5 Weekend Practices of Highly Effective Entrepreneurs

While it seems that a growing number of people we meet everyday say they are entrepreneurs, many of them are still working to figure out how to go from WANT-preneurs to being full-fledged entrepreneurs.

What’s the difference?

There are in fact, several distinctions between the two, yet many don’t recognize what they are.

I should know: I was one of the latter once…for longer than I’d like to admit.

When I first started in entrepreneurship over 10 years ago, my friends and I thought that we always had to be busy.

Always had to make ourselves scarce and run from one place to another, whether for a meeting, or to sit and work on our businesses.

Boy, were we wrong!

Each of us wound up burning ourselves out to some degree for nothing, instead spinning our wheels in the mud.

While it looked like we were making progress, we were really just revving our engines and making no advancement.

Finding that work-life balance is so incredibly important, especially when you’re a one-woman or one-man show.

Amazingly enough, when you do find it, things seem to turn out to be a lot easier.

You start to pick-up new ideas and link older ones together, eventually becoming highly valuable to your clients and customers.

This post will focus on weekends and how you can – or should – spend your time just like the successful entrepreneurs in the world!

5 Things that successful entrepreneurs do on weekends

1. Relax and spend time with friends or family.

Yes, you read that right.

Successful entrepreneurs spend their weekends relaxing or spending time with family and friends.

They also like to attend fun social events.

Making that leap from WANT-preneur to successful entrepreneur takes a healthy social life and time with loved ones.

This can be spent doing a number of activities, such as golfing, riding bikes with your friends, hiking with the family – anything to get away from your work is healthy and incredibly pivotal to your success.

You’ll be amazed at the difference you’ll see and feel.

Not just in your business, but also in the opportunities you’re chasing.

Suddenly, you’ll realize how they just roll in, usually when you’re out doing something you enjoy.

TIP: Learn to live in the moment…not “in five years when I have accomplished X”.

Nothing is guaranteed.

Your happiness is directly tied to your physical and mental health.

Set the right tone, spend time making great memories, taking adventures, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come!

2. Read or learn something new.

The amount that (many) successful entrepreneurs read is incredible.

Really, it’s astonishing to see the seemingly insatiable thirst they have for learning.

They LOVE it.

In fact, the most successful entrepreneurs I know have this passion for their field.

They are always looking to learn from others: from conversations, in-person or online courses, magazines, and whatever they can get their hands on.

But don’t think this contradicts point no. 1 on our list.

This can be done on weekends when things are ‘slow’, or during coffee and tea time.

You can also limit it to only 30-60 minutes a day.

Don’t think you have to hit up Amazon and break the bank to start this habit.

Take advantage of public libraries.

In Pittsburgh for instance, we are quite spoiled, as the Carnegie Library System is one of the best in the nation.

If you can’t get to the library, you can read online via Kindle, or through similar apps.

TIP: Reading should not be limited to work-related topics.

Don’t forget to include fiction, as it lights up your imagination and help break the monotony.

It also keeps you sharp and alert for new ideas!

3. Pursue your hobby or try a new one.

Finding something non-work related, or taking the time to learn a new skill helps give more spice to life.

It challenges us in ways we don’t encounter in our day-to-day work life.

There are a ton of hobbies you can try, each offering a different way to grow personally and to get away from everything.

From cooking, woodworking, painting, photography, to sailing, rock climbing, or playing an instrument, the possibilities are endless!

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I know have a blast doing their hobby on weekends.

Those they work with often wonder: “How are they so energized on Mondays?

Where is this fountain of youth and energy?

How can I get some?!”

TIP: Do something that interests you.

Something that you’ve always wanted to try.

Lose yourself a little bit in it on weekends.

Taking the mind away from work is a bit of a “magic trick” for letting your subconscious mind work problems out while you are preoccupied with something else.

4. Work out or do sports.

Competing in sports, going to games, participating in competitions, watching their favorite team or club play – these are just some activities that successful entrepreneurs do on weekends.

While some love being part of something bigger, like cheering for their sports team (sometimes even traveling great distances for it), others play in local recreational leagues and even semi-professional leagues.

Fitness is a big part of the lives of most – if not all – successful entrepreneurs.

But why is that?

It’s because they recognize that the healthier you are, mentally and physically, the better your body and mind can function.

None of the successful entrepreneurs I know “just work out” though.

Rather, they have goals and targets that they constantly work towards.

Some are aiming to squat or deadlift certain numbers; while others are aiming for the next belt up in martial arts.

Who knows, maybe a good number of them are just trying to master how to do a handstand push-up, too.

TIP: Staying healthy and active is an integral part of successful entrepreneurs’ lives.

They recognize that unless you continue to give a healthy outlet for your body, the stress of life and business will beat you down, leaving you lifeless and miserable. 

Make taking care of your body a priority.

Use structured exercise and proper nutrition to build up your ability to deal with, and dispel stress in healthy, beneficial ways!

5. Go travel or explore.

This is perhaps one of the strongest motivators to become an entrepreneur.

But before you start thinking about traveling on weekends, I would like to share something with you: Quite a few of the most successful entrepreneurs I know and have met, spend more time exploring their own city than they do traveling to exotic places.

Yup, I had the same reaction you probably have: What?

Why?!

Each one said pretty much the same thing: There is a ton to explore in and around their home city!

From historic sites, cool artists, to unique tucked-away little neighbourhoods – they want to learn more about the city they’re living in, and connect with it on a deeper level.

They also believe that taking these lavish, huge trips abroad, will one day lose their appeal.

Eventually, it will become mundane and boring.

So why do that to yourself?

Save for the big, exotic trips at least once a year and let the excitement build!

Successful entrepreneurs travel because they love discovering different places and people around the world.

It’s about experiencing something completely new.

While this is by no means an exhaustive list, these are the most common themes seen in successful entrepreneurs.

Did you notice anything?

None of these are work-related.

While weekend seminars and conferences are part of their lives, these people recognize the importance of time away from work.

They want to enjoy life now, giving the mind and body a break from building and maintaining a thriving business.

Off to you: What are you going to change in your weekend routine now that you know what highly successful entrepreneurs do?

Share your NEW weekend plans in the comments section, along with why you chose it.