As a businesswoman, you understand how vital it is to know your numbers. Just as tracking your financials is essential to running a successful business, it’s equally important to know your health numbers—weight, inches, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, iron, vitamin D, thyroid levels, and hormones. These numbers are your metrics for success in your health, much like profit margins in your business.
Tilman Fertitta’s book Shut Up and Listen teaches valuable lessons about business, but these lessons can also be applied to maintaining your health. In the same way that businesses experience ups and downs, so does your health journey. Fertitta says, “Never give up until they padlock your business,” and I believe the same applies to your health—you have to fight for it. Your health is part of your business, and you can’t afford to neglect it.
Balancing Business and Health: The Female Entrepreneur’s Challenge
As a female business owner, balancing the demands of your business with your health can feel like an impossible task. You’re pulled in so many directions—balancing the roles of entrepreneur, parent, spouse, and caretaker. You also face societal pressures and social media’s constant reminder of what your body “should” look like. But for many businesswomen, it’s not about aesthetics—it’s about reducing knee and back pain or improving overall well-being.
One of the key concepts from Shut Up and Listen is the 95%-5% rule, which focuses on ensuring that 95% of what you do is solid, and the remaining 5% is where you go the extra mile. When it comes to health, the same rule applies. Your goal is to establish a 95% healthy lifestyle that fits into your hectic schedule. That extra 5% is about refining those habits and routines when you’re ready, like getting toned or perfecting your meal plans. Structured eating is especially helpful for busy business owners—it’s the foundation that allows you to manage both your business and your health.
Simple Strategies for Success
One of the biggest challenges female entrepreneurs face is structuring their eating habits to fit their lifestyle. Many of my clients have found success by starting with simple meals and building a system that works within their business and home life. It’s not about reinventing the wheel—it’s about creating a strategy that’s sustainable for you.
Here’s where knowing your health numbers is key. Just like you review financials to avoid surprises, understanding your health numbers ensures that you can manage potential health risks before they become issues. Monitoring metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar allows you to make adjustments early on. Pay attention to the foods you tend to eat when you’re stressed and start by reducing those or finding alternatives that give similar satisfaction with fewer calories.
For example, if you find yourself overeating or eating late at night after a long day, try cutting your portions in half or opting for a lighter snack. You can still enjoy what you love but in a way that supports your health goals.
Applying Business Discipline to Health
Fertitta’s no-excuses mindset applies here as well: “Shut up and listen to your body.” Just like you take the time to assess your business, you must take the time to assess your health. Health may not always be in the driver’s seat of your life, but it should never be left on the back burner. Sometimes, your business will take the lead, and sometimes your health will. But one should never come at the total expense of the other.
Many businesswomen fall into the trap of eating late or making dinner their largest meal, which often impacts both their weight and health. By creating a system of structured eating, like smaller meals throughout the day or balanced dinners, you can reduce the strain on your body and improve your overall energy and performance.
Making Time for Health
It’s easy to make excuses, and as a business owner, they’re often valid—your time is limited. But if health becomes a requirement rather than an option, you’ll find the time. One way to make health a priority is by working with a dietitian who understands both your business and health needs. As a businesswoman myself, I know firsthand how important it is to find balance between the two. I help my clients navigate their busy schedules and make room for their health.
At the end of the day, being healthy can be done. By applying the same discipline you use in your business to your health journey, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll also perform better. No matter how busy you are, your health must be a non-negotiable part of your life.