I agree with the PanamaReport.com that entrepreneurs around the world experience the dilemma of time management, whether they happen to be in Panama, Singapore, Croatia or Barbados. Getting entrenched in work is the motor that allows most small businesses to succeed, but the same recipe can lead to burnout. Which is often one of the reasons, entrepreneurs look to take their business abroad or reinvent themselves when they move overseas, so as not to be consumed by work in a new environment. In Panama and most other fast-developing countries, most businesses are started from scratch, as opposed to buy-outs or franchises. This approach naturally has a tendency to breed a parent-like addiction for entrepreneurs to nuture their babies. For good time management, you need a strong staff to handle mindless activity. In Panama now, an entrepreneur’s all-out dedication is self-defeating.
That’s because, you didn’t move to Panama (Singapore, Crotia, Barbados, etc) to work yourself into a tizzy and collapse in bed at night. You didn’t move to a beautiful nation to sit behind a desk and perpetuate the 9-5 lifestyle you had back home. You came (I hope) to indulge in a better quality of living, to travel, to explore and see new things.
While a new business does indeed require intense supervision, good entrepreneurs know when to take a step back from their craft and enjoy time off.
That time off does two things:
1. It gives you perspective on why you became an expat, as well as why you are an entrepreneur in your new jurisdiction.
2. It shows your team your core values and that you trust them to do their work, even when you are not there.
So in Panama, you can book yourself some designating beach days (Santa Clara, Isla Taboga, and Darien are simple day trips from Panama City) or schedule some long weekends of exploring elsewhere in Central American to regain perspective and passion for your business.
In Croatia, it might be a retreat in the mountains or to a lake resort.
In Singapore, it might be getting out of the city to a country villa or a short flight to Malaysia.
In Barbados, a great escape from island living is to get on a sailboat and island hop for a few days.
However you break the workaholic trap in paradise, as an expat entrepreneur you get to reinvent yourself, your life and your approach to business.
Tags: entrepreneur, expat, expat entrepreneur, time management
