How to manage entrepreneurial burn out as a pole dance professional

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” you may believe that working in the pole industry means that you don’t really work.

If, however, you have worked in the pole industry for any length of time, you realize that this phrase doesn’t tell the whole picture.

Any work is work. Period.

While it is preferable (for most people) to do work that is more enjoyable (teaching pole seems a lot more fun than a lot of other options!), that does not devalue the fact that it is, in fact, still work.

Working all the time while trying to convince yourself that what you’re doing isn’t really work or maybe questioning if you still love your work because it’s no longer fun can lead many pole-preneurs to burn out.

The pole industry (and other similarly perceived “fun” industries) is full of folks who came in with loads of optimism and passion who later realize just how much work is involved and burn out that optimism, their bank accounts, and their family or friends’ patience along the way.

Don’t let that be you!

Here are some tips to help prevent burn out as a pole professional.

1. Audit what you’re doing.

Maybe you started working in the pole industry because it made sense at the time. And maybe your life (or the industry) has now changed. Maybe the work you’re doing is not what it was or what you expected it to be. Make a list of the things that are important to you and then make a list of how you’re spending your time. If you say that family is the most important thing but all you do is work, maybe you might benefit from a change. That change could be getting help for your business, changing how you do business, or setting aside a family only time enforced with an “out of office” email responder. It might even be closing your business. The details will depend on what is best for you!

2. Make sure you’re paying yourself.

Maybe your work in the pole industry is a “side hustle” or a “passion project.” It’s still work! Make sure to compensate yourself for your work. If your business can’t pay you, are there other ways that you can be compensated for your time and effort? If you’ve been in business for a while (how long is very dependent on exactly what you do and your support structure outside of this pole-based business) and haven’t been able to pay yourself, you probably don’t have a business, you have a hobby. And that’s ok! You might want to change the business structure (and your mindset around it) to make it more like a business or more like a hobby depending on your situation. Read more about paying yourself here.

3. Look for the bright spots.

If your pole-based business just feels terrible all the time and you dread checking your email, walking into your studio, or dancing for another customer, take a breath and look for the bright spots. Ask yourself: what is working? What are the moments that you feel great in? Instead of focusing on all the things that are “wrong” with your business (your customers, your employees, the industry, etc.), focus on what you could do to amplify the things that are “right.” Maybe you love working with students but hate doing social media. Potentially you could find some help doing those tasks you don’t like so you can enjoy more bright spots.

Remember, work is still work AND there are ways to recapture that feeling of excitement, joy, or accomplishment working in your business without burning out.

What else would you add to this list? Let us know!