’ September issue to give contractors a few essential details to consider when finding work online. While racking in leads online can be very tempting, there are risks associated with it and every contractor should know what to look out for. In this article, contractors will learn how to take better control of the types of jobs they are taking by knowing what the red flags are when looking for work through platforms such as Thumbtack, Houzz, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. If you are a contractor filling in the gaps in your customer pipeline, just getting started, or looking to expand by racking in more online leads, this is the perfect read for you. Click here to dive in!