It happens all the time. A colleague wants your help (again), a member of your team asks for more time off, an industry contact urges you to buy their product, someone wants you to hire their relative, or a volunteer group asks you to head up a project for the fifth year in a row.

It's human nature to want to impress someone else. Unfortunately, that desire is sometimes focused on the material things in life, including the size and location of our home, the type of vehicle we drive, the brand of clothes we wear, and the technology we buy.

Running your own business can be exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. The freedom it brings can seem outweighed by being responsible for everything. And as your business grows, it’s hard to find the time to step back and think about what you can do to benefit you – and your business.

Here are five smart moves.

It’s easy to veer off the trail. A lack of signposts, unexplored paths, and curiosity can tempt us to take a different route from our original plan. This often works out when we’re on a leisurely hike in familiar territory but can have devastating consequences if not approached with common sense. If the changes you choose result in you ending up far from your destination, the possibility of being stranded is genuine. No one will know where you are.

Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain at times is a common side effect of running your own business. Your original vision, so clear in the past, can feel muddled when unexpected challenges impact the future of your venture and demand attention. Finding solutions to stay focused can be all-consuming, especially when working in a pandemic environment.