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You hear about the horror stories all the time of entrepreneurs toiling 24/7 for months if not years on end to make their business a success. Some people think that’s how it has to be. Well, certainly for a time, while you’re figuring things out, you’ll have to dig deep to find your groove. However, there is no reason for you to have to run your business this way for the long term! I know from my earlier days when I started NuKitchen, an online gourmet food retailer, I was exactly this ‘horror’ story – working nonstop for a couple of years – risking my health, my relationship, my sanity, etc.

Now, I was working super hard and all of my time was accounted for but I was NOT working smartly. I think many early stage entrepreneurs and business owners get caught up in their own stuff and create a micro-managed culture where they’re working nonstop too. After all, who can sell as well as you? Who can write that memo as expediently as you can? It will take less time if you do it yourself…. And so on and so on. Get out of your own way and start working on your business and not in your business.

There are three great reads that I recommend to help you get out of your own way so that you can grow your business and put hours back into your day.

The first is Michael Gerber’s E-Myth. This popular bestseller provides a great primer for figuring out how to get out from under the weeds and start working on your business… he cites some very compelling examples of business owners who are “overworked, overstaffed and eventually broke.” Sounds likes you? Then it probably is.

Next is Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week. While I think it’s very difficult to actually get to a 4 hour work week- and I’m not sure that Tim actually does from sources I’ve spoken with, there are lots of nuggets of wisdom, in particular the sections about time management techniques to make you more productive, like only checking email twice a day, outsourcing administrative tasks, or becoming an ‘expert’ in your field.

Finally, there is Scott Fritz’s 40 Hour Work Year. I’ve met Scott and I really like Scott’s philosophy. In this practical read, he gives you a roadmap for setting up your business so that you ultimately only have to devote about 40 hours a year to managing it. It may be a stretch but it’s chock full of action items for you to implement in your business immediately. His philosophy has certainly worked for him, Scott has successfully done this in his multi-million dollar business that he founded.

Are you ready to work less, be more productive and earn more money? Happy reading!

Bryan Janeczko - Founder, Wicked Start Bryan has 15 years of financial and entrepreneurial experience including co-founding start-ups like Nu-Kitchen, an online food retailer. Bryan is an active board member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) and StartOut. He is dedicated to the success of all small businesses. www.wickedstart.com | Facebook | @WickedStart | More from Bryan

It’s sometimes hard to admit it, but as we get older we have to acknowledge that mom often did know best. With Mother’s Day just behind us, I thought it would be worth revisiting some lessons our moms taught us that can help not only in life, but also in business.

1. Clean up. Mom taught you to always wash your face, comb your hair and look presentable. It’s equally important for your business image to shine. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so whether it’s your storefront, your office lobby or your website’s home page, make sure your business looks inviting, up-to-date and appealing.
2. Be friendly. Mom told you to smile, look people in the eye and be polite. The same rules apply in business. People want to do business with people they like, so being considerate, polite and friendly matter, whether it’s you or your employees.
3. Share. You didn’t always want to, but Mom made you share the last cookie with your sister and your toys with your friends. Whether you’re interacting offline or in social media world, an attitude of sharing—towards business partners, customers and prospects—will get you far. Make it a point to be generous, and you’ll get back more than you give.
4. Tell the truth. Whether you hit a baseball through the neighbor’s window or flunked a spelling test, honesty is the best policy (because Mom always finds out anyway). In business, too, customers value honesty more than ever—and they’ll spread the word about your honest approach to their friends and colleagues.
5. Always do your best. Mom didn’t care if you were the best—she only cared if you tried your hardest. Customers, too, can tell when you’re not putting forth your best effort but only going through the motions. If they don’t get your full efforts, they won’t stick around.
6. Appreciate your unique gifts. Maybe you weren’t the team captain or the head cheerleader, but Mom showed you how to appreciate what was special about you. Don’t make your business a copycat of your competitors—focus on what makes your business different and better.

Know who else can be your biggest cheerleader? A SCORE Mentor. If you don’t already have one, visit SCORE’s website to get matched with a Mentor for free business advice 24/7. They’ll be almost as supportive as your mom—although they probably won’t bake you cookies.

Rieva Lesonsky - CEO, GrowBiz Media Rieva is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company specializing in covering small businesses and entrepreneurship. She was formerly Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine and has written several books about small business and entrepreneurship. www.growbizmedia.com | @rieva | More from Rieva