When Was the Last Time You Checked In With Yourself?

Question

Someone recently asked me a very simple question: "How are you doing?"

It made me realize how rarely we seem to ask entrepreneurs that question.

We're constantly checking on the business. Revenue, leads, clients, schedules, marketing, employees, expenses, growth. There's always another task, another problem to solve, another person to connect with, or something new to create.

But how often do we pause long enough to check in on the person building the business?

Not just whether we're tired or stressed, but whether we're still enjoying what we're building. Whether we're proud of how far we've come. What's working for us personally, what's wearing us down, and whether the business we're creating still aligns with why we started it in the first place.

Sometimes I think we get so focused on where we're trying to go that we forget to acknowledge where we are.

So I'm curious:

How are you doing?

Not your revenue. Not your pipeline. Not your team.

You.

And when was the last time you actually stopped long enough to answer that question?

anthonysalazar · Answer

As my wife and I continue on our faith journey, I've been taking every morning and giving my first fruits to God and myself. It gets difficult once it's almost time for my Team to start working as I need to make myself available for them, but giving my morning to God has been really rewarding as I can have an introspective look of my self, how I'm showing up for my Team/Friends/Family, what I need to work on to achieve my goals and be a better husband.

travisshepherd · Answer

Honestly, I do not stop and think about it until the end of a long day or when something breaks and forces me to slow down. When you are out in the field managing jobs, keeping equipment running, and handling everything else that comes with running a business, you just keep pushing forward.

It is real easy to get caught up in the grind and realize weeks have gone by without checking in on yourself. Most days you just wake up, deal with whatever comes at you, and keep moving. Taking a second to sit back and answer a question like that does not happen very often, but it is a good reminder to pause once in a while.

sophiera · Answer

I really appreciate this perspective. I love that you’ve made time for reflection first thing in the morning, before the demands of the day start pulling at you. There’s something powerful about checking in with yourself before you begin showing up for everyone else and giving your first thoughts of the day to God.

I also like how you’re using that time not just to think about goals, but to reflect on how you’re showing up for your team, friends, family, and as a husband. That feels like a much more complete way of measuring how you’re doing.

Thank you for sharing this. It’s a good reminder that checking in with ourselves doesn’t always have to happen after something feels off. It can become part of how we start the day.

sophiera · Answer

I think this is exactly what I was getting at. So often the pause only comes after something breaks, we’re exhausted, or the day finally gets quiet enough to hear ourselves think.

I really appreciate your honesty because I imagine a lot of business owners operate this way. We get so used to pushing forward that slowing down can almost feel unproductive, even when it’s probably what helps us keep going well.

Thanks for sharing this. Your response is a good reminder that maybe the check-in needs to happen before the breakdown, not because of it.

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When Was the Last Time You Checked In With Yourself?

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