Hi, My Name is Jeff

Hi.  My name is Jeff.  I am an entre-holic.

As I talk to business groups about our book, Bringing Your Business to Life, I find myself spending much of my time talking about the virtue of temperance. 

In the world of entrepreneurs, temperance is an understanding that we are more than what we do in work — more than just entrepreneurs. We are
spouses, parents, friends and citizens. We need to take actions that
lead us to be good in all that we do. That may mean that we temper our
ambitions to make sure we have time for family and friends.

Temperance is hard for entrepreneurs.  It is finding that balance in life that is so elusive for most of us who love to pursue opportunity.

I have wrestled with temperance most of my working life.  I am addicted to opportunity seeking.  I am addicted to deals.

This never was clearer to me than the time after we sold our company. I was ready for seize that next opportunity.  I was ready to move on to the next deal right away.  I had the plan.  I had the funding. 

Luckily for me I have a very wise purchase topamax wife.  She said to me, “Your are in time out.  No deals for six months.” 

She recognized what I did not — that I had let the “pursuit of the deal” consume me.  It defined who I was and left no room for all of those other things that we are called to be in our lives — a parent, a spouse, a friend.

My “time out” forced me to slow down.  It forced me really spend time to discern what I should do next.  And eventually I realized it was not that next deal.

Now I need to be clear that entre-holism is a disease of relapse.  Even as an academic I find myself slipping — of pursuing too many opportunities rather then leading a life of moderation.  Just this past year I had three book projects going — and all at once.  Why?  Because all of them seemed too good to pass up.

But once again my wife was there to rescue me.  When New Years rolled around she gave me my resolution for 2009  — “You will only read books in 2009!”

Hi.  My name is Jeff.  I’m an entre-holic.