Reflections on being a business owner

Take a break - it will put your business goals into perspective, writes Manar Al Hinai.

Going away on holiday and taking a break from everything around you offers an exciting opportunity to come in terms with many aspects of your life.

I recently took a three-week trip to Europe, where I enjoyed long walks and meditation almost every day.

Doing this every once in a while is important when you have an office job and run a small consultancy on the side like I do.

It allows you to step away, take a look at the bigger picture and decide what you should be dropping or adding to the list of things you do.

My business year has been great so far.

I have met interesting people and managed to work with both international and start-up brands.

“So what did the long walks help you realise when it comes to your business?” asked one friend the other day.

Besides now understanding the importance of solitude every once in a while, I also came to a number of conclusions:

Everyone has their own definition of success

While making a seven-figure profit might be key for some entrepreneurs, for me the satisfaction I receive from helping others reach their potential or helping a business deliver the right message to its target audience is more important.

One project I enjoyed working on the most this year was helping a start-up beauty brand develop a socially conscious business – a percentage of its profit goes directly to helping refugee children from Syria. It felt great to help a business that was making a positive change to the world. To me, the feeling was priceless.

There is no time frame on success

Some businesses become successful overnight; others take a year or much longer. There are no rules, and experiencing instant success does not guarantee long-term sustainability. If you are not going to be patient and will only give a year to a project, then do not dive into entrepreneurship. Managing a business requires dedication, patience and undying passion even when things do not seem to be going your way.

Sacrifice is part of the deal

The one thing you have to continuously sacrifice as an entrepreneur is your time. That is why I stress that entrepreneurs should follow fields they are passionate about, as they will be spending most of their time thinking about their business and working on it.

Be strict about first impressions

If you do not get along with a potential client or employee from the outset, then let the opportunity go. In fact, things rarely get better, and most importantly you do not want that kind of vibe around you.

Have a positive attitude

People like to work with those they feel comfortable around and that are passionate about what they do. This is something I look for when acquiring different suppliers. It is better to explore more options – even if that takes more time – than to work with someone who does not care enough about their business or workplace. When someone is committed to their work, they are easier to work with in the long run.

Work only on things you are passionate about

The beauty about running your own business is the freedom to choose the clients you wish to work with. You’re entitled to reject an offer, but do so politely by stating that this is not within your line of work and then recommend someone else more suitable. The client will respect your honesty.

Take time off

During my trip, I realised that taking a break is the best reward you can give a restless entrepreneurial mind. Not only do you get time to reflect, but you return to work more energised than ever before to tackle the projects that await you.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi. Twitter: @manar_alhinai.

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter