A recent study by the Alliance and Leicester indicated that 33% of small business owners are working more than 50 hours a week and 15%  over 65 hours a week.  It’s confirmation, if you need it , that running your own business is very hard work.  But if you’re working 65 hours a week on an ongoing basis, you have to ask yourself – why?  Is it simply because there is so much work to be done?  Or because your business is undergoing an incredible growth phase? Or is it because you can’t quite bring yourself to delegate as much as you should?  If the answer to any of these three is yes, then you might be able to find a more sustainable work pattern by either delegating more if you have staff, or outsourcing some of the things that are taking up your time.  Most business owners find it hard to let go of things but the reality is that if you want your business to succeed you simply can’t do everything yourself. 

So if you’re slogging away putting in a 12 hour day everyday, then take half an hour out to list some of those tasks that are taking up your time.  Then take a look at the list and consider what you could realistically have someone else do for you.  It might not be easy starting to delegate, but start small and build up some trust with those carrying out the work for you and you should gradually find that you feel more comfortable handing over tasks or projects.