The Entrepreneurial Struggle

As business owners, we know sometimes that the struggle is REAL! Entrepreneurship is not for the light hearted, and it takes time (sometimes years!) to make a business thrive. How can you overcome those struggles when they do present themselves in your life? I’ve got some answers to share with you:

• First, identify why you are struggling. It may be easy to say something like “because I don’t have as many sales as I would like.” While that may present itself as a negative financial outcome, it doesn’t exactly identify why your business is struggling. Dig deeper. Are there personal challenges going on in your life right now? Are you short staffed? Are you maxed out and need more hours in the day or are burned out? It could also be that you have lost your luster for your business dream. And that is OK!
• Ask yourself: what does your past have to do with your present circumstances? Have you set up a past habit or pattern that creates a tough road for you? I know that I have a hard time delegating, and the feeling that I “need” to do everything myself creates challenges in my business. Have you been told by others that you aren’t good enough / don’t have the right skills / others are doing it better? Hearing people that you love and trust say these kind of things to you is hard, but are there others (ahem…say on social media) that are saying these things? Here is my advice: other’s people’s opinions of you is NONE of your business! You need to figure out a way to curb your exposure to negativity, and forge your own path forward.
• Give up the notion that someone will save you. I can’t count the amount of times where I came across a roadblock in my business, and wanted to scream! I was so frustrated. I didn’t know how to take the next step, nor who to ask for help. This can be pivotal for you in your business, if you don’t recognize the signs that you first need to take a breather and step away for a minute to refocus. (I also secretly wish that there was a guidebook for each and every circumstance in life – wouldn’t that be nice!). Here is the reality: You have everything you need already. Believe me – you do! Start asking questions, and talking to people about your idea. I bet that through the power of connections, you will be lead to the answers you seek. Now, that won’t mean that someone will do the work for you, but it will give you the direction that you seek.
• Practice being the person you want to be. The good old imposter syndrome can get the best of all of us. I encourage you to look for examples in your life and world (and social media might actually be a great place to find these examples) that emulate the person you want to be. See how this person acts, speaks, dresses and presents themselves to the world. I am constantly looking for others whom I admire and how they bring their “A” game. Then take what you see / hear and practice it on yourself. If you notice someone you admire command a board room – notice how they do it, and what their body language, style and presence does to create that level of confidence. The more you practice, the better you are able to act and react when in a stressful situation.