How to Power On When the Going Gets Tough
-George Lucas
Did you read the quote above? If not, take a few seconds and read it. Where would we be today if George had gotten a real job?
It would mean no Star Wars!
Star Wars aside, being an entrepreneur is never 100% easy. Few things are perfect all of the time. When your plans don't go well, and your new business faces delays or obstacles, it can be tempting to throw in the towel and give up. After all, you gave it a shot which is more than most people can say. This is a common trap.
Here are a few tips to stay strong when things go wrong:
- Stay optimistic
Before you begin your business venture write a list of reasons you have to be optimistic that it will work. Include the advantages you have over your competitors and anything that sets you apart from them. Make sure you have more than one item on your list, or you will be left with nothing if that particular reason falls through.
Whenever things go wrong and you are tempted to give up, reread your list and remind yourself why your business is going to be successful.
- Maintain your enthusiasm
You might find yourself working long into the night, doing difficult or mundane tasks that don't fit at all with your idea of being a successful entrepreneur. Before you start to think about giving up, try to attach a positive meaningful outcome to the task in hand. Think of every task you do as a step towards a successful business.
Take the example of nursing mothers. To hear them talking about the pain, frustration and exhaustion of breastfeeding, people may wonder why they bother. Well the answer is they know that that tiresome task will give their child a happy, healthy start in life, and what could be more meaningful than that?
- Establish your integrity
Throughout the process of setting up your own business, you will undoubtedly come across ways in which you can make a quick profit or take a few short cuts that you are not sure are entirely ethical.
Discovering elements of corruption or deceit in your field can be disheartening at best, and a deal breaker at worst. As long as you make a personal commitment to doing the right thing, you shouldn't give up just because you come across dishonesty amongst the people you work with. Before you make any decision, ask yourself three questions:
·Is it legal?
·Is it fair to everybody affected?
·How will I feel about myself if I do it?
Answering these questions will allow you to retain the integrity of your business and yourself personally.
- Have courage
When you need to make a decision that involves taking risks, it can be tempting to play it safe, or to quit while you are ahead. Having the courage to take calculated risks is an essential part of moving on with your business.
The best way to find the courage to take a risk is to imagine the worst case scenario, and plan how you would deal with it. Suddenly all other scenarios will seem much less scary. Risks seem much worse when you try to ignore them or don't identify what they are.
- Apply patience
When you experience setbacks and delays, it is easy to overreact and take issues personally. Impulsive responses to problems you encounter are rarely positive, so take some time to assess the situation before you react. Here are some things to remember when your business encounters problems:
·There is nothing you can do about delays that are not your fault. Try to build time into your plans for possible delays, but if you have not done so you will just have to alter your plans.
·Take time to think before you respond to an issue. Write a draft e-mail if you wish, or write down how you would like to respond. Then take a half hour break, go for a walk or get something to eat. The chances are that when you return you will want to react in a much milder way.
·You will probably have to wait some time for your business to start achieving good results. Set your targets high but your expectations low for the first few months.
- Stay calm
Eliminating stress and worry from your business life is never easy, but there are ways to avoid it.
Try to tackle the task you are dreading most at the beginning of the day. This will prevent you worrying about them for the rest of the day, and will give you a positive lift as you feel you have achieved something.
Learn to recognize your own particular signs of stress. Do your muscles become tense? Do you get a stiff neck or shoulders? Employ relaxation techniques and take a short break as soon as you begin to notice these symptoms of stress.
- Remain focused
As your business begins to take off, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of you. The key is to focus on one priority at a time. Make sure you finish one task before you start on another. Empty your mind of thought that do not relate to that task. Write these thoughts down if you are worried you will forget them by the time you need them.
- Remind yourself of your belief
Belief is a crucial part of positive thinking, and it helps to remind yourself what you believe in when you are tempted to give up on your business venture. Your beliefs can take a variety of forms:
·Belief in your own ability
·Belief in the quality of your business plan
·Belief in your original business idea
·Belief in the lifestyle that your business can give you
·Belief that your dreams can come true
·Belief that there is more to life than a monthly paycheck
"They say a year in the Internet business is like a dog year...equivalent to seven years in a regular person's life. In other words, it's evolving fast and faster."
-Vinton Cerf
Staying on your toes is imperative to succeeding in internet business. Motivate yourself to work from home, something that most people have to do when they start their own online business.
Ashish Patel
Internet Marketer and Blogger
Blogger at RicherOrNot.com (Make Money online blog but also promoting ethical internet marketing)