For a small business entrepreneur, their venture can take over their entire life. There are products to source, deadlines to meet, people to talk to and so much more. Even when 'office hours' are over, a business owner has to plan and prep for the next day, ten days away, a month and/or years into the future.
And this is to be expected, right? For anything to succeed, hard work is required. Sure, some flukes happen that bring unexpected profits but keeping a 'streak' going requires time and effort. Doing things at the right time will go a long way to ensuring the business does well.
As such, business owners have to take the wisdom of Proverbs 20:4 to heart - A farmer too lazy to plow his fields at the right time will have nothing to harvest (GNT). This seems straightforward enough - sow seeds in the right season and they'll benefit from the right amount of sun and rain to be harvested on time for market.
For the non-farmers, this means that entrepreneurs need to have a sense of when to put in the hard work in order to reap the rewards. A candle maker, for instance, will need to know when to stock up on their supplies in order to have their heart shaped, rose-scented merchandise ready for Valentine's. An accountant would know that the months leading up to Tax Day aren't the best for a long, though well-deserved, vacation. It would be better to do such much later in the year. Similarly, a baker wouldn't wait until the busy months of summer to start advertising their wedding cakes. They'd have started much earlier to get the word out there and take advantage of wedding season.
Choosing to relax at the wrong time can therefore have dire consequences for a business. A lackadaisical approach has never been one to bear good fruits for anybody. Of course, everyone needs a break from time to time. When that vacation happens and how much it costs should not be to the detriment of the venture God has given a Believer to make a success. Choosing to be lazy will obviously cause problems because when things are not in order, disorder can be expected.
The Bible says there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Sadly, as new entrepreneurs, some of us may not be aware of the opportune time to take certain steps for the health of our businesses. This is where studying the ebb and flow of your sector comes in. In addition, mentors and trade associations will have helpful knowledge. Even online forums and groups could provide key information that impacts timing.
Keeping an eye on God's timing is equally of importance. Believers in business cannot afford to act like God isn't a part of the equation for their business. We must literally imagine Him as partner in our business - His opinions matter. Even something as little as understanding that God wants His people to make out time to relax and refresh can impact how one does things in their business. For example, if a Believer is strict about attending church services or Bible study, then that time is out of the question for business matters. Factoring that into the equation will affect when one can and cannot work on their ventures.
Believers in Business can't afford to get lazy. They must plant and reap in season so they don't squander their efforts. They must treat their business as if it is to the glory of God and be diligent each day. The Lord Himself will help His people and enable them to see success by blessing the works of their hands, IJMN, Amen.