忙碌的企業家和高管們總是要應對很多事情，很容易變得不堪重負。領導者事務繁多——撰寫商業計劃、雇傭員工、管理團隊、融資、吸引客戶、參加交流活動等等。已經有許多不錯的建議來幫助他們平衡這一切，而我在這里也根據自己的經歷給出一點忠告：你不能搞定一切，你也不應該搞定一切。

不要誤解我——每天我都在努力帶領我的公司BoardProspects.com奮勇前進，這是一家專門為企業董事會招聘高管的初創企業。我們要準備和參加會議、出差、進行商業預測和規劃、起草融資建議、管理供應商和團隊、接受媒體采訪等等。噢，我還有家人需要我盡力照顧。這些事情即便不是很緊急，對我公司的成功也很重要，然而我畢竟只有一己之力，你也同樣如此。

以下是我關于建立平衡，保持冷靜的建議：

1、承認你不可能搞定一切

許多企業家和高管都興奮地渴望獲得成功。他們在很多事情上投入了過量的精力。然而你只有一己之力，一天只有這么多小時，所以應該每天/每月/每季確定一兩個優先項目，然后全心投入在上面。

2、了解你的長處

聘用專家來處理你不擅長的領域。打造一支強大的團隊能讓你抽身出來，建立一個不再需要你投入100%的精力和時間就能自己運轉的體系。招來合適的人，相信你的團隊能各司其職。

3、關注職業發展

幫助員工進行職業發展十分重要，不過也不要忘記自己，你是他們的領導。去參加社交活動向他人學習，或是參加教育研討會和學術會議。另一個學習他人、擴大職業社交圈的好方法是加入董事會。你能借此建立新的關系，了解一家公司內部的工作情況、公司戰略和領導層觀點。這能幫助你為自己的公司做出正確的決策。它還能讓你接觸到事業相關的成功人士，并向他們取經。

4、學會放松

偶爾，你也需要放慢步伐做個深呼吸。請為你取得的成績感到驕傲。沒錯，你的待辦事項上還有許多條目，不過放慢步伐靜一靜，欣賞一下你的付出和收獲也很重要。按下暫停鍵往往能讓你想清楚一些事，這是你在忙碌時做不到的，所以好好享受片刻寧靜吧。也許你能產生一個新想法，一種新思路，或是一個你之前從未想到的解決方案。

5、尋找團體感

如果你沒有共同創始人或同伴，在領導團隊或公司時可能會感到孤單。加入一個行業組織或企業關系團體，可以讓你有一些團體感。閱讀其他商業領袖寫的文章或商業書籍，學習他們如何平衡事務、應對不同阻礙。

6、每天讀報紙

不是網絡報，而是紙質報。許多高管嘗試在網上看報紙，但他們總是會分心去關注彈出的電子郵件或信息。在我看來，沒有什么比離開電腦和移動設備，花點時間讀讀報紙更能促進你在職業和個人上的提升了。報紙可以就每天發生在你周圍的重要事件和發展，向你提供寶貴的觀點。這些事情都是你本來應該關注，卻因為試圖把所有事情做好而忽略的。（財富中文網）

本文作者Mark Rogers是BoardProspects.com創始人及首席執行官。

譯者：嚴匡正

Busy entrepreneurs and executives have a lot to juggle, and it can easily become overwhelming. Between writing business plans, hiring employees, managing teams, raising capital, engaging customers, and networking events, there’s a lot on a leader’s plate. While there are many helpful suggestions on ways to balance everything, here’s another piece of advice I’ve learned during my journey: You can’t do it all. And you shouldn’t.

Don’t get me wrong – on any given day I’m deep in the weeds of leading my board recruitment startup, BoardProspects.com, preparing for and attending meetings, traveling, mapping out business projections and plans,drafting financing proposals, managing vendors and teams, media interviews, and more. Oh, and I have a family who I try to see as much as I can, too. All of these things are important — if not urgent — for my startup’s success, but I am only one person, and so are you. Here’s my best advice for how to create balance and stay sane:

Admit that you can’t do it all

Many entrepreneurs and executives are excited about being successful and focus too heavily on too many things. You are only one person and there are only so many hours in a day, so prioritize 1-2 projects each day/month/quarter and give them your all.

Identify your strengths

Hire talented professionals to handle the areas where you aren’t as strong. Building a strong team will allow you to step back and create a well-oiled machine that doesn’t require 100% of your attention 100% of the time. Hire the right people and then trust your team do their jobs.

Professional development

Helping your employees grow professionally is extremely important, but don’t forget about yourself, their leader. Attend networking events to learn from others, or join educational webinars and conferences. Another great way to learn from others and expand your professional network is to serve on a board. This fosters new relationships and gives you insight into the inner workings of a business, its strategies, and leadership insights that can help you make the right decisions for your own business. It also connects you to career-oriented, successful professionals to learn from.

Relax

Every now and then, slow down and take a deep breath. Feel proud of what you’ve created. Yes, there are a million items on your to-do list, but it’s important to take quiet moments to slow down and appreciate the work you’ve put in and what you’ve grown. Pressing pause often allows a sense of clarity that isn’t available when you’re stuck in the weeds, so savor it. It might give you a new idea, a fresh way of thinking, or allow you to recognize a solution to a problem you hadn’t thought of before.

Create a sense of community

Oftentimes it can be lonely leading a team or a business if you don’t have a co-founder or peer. Join an industry organization or business networking group in order to feel a sense of community. Read articles and business books by other business leaders to learn how they balance it all or approach different obstacles.

Read a newspaper every day

Not online – an actual newspaper. Many executives attempt to read newspapers online but inevitably become distracted when an email or text message appears on the screen. In my opinion, there is nothing more valuable in terms of your professional and personal growth than turning your attention from your PC or mobile device and taking the time to read a newspaper. It will give you a valuable perspective on important events and developments transpiring around you each day – events you should be aware about but aren’t because you are too caught up in trying to do it all.