We live in intense times. The last few years have been stressful on so many levels. Disasters, adversities, and impactful global events have given us what can feel like a constant stream of challenges to deal with while still trying to run and grow our businesses. Now we have skyrocketing inflation, a cost of living crisis and tough economic times. It has been pretty relentless but I want give you some practical tips on how to navigate the storms of business.
Are you feeling the pressure right now?
I know most of the small business owners I have talked to are mentally exhausted and lacking the motivation to keep navigating the challenges they are facing.
It can feel like it is impossible to create a thriving business, especially when there are so many factors that are snowballing the pressure.
However, there are always things we can do to improve our situation and it is still possible to navigate these times with more ease and to even thrive during these times.
Facing storms on our business journey is inevitable, and we need to know how to navigate these storms since they are so prominent.
Here are 4 practical tips on how to navigate these times with more ease and flow:
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Take care of yourself
Running a business can be incredibly stressful and all-consuming. It’s easy to neglect your own well-being when you’re focused on the success of your business, but this is usually a recipe for disaster.
It is so important to prioritise your own physical and mental health, even more so when things are getting tough.
I’ve pushed myself too far in the past, not prioritised myself, and hit full on burn out. This significantly affected my business and took 5 years for my health and wellbeing to fully recover from it. We need to value ourselves more and make our own wellbeing a priority.
Take breaks when you need to, make time for exercise, eat healthy and get enough sleep. Schedule in your self-care time and make it non-negotiable so that you always do it. Set boundaries around when you work and when you have time off.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or at your limit, don’t hesitate to seek help and support. Remember, a healthy you is ESSENTIAL to a healthy and sustainable business.
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Focus on what you can do to navigate the storms of business
During times of crisis, uncertainty and change, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and paralysed by what is happening around us. We can disconnect ourselves from our business and life because it all feels too hard. Feelings of frustration and hopelessness can boil up and take up all the space in our head.
However, it’s important to remember that there is ALWAYS things we can do to make any situation we find ourselves in better. This is not to deny or ignore how hard things are and the pain we are feeling, but focusing on what we can do to move towards solutions can help during these times.
Focus on what we can do, rather than what we can’t. Be open to great outcomes happening for you, even if you don’t know how to make those happen yet. Sometimes during our toughest times, our greatest gifts can also appear.
Identify the areas of your business that you have control over and take action to improve those areas. Maybe it’s cutting expenses, doing more effective marketing, diversifying your offerings or even pivoting your business. Whatever it is, narrow your focus down to take action and make progress in the areas that you do have control over.
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Simplify
Often, we overcomplicate things. OK maybe we do that most of the time!
Our complex mind and ego love it when things are complicated. We want to feel important, intelligent and valuable. Making things more complicated can help us to feel that we are needed but it is actually just making life harder for ourselves.
Anytime is a good time to simplify, but even more so when we are navigating the storms. Simplify your workload down to what is important and stop overcomplicating things.
Identify the tasks that are essential to the survival of your business and prioritise those. Need more clients? Then prioritise your marketing and sales activities. Customer satisfaction has fallen through the floor? Then put your time and attention into how you can improve processes and make your clients more satisfied. Having problems with your employees? Sit down and talk to them about what is really going on. Listen to them and agree together on the changes that need to be made. Look at what is working well in your business and see if you can leverage that to move your business forward.
It really can be as simple as that. Yes, you may need to put other tasks on hold or delegate them out to someone else. Yes, you might need to drop some tasks altogether. But simplifying your workload and actions is needed to get your business back on track. It will allow you to focus on what’s most important and enable your business to be able to survive the storms.
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Get support to navigate the storms of business
When we are in the midst of a storm it can be hard to see a way out. It can be incredibly hard to have the right mindset to get through it. We can also be lacking the energy and motivation to see the way forward because we can feel mentally beaten on the inside.
It can be much easier for someone outside of your business, without the emotional attachment to it, to see valuable opportunities that can be utilised and can also see the areas that need to be worked on. The right outsider will be able to look at where you are in your business and see some tweaks that will help you quickly move forward. Outside support can also help keep your mindset in check and lift your motivation levels.
This is why getting support can be so valuable. You don’t need to do it all alone. Getting support is not a weakness. Getting support can get you through the storms and back into calmer waters quicker and easier than if you go it alone.
Navigating these times can be tough…
Especially when the storms are continuously rolling into each other. However, it’s not impossible navigate the storms of business with more ease and flow. Yes, you can get through and you can even thrive with the right support.
Remember to take care of yourself and make yourself a priority – you are valuable and important. Focus on what you can do and simplify your business so that you are not constantly getting overwhelmed. Don’t forget that getting support is not a weakness, it is a valuable way to navigate the storms and move your business forward.
If you want support from me in your business to navigate the storms of business then click here to see how we can work together. I’ve had clients double their business in the last year while also having more family time, so it really is possible to move forward and thrive right now.
