How to Love Your Business When Things Get Tough

If you've been an entrepreneur for more than a couple months, you know that business isn't all sunshine and roses. Sometimes it's just hard. And it can be really hard to love your business when things get tough.

Sometimes you work like crazy with zero results. Sometimes your product launches flop. Websites break or get hacked. Trolls leave nasty comments on your social media accounts. You pour your heart and soul into blog posts and emails and get hardly any views, comments, or opens.

Sometimes, business just isn't fun. We can lose our motivation when things get tough, which makes it so much harder for us to make improvements.

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.”
~ Unknown

We lose touch with why we started. We can't seem to muster up that same joy and drive that fueled us in the beginning.

So how do we fall back in love with our business when it feels like everything sucks?

Here are some things I do when I'm just not feeling it.

Reconnect with your “why”

Get out a journal (or a recording app or friend if you're more of a talker) and write/talk out the reasons why you started your business in the first place. What inspired you in the beginning? What was your vision for your business then? What were the fun parts for you? Remember those exciting times in the beginning. Can you remember how it felt? See if you can tap into that feeling again.

Get a clear view of the problem

Is there something specific in your business that's driving you crazy right now? Are your profits too low? Are you doing a bunch of tasks you don't want to do? Are you just stuck and frustrated with no idea how to proceed? Get a journal or recorder and get it all out.

You can't see the solution if you're so busy you can't think. Back off, take a breath, and let the solution come to you. Click To Tweet

This isn't just an invitation to rant. Getting clear about the issues gives you a chance to solve them. If you're overwhelmed with admin tasks and the day-to-day, admitting it might give you the push you need to hire someone. If your profits are low, you clearly need to take a look at your products and marketing and figure out what's not working. You may even need to hire a coach to help you pinpoint this more quickly. If you just don't know where to go from here, you might need to spend some time researching a solution.

Take a step back

If you're burned out from overworking, you need rest. You may also be too close to the problem to see the solutions clearly, so getting space can also reward you with new perspective.

Take a day off, or several, or even longer if you're able to. Log off the computer a little earlier than usual for a week if you can't actually take days off. Delegate more to your team so you can get some space. This breathing room can refresh you, helping you come up with new ideas and/or give you the room you need to envision a new direction for your business if necessary.

Maybe you need to add a new element to your business. Maybe you need to refresh your strategy or branding. You might realize it's time for something new or that your business needs to pivot in a completely different direction.

You can't see the solution if you're up to your eyeballs in tasks, so back off, take a breath, and let the solution come to you.

When your business is struggling, it's tempting to quit, but chances are you just need to rest and get some perspective.

Almost all businesses go through rough patches. It might feel never-ending, but remember that you started this business for a reason. That passion and drive might seem like a distant memory, but you can connect with that feeling again! Take care of yourself, take care of your business, and you will get through the sticky spots.

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