Today, a national day-after-national-holiday day, a shopping day, frenetic parking lots near stores and empty offices, is a good reminder. You’re an entrepreneur, involved in a startup or small business, presumably, or you wouldn’t be reading this blog. Did you manage to take the day off yesterday? Were you able to spend time with your family without obsessing about your business?

Don’t swallow the passion-persistence-perseverance myth whole, unless you’re sure that’s what you really want. Bootstrapping isn’t a bad option. Take it slowly, digest it, use whatever part of it works for you. Don’t become a slave to your business. Let the business make your life better, rather than giving your life to make your business better. Over the long term, you’ll be better off.

All businesses are unique, just like people are unique. Some people do a business to get rich, some to get by, some to do what they like, some to not do what they don’t like. Do it your own way.

(Photo credit: by TanakaWho via Flickr)

Tim BerryTim Berry

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and Bplans.com. Follow him on Twitter @Timberry.