So, that got me wondering...what’s holding us back?
I surveyed my community (you!), and here’s what I found…
#1 MONEY
The number one reason women in my community gave for not working just 3 days a week was money (which is totally understandable). When we subscribe to the idea that we need to trade hours for dollars, working more hours means more dollars in the bank. Pretty simple math, right?
But, the problem is that this is an antiquated belief, and one that I strongly believe we’re ready to move beyond. There are countless ways to leverage our time, energy and creativity to make MORE while working LESS especially in the entrepreneurial world.
This also stems from the idea that more money automatically equals more happiness, but time and again in study after study it’s been shown that once our basic needs are met our happiness only increases incrementally when we make more money. The truth is, when we work ourselves ragged in the pursuit of money we’re putting our lives and our happiness on HOLD.
To reframe, I offer you this simple question: what is the value of your TIME?
Time for family and friends, simple pleasures, afternoon walks, weekday lunchdates, long weekends, morning yoga. Time for doing the things you love most right NOW. Time for living.
To me time is priceless.
So, with that way of thinking a 3-day workweek makes you more abundant and successful than anything else possibly could because you get to enjoy the immeasurable value of your time.
#2 MINDSET
This block presented itself in a few different ways in the women I surveyed…
Some women felt that they had to hustle (especially in the early phases of their business) in order to “earn” success.
Others felt guilty when they weren’t working.
Still others doubted their ability to be able to make more money and serve more people while working fewer hours.
All totally valid. Yet, all -- at their core -- are just self-imposed limitations.
Here are the facts:
- :: A recent study found that when subjects worked over 25 hours/week cognitive performance decreased as fatigue and stress took over
- :: The 40-hour workweek is an antiquated model designed by the unions for industrial workers who have “8 good hours a day” (not for gorgeous women entrepreneurs like you!)
- :: Longer hours are often more about “proving yourself” than about productivity
- :: You fill whatever hours you have -- more hours means more time to waste (boy, I know this one is all-too-true…)
- :: When you work just 3 days a week, you can save money on things like childcare, healthcare (because you aren’t working yourself ragged and chronically stressed), take-out dinners, house cleaning services, etc. and have more time for yourself, your family and the things you love most!
The reality is you can build your business and your life any way YOU want, because there’s no ONE path to success.
If you choose to believe that you can work fewer hours and still be wildly successful, you can be.
Your mind is the most powerful business-building tool you’ve got!
