Why did you start your business? Most business owners start
their businesses because they desire personal freedom. They
want to be their own boss. They have a great idea that they
want to try. They are in love with all of these ideas. When
you started your business, I bet you were full of passion
and excitement. It was like the first days of a new romance.
All you could think about or talk about was your business.
What an exciting time.
Today, on Valentine's Day, I'd like to ask you to fall in
love again. In the time since you started your business, you've
been through a lot. You've worked hard. You've had some rewards.
Your love of the business has ebbed and flowed. Ask yourself
now, are you in love with your business still or has it just
turned into a partner, a faithful companion?
If you answered the latter, I have some suggestions for you
to rekindle the flame. Some of these are right out of a marriage
counselor's book.
Take some time away. Absence does make the heart grow
fonder. Take a little time off and reconnect with the reasons
that you started your business. Reconnect with the excitement
you had at the start. Relive the dream. Really let yourself
feel what you felt at the start.
Ask yourself what you really love about your business.
Some of the work you love, some of it is just plain old
work. Focus on what you enjoy. Appreciate what's working.
Develop systems to make the hard work easier. Delegate the
work you don't enjoy. Get outside help. Do what you love
and give the rest away.
Make a plan. Make a plan to get yourself out of overwhelm
and back doing the work that you really enjoy. Put it in
writing. Dust off your business plan. Read the first page
where you wrote all the exciting stuff about what a great
business you have. Having a written plan eases stress and
gets you back in charge. You'll feel powerful with a plan.
Share your excitement. With your new plan and your renewed
vision get out there and tell people about it. Just like
after your first dates when that's all you'd talk about,
share your enthusiasm. Share the feelings of freedom you
enjoy. Being in love is contagious and you'll be amazed
at the difference this makes in your business and your life.
Start up business resource guide and consultant, Michael
Clark has been teaching best small business ideas for
over 20 years. Michael is a serial entrepreneur having opened
multiple successful small businesses over the last 12
years. For more small business success stories and business
resource groups, visit his web site at http://biznbeyond.com.
