As I consider the foundational components or requirements to scale a firm, one thing I would list is ‘Owner Health Activities.’ The more my partner and I grow our firm, the more important this becomes. I’m not only talking about working out at the gym, though physical health is a component. There is more to health than the physical aspect. Taking care of your mind can be a huge benefit as you grow your firm. The ability to think fast, think differently, think with others in the way they think, or think more deeply can make you a bullet-proof firm owner. And the emotional balance firm owners need during busy times, stressful times, and during elations is part of managing and maintaining health.

Most Google searches for components of health reveal 6 main health components:

• Physical
• Social
• Environmental
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Intellectual/Mental

It truly is difficult to maintain all of these as you grow a business, but it’s important to keep these in balance when you can. As with any growth-related goals, I think a healthy way to seek balance is to pick the top 1 or 2 health components that you are currently struggling with. Then seek some balance in those areas from people you trust, or even a business or life coach where you’ll feel free to expose your struggles in a private, safe setting. Another trusted individual can help you seek balance in ways you may not be able to see on your own.

Remaining in the details of running your firm can also cause you to overlook the above 6 components to staying healthy. Getting caught in the weeds is a fight for all small business owners. Though it’s often necessary, you see things differently down in the weeds. Scheduling regular time to step away, and look at your firm-building activities from a higher vantage point can work wonders in helping you notice where you are focused, or not focused, on health. I would suggest having at least a few hours per week to focus on the higher-level aspects of your firm-building. My partner and I put these ‘strategy blocks’ on our calendar to make sure they aren’t overlooked. That may sound like a lot, but it will become a healthy habit you can’t stop doing once it becomes a part of your life.

Once you know the top 1 or 2 areas where your health is out of balance, you can ask yourself these questions about that area of health:

• If I’m honest, what 1 key issue is causing an imbalance in this area of my health (just pick 1 area of concern)?
• Is this issue a systemic issue that will last long-term, or is it a short-term issue that is likely to go away on its own?
• Is this issue being caused by my own behavior, is it fully being controlled by other factors in my life (environmental, situations, people, etc.), or is it a mixture of both?
• If I could choose freely, what could I do to remove/restabilize this 1 issue in my life to bring this area into a healthier balance?
• If I don’t have control over this particular issue/situation of my health, what health tools (within the 6 areas of health above) can I lean on to accept the way things are/will always be?

These questions can begin to help you sort through the imbalance, and seek to bring some health back into your life. Making decisions around health is a lifelong pursuit, so try not to beat yourself up because you struggle. We all struggle with balancing the above 6 components of health. The goal is to recognize the struggle, and begin making better choices when we can.

Jason is the Founder of Thriveal and the Chief Innovative Officer of his CPA firm, Blumer & Associates. He is the co-host of the Thrivecast and The Businessology Show and speaks and writes frequently for CPAs and creatives, his firm’s chosen niche. Jason loves to watch documentaries on just about anything. He lives in Greenville, SC with his wife and their three children.