How to get off the non-stop hamster wheel
We can easily get trapped in the cycle of “I just need more sales!” Because we think that is what is going to make the difference to our business. Going from just surviving to thriving. We think that is going to take the stress away if we can just get those few more sales.
Sometimes it will. But often it won’t.
You see, often there are some gaps in the business strategy that is keeping the business owner on the hamster wheel. Keeping them feeling like they can never get ahead.
Most of the clients I have worked with this year were feeling this way… stressed, overwhelmed, and feeling like they were running on a non-stop hamster wheel, not able to get off because they “just needed more sales.”
Even successful, established business owners can find themselves here. Which are who my clients are.
But they don’t feel successful because of the constant stress and struggle.
There are 2 core areas I work on with clients who are feeling like this.
#1. Some tweaks to the business strategy
When we are feeling overwhelmed, stressed and under pressure we can feel like it is going to take a major overhaul to get our business working better. This can lead us to avoid making changes and keeps us stuck in this negative cycle. Due to the stress and overwhelm we can also miss opportunities or leaks that are right in front of us.
We can equally think throwing more money at the problem will fix it. Throwing more money into marketing without taking a strategic approach will often burn you. It doesn’t work unless you have clearly sorted out what is causing the problem in the first place and create an effective strategy to fix the issue.
For the most part, getting a business back on track and thriving isn’t about doing a massive overhaul. A few tweaks to fill in some gaps and strengthen the foundations of the business is usually all that is needed to turn a challenging situation around.
This can happen very quickly with the right guidance from an experienced business coach or advisor.
#2. A shift in Inner Game
Stories and beliefs that are going on in our inner world can have a significant impact on what results show up in our business and life. If we are feeling the pinch and the sales always feel like they are “never enough,” then a shift in Inner Game is very much needed to break that cycle and create better outcomes.
The thing is that if we are always feeling like there are never enough sales, that is going to keep us stuck in that feeling and experience. It becomes a nasty cycle.
Sales can be simple. Sales can be easy…. Yes, even in these tougher economic times! All my clients have increased their income this year. It is absolutely possible. We all have some unsupportive stories around money and sales, so it is helpful to have an experienced coach to help identify them and shift them with you. Often it is this shift in perspective, stories and inner game that is needed to move the needle and finally get ahead in the business.
A common trap to keep you on the hamster wheel
The last tip to mention is a powerful one. We can all have this magical number in our heads of WHEN we hit that level of income, THEN we will feel rich, wealthy, and not stressed out. But when we hit that level, we feel just as stressed and struggling as we did back with a smaller income!
Why is that?
Well, it is easy when income in the business increases to immediately increase expenses. We can justify it by saying that we are investing back in the business to grow it more, or that we deserve a splurge on something new. While this IS valid. We also need to be careful. Because if we are always increasing expenses up to our income, then we are not actually getting ahead. We are in a cycle of the business living month to month. It doesn’t matter how many sales you bring in, you will always feel like you are on the edge financially and stuck on the hamster wheel.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying to not reinvest in the business. I’m not saying don’t spend more on growing the business or to never splurge out on something new.
What I am saying is there needs to be an effective strategy in place so that the business is getting ahead and not always feeling like it is hanging off the side of a cliff, clawing to survive.
Put a strategy in place to work on these areas and your business can move forward more easily and actually be getting ahead.
Here’s to your meaningful success. ∞
PS. I am opening up 2 additional spaces in my Kaizen 1:1 Coaching program to start in June. This is tailored ongoing business coaching to get you creating the results that you want. If you are ready to create more meaningful results, less stress and more flow in your business then reach out and let’s chat about how we can make it happen.
