By Karen Wessels, co-founder of VA Connect & co-founder of SnappSales
We’ve all experienced this as entrepreneurs - that moment when everything feels like it’s falling apart, nothing seems to be going right, almost as if the world is conspiring against you. But do not fear, ask any seasoned entrepreneur and they’ll admit that they too have been through turmoil in their business and earned their t-shirt.
What kind of turmoil are we talking about? Things like experiencing HR issues with staff, clients who don’t wish to renew their contracts, pricing misalignment, not understanding your target market, and the like.
These kinds of situations can be emotionally and mentally taxing, and very difficult to work through, especially if you don’t have a co-founder or a mentor that you can speak things through with or bounce ideas off.
So in the midst of facing all of this, how do you possibly keep sane, stay driven, and absolutely determined to continue making your business a success?
Here are just a few of the things I’ve found to help me stay grounded and ready to face the inevitable challenges in the business.
1. Quiet time
As the typical expression goes, set aside “me time”. This could be anything from enjoying a cup of tea, to meditating to spending time with family. It is crucial to have quiet time as this gives you the opportunity to see the current challenge from a different angle and to come up with different solutions.
2. Exercise
The best thing since sliced bread! Exercise gets the endorphins flowing and it’s such a natural way to relieve stress. Acknowledge that what you are currently going through is very stressful, so you need time out to relax those tense muscles and clear the cobwebs from the mind.
3. Reading
Reading is great escapism, whether you choose to read fiction or business related books. Again this kind of activity offers the opportunity to learn from others and to implement what they’ve done in their business which has taken them to the next level. We don’t have to travel this journey on our own, follow the example of highly successful entrepreneurs and get into the habit of reading daily.
4. Learning to “silo” issues
You’ll be familiar with the expression “seeing the wood for the trees”. Train your mind to silo each issue, this will make it easier to manage and it’s a constant reminder that even though you’re experiencing turmoil in one part of your business, the rest of the business is still functioning just the way it should.
5. Consulting with a mentor or coach
We cannot do this journey on our own. We absolutely need the support of our partner, our family, a mentor or a coach. And speaking with an “outsider” to your business will give you that much needed boost to see things from a different angle. Listen to your mentor, take advice from those more successful than you. Remember, they have experienced what you are currently going through, so they truly understand the turmoil you’re facing and somewhere in your discussions you’ll pick up a nugget that will turn the situation around.
As entrepreneurs we have chosen the toughest journey. However, because we are so resilient and relentless in our pursuit of perfection, we are tougher than we think. Make it through this and you’ll make it through anything!
Karen Wessels is the co-founder and COO of VA Connect, a South African virtual assistant platform that provides outsourced administrative support; and is also the co-founder of SnappSales, a company that generates quality sales leads for its clients. Prior to establishing both her companies, Karen spent over 10 years in different sales, marketing & admin support roles. This experience has equipped her with the invaluable skills required to run her two successful business ventures. Follow Karen on her Personal Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+
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