[~ShellBell~]

Just wondering how everyone copes when times are tough with their business?

I'm sure we all have periods where things are slow with the business or there is a run of customers who are just plain awful. What do you do to keep your spirits up & keep going ... even though you might feel drained, tired & wonder if things are ever going to get any better?

I'm 3 years into my business & although I know I've achieved a fair bit & am sticking to my business plan which I still believe in, it still feels like it is taking forever to 'make it'. I often feel guilty that I work a lot, but aren't providing as much money to my family as we really need. I know I could go back to work for someone else & earn a reasonable living ... but I would be more disconnected from my family than I am now because currently I work from home, so am always there for the kids. My youngest child goes to school next year & deep down I know that all I have done in the last 3 years is lay the ground work for my business but from next year, I will have some proper blocks of time to work effectively & really make this thing fly. But with bills coming in thick & fast at home, I worry about the money. Ugh, it's just a wee bit hard sometimes.

This post has been edited by ~ShellBell~: 10/10/2012, 10:25 AM

[Unatheowl]

Hi op, I don't have any specific coping strategies but just wanted to say that I understand how you're feeling:). I note this is quite an old post. Has the feeling passed?

Sometimes I get to the point where I think "golly, how did we think we could ever do this?". This usually happens when no one has paid a bill in 2 months and I'm getting nervous about paying staff and ourselves. I also feel bad about not working so much in my profession and losing my skills. Dh could be earning WAY more than he does right now if he worked in his field (it) but generally I know it will get better. All the financials are good and we are improving every year.

As long as you believe the business is doing well (and the financials are backing this) then what you are feeling is only transient self-doubt. Just tel yourself that despite how you feel in the moment, it's just a feeling that will not be there tomorrow and has nothing to do with the viability of your business.

As for planting the seeds that you will reap next year, we have done just that. W had a pretty dodgy year last year where we spent a lot on advertising and travel to build relationships -it is all coming home to roost this year in a big way! It's worth putting in those hard yards.

[PrizzyII]

For me, not focusing on today, or this week (or if I need to I'll even ignore a whole month!) - I just push through with the really big picture and remind myself of the whys - why I do it, why I chose to do it, why I would prefer to continue and once I have a good hard think about being back in an office environment, sitting in a too tight skirt with heels for 9 hours straight, and suddenly all the problems fade. Well not really but I just try and focus on what I want to achieve in the next 5 years, sometimes I remind myself of big wins or steps I've taken and just remember that I prefer the business over any job I've ever had even with its bad points and just keep going. xx

[mightysweet]

this is why i work for someone else two days a week and the rest in my own business so i still have stable regular money coming in from a job so if things are quite at the business, i know i am not going to lose my house