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Over ten years ago, I walked into a TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Conference in San Jose.  Among the speakers was Dr. Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, founder of Sycamore Networks. Sycamore had recently made a successful IPO with a multi-billion dollar valuation, and the large auditorium was standing room only. I expected to hear about technology and entrepreneurship, but the one thing I remember today from the talk was when Dr. Deshpande spoke of juggling multiple balls.

We juggle the balls of work, family, friends and many others. The work ball is made of rubber, Desh said; if you drop it, it will bounce back. The family and friends’ ball, on the other hand, is made of glass, so handle it with care. This is a good reminder for the holiday season; success in entrepreneurship can’t be separated from fulfillment in life.

Ultimately, what is it that we all want? We want to be happy. Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Happiness is your very nature. You need a reason to be miserable; you don’t need any reason to be happy.” The art of living well, without burnout, is about being happy first and then accomplishing everything you want, rather than hooking the happiness on the success or failure of any particular venture. But how do you go about doing this? Here are some ideas:

1. Be 100%
At an Olympic Games’ race, one person puts in 95 per-cent effort and comes second. Another person puts in 100 percent and comes last. Who will be happier? The person who put in 95 percent will keep thinking, “What if?” On the other hand, the person who put in 100 percent but came last did his or her best. When we live and give our 100 percent, there is no room for regret.

2. Don’t sweat the outcomes
The teaching from the Gita, “Act but don’t be attached to the fruits of the actions,” was very confusing to me. Does it mean that one shouldn’t make a business plan? Non-attachment to outcomes doesn’t mean non-planning. It comes from living fully. Enjoy the process of being an entrepreneur as an amazing journey of personal growth; if not, you’ll be measuring your worth with the rise and fall of your stock price.

3. Do yoga & pranayama
We spend our health to gain wealth; then we spend our wealth to gain back our health. Stop and take care of your body and mind. Yoga is great for this. The secret for controlling the mind lies in the breath. I have found the Art of Living’s Sudarshan Kriya especially beneficial. Find what works for you and do it regularly.

4. Learn to meditate
Entrepreneurs are always on the go. Amidst all this activity, meditation—the art of doing nothing—acts as a source of renewal. Take 20 minutes out of your day to meditate. You’ll gain hours in better sleep and effectiveness when awake.

5. Make the time to take the time
Often there are things that are important but never get on the planner. Put in time to call your parents or spend quality time with loved ones on your planner. Make time for activities that you’ve always wanted to do. The time you spend on such things will come back to you in the extra energy you will have to be on task.

SANKRANT SANU is the founder of Miloka Inc. (www.miloka.com). He lives in Gurgaon and Seattle. If you have an entrepreneurial story to tell, write to him at sankrant@msn.com.

©Entrepreneur December 2010

Tags:
Art of Living, burnout, Sankrant Sanu