Life sucks sometimes.
Grief, illness, heartbreak, burnout – none of us are immune from the blows that life deals us. And, when you are your business, they compound the stress and worry because everything stops with you. The success or failure of your business is in your hands. So how do you survive the upheaval when something big and hairy is happening in your personal life?
I’ve worked with clients facing big challenges, and dealt with plenty of my own personal issues recently, so I wanted to share some things I’ve learnt that have helped pull me (and them) through.
Switch on maintenance mode
As much as we would like to, we can’t stay in a mode of business growth continually. There are times when maintaining what we have while we regroup and consider our next step is necessary.
Facing difficult life situations is definitely one of those times.
When you’re forced to pay attention to other areas in your life, adding the pressure of taking on big business projects is not going to help. Actually, it can do more harm and prolong the suffering for you.
During hard times, focus on keeping your business going and maintaining what you have. Yes, your growth may slow down or even stall. Be OK with that. It can feel uncomfortable – pushing through is what makes you entrepreneurial – but trust in the process. It means that when you do have more time to dedicate to your business, you still have something to come back to.
Schedule the ass out of your week
I thought that having a watertight schedule to my week would feel restrictive and controlling but it’s the complete opposite. In truth, knowing exactly what’s coming hour-by-hour is 100% liberating.
Scheduling the ass out of your week is a secret ingredient to creating the business and life you want. Right. Now. Think about it: did you honestly start your own business so that you could work 24/7? Of course not. You probably wanted more time and freedom to enjoy your life.
Scheduling your week means you can keep your business moving forward while making room for things that usually get left aside – whether that’s business projects, family errands or precious me-time.
It means not having to think about what happens next or using valuable brain space to remember everyday tasks. It also helps you remain focussed on what’s important in your life. Just put one foot in front of the other and get that shit done.
By scheduling the ass out of your week I mean: schedule e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. From what time you get up, start work, me-time, dedicated client time, admin and when you finish your day.
Seriously, what CAN’T you do?
Have an honest truth-talk with yourself about how much you can do and what you can leave.
In your business, your priorities are your clients and prospects. Without them, you have no business. Be uncompromising in the service you provide them while prioritising your self care (because if you aren’t taking care of yourself you won’t be able to give your clients your best). Otherwise;
- Exercise your ‘No’ muscle. You won’t be forgotten if you decline opportunities that aren’t a priority for maintaining your business. There will be others that come your way!
- Don’t beat yourself up about not doing enough.
- Don’t compare yourself to other businesses that appear to be surging ahead.
- Don’t worry that you’ll be left behind.
Now is the time to accept that you can’t do it all. Saving your energy for what’s really important and the long game will mean that when you are ready, you still have a business worth growing.
Keep visible, even when you don’t want to
It’s difficult to remain positive when life is throwing you curveballs and your marketing requires you to be 100% upbeat. When all you want to do is hide, showing up on social media, your blog and newsletters is the LAST thing on your mind.
Big life challenges in your world suck your creativity and energy dry. This makes even the enjoyable tasks – those that you are most passionate about – a drag, let alone the ones you don’t enjoy. For most small business owners, that’s sales and marketing! But, even during difficult times it’s important to stay visible so that the growth of your business isn’t affected long term.
This is when having systems to keep your sales and marketing as automated as possible really pays off. It’s why I harp on about getting the foundations in place for your business asap, and it’s the first area I focus on when working with my clients.
Even if you haven’t got a clear plan yet, using editorial calendars, banked social media updates, automating your email marketing, and using scheduling tools like Buffer & Hootsuite is a worthwhile first step for making it easier on you.
Challenges can bring positives if you let them
One of the hardest challenges we face when running our own business is how to deal with the crappy life stuff. But what I’ve discovered is that business building is the greatest opportunity for self learning. It gives us the opportunity to life cleanse, face and fix what’s holding us back and create a business that supports our best life instead of trying to control a life that doesn’t fit.
If you’re in a difficult place right now, keep the faith that by making positive changes now, your creative energy and zest for your business will return. Do at least one thing everyday that will move you towards your bigger goals. Don’t resist what’s happening to you – lean in, and bring as much pleasure into your business as you can muster.
During the hardest days, I worried whether anything would ever improve. And, just as nothing stays the same, by implementing the changes I’ve written about, they did and my life got better for it.
Your turn
What works for you when life just isn’t going great? Share in the comments below.
The best advice I’ve had recently is ‘Get Help’. All those people who say ‘If there’s anything I can do to help…’, take them up on it! Nothing major but if you can shift some of the small stuff off your list, you can reduce your stress and make people feel wanted and appreciated.