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Marketing podcast with Leo Babauta (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

Leo Babauta is the publisher of the very popular Zen Habits blog and author the Power of Less.

Leo is not my typical marketing/business expert type guest but Leo’s personal story and the subject he writes about are important lessons for small business owners.

As business owners we are totally free – free to work 80 hours a week, free to carry the stress of making payroll, free to eat junk food at our desk, and free to blow off any semblance of exercise, because, really, who’s got the time. Essentially, we’re all a bunch of heart attacks waiting to happen, but at least we’re free to have the heart attack on our terms, right?

I’ve been doing this for a long time and I can tell you that an entrepreneur’s diet, exercise routine, and stress release activities are just as important as any marketing plan every devised. Owning a business is not for sissies. Leo’s message of doing more with less is a breathe of fresh air and I count it as a daily.

So, take a long, deep, totally centered breath and have a listen. Namaste

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Posted by: John Jantsch on Nov 11, 09 | 10:10 am
Category: Podcast | Tags: , Leo Babauta, Zen habits

Comments

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Ryan Waggoner

I can't agree with this more. We launched our startup in Jan 2009 and for the first six months, I let things go completely to hell. I didn't get much sleep, stopped exercising, started eating junk food, etc. I was miserable six months in, and I really started questioning whether the death march was even good for the company, so I started cleaning things up. Eating healthier, working out, going to bed early and getting up early, etc. It's made a huge difference in how I feel, but it's also made a big difference for our company. My cofounder went through something similar, and we're more focused and aware now, which I think helps us be both more efficient and more effective.

Thanks again for the post!

ducttape

Ryan - great story and I agree - so important and in the end you actually get more time back from the time you spend excersising

Ryan Waggoner

Exercising and getting up early are the big two for me. I used to be a night owl, staying up until 1am or 2am, but I get 2-3x as much accomplished during the day if I get up early (usually 430am) and exercise. Easily the best habit I've ever developed.

Cynthia Cavoto

Great post. Since I started my business 6 months ago, all I do is work. While I love it with my whole heart, my exercise routine has suffered greatly. In the morning, I am anxious to get to work, and with all the interruptions when the kids get home, I find myself working until 8 or 9pm almost everyday!

I will say that I am happier than I have ever been, and I will find some time to exercise again one day soon!

ducttape

Loving what you do will keep you going a long time, but your mind and your kids will thank you for what exercise does to you.

Pinkcats46

Yes, you are so right! I must get back into it. Even if I just walk 10 minutes a day, it's beneficial. I plan to do this a long time, so I must be sure I can physically be here! ~thanks!

ducttape

We all need a kick in the somewhere - I hope I gave you one - go get em

23Gears

I joined my first start-up 15 years ago and we all worked like maniacs for the first 18 months. Then we started to realise that working loads of unpaid overtime is essentially a sign of bad management and poor planning. So we introduced a new rule that everyone had to leave the office by 18:00.

We still got everything done, but more efficiently. Parents in the company appreciated that they weren't outcasts for leaving early to look after their families. Everyone benefited.

Now I run my own company and since day 1 we have followed the rule (sure I may work some extra hours in the evening after my son has gone to bed, but that's my own choice). It's perfectly possible to build and grow a company during office hours.

ducttape

Love that -

tconnor11

I agree with what he said about powerpoint and unloading too much information on the audience. If the speaker's objective is to persuade, too much information might cloud the overall message.

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