The Small business Owner's Guide To Stress

I attended a keynote address by Dr Steven Saunders at the Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ) Conference on 26 July 2008.

Dr Saunders has a quirky and engaging style and quickly had the assembled moteliers in the palm of his hand. As with many successful speakers, the message is simple! You are not here on earth for long. Why waste your time being miserable? When everything is going wrong, maybe it's time to give yourself a check up, from the neck up.

He centers on the common denominators of success - a positive attitude, a commitment to goals, a focus on results and on the art of winning with people, whether they are your customers, your staff or your associates.

Moteliers are typical of many small business owners. We are consistently working IN our businesses and never have time to make positive changes. A large part of attending any conference is to set aside some self indulgent time and focus working ON your business and your life.

As any small business owner knows, there is more to life than work. A business owner is constantly juggling their professional life, personal life and family life. To be successful a business owner must learn to balance all the aspects of their life and manage stress.

Excepts from Dr Saunders presentation:

Stress…… Your reaction to Life’s Pressures.

Death Spiral: The Stages And Symptoms Of Stress

• Stage 1

Affect
Happy, relaxed, satisfied,
in control, feeling great,
creative tension

Health
Fine,
no symptoms,
tonne of energy

• Stage 2
  

Affect
Tense, uptight, insomnia,
frustration, uncontrolled
thoughts, moody, irritable,
not happy, becoming
negative, emotional

Health
CATS syndrome,
fatigue, loss of libido,
weight changes,
frequent aches & pains,
heart palpitations,
muscle spasm

• Stage 3

Affect
Depressed, self-critical, very
unhappy, cynical, aggression,
mood swings, feelings of
worthlessness, despair,
hyperactivity, relief behaviour,
relationship breakdown, career
in jeopardy

Health
Serious and chronic health
issues, neck/ back pain,
headaches, racing heart,
bowel problems, high blood
pressure, ulcers, premature
aging

• Stage 4

Affect
Depressed

Health
Suicidal
Very poor health

But hey… It isn’t all bad: 3 Key words

• Balance
• Perspective
• Control
  

Tips for beating Stress - from the Corporate Shrink

• Exercise regularly
• Don’t smoke
• Stay in shape
• Drink in moderation
• Get plenty of sleep
• Hang out with family and friends
• Eat breakfast
• Relax
• Laugh at yourself

www.drstevensaunders.com