When I asked my good friend and now business partner to start a business with me, I was feeling so excited about being my own boss and being paid in a way in which my services are worth. I also loved the idea of picking the clients I really fit well with versus you take what is given and learn to be good at serving everyone, I mean everyone. It did not dawn on me that there will be the trials and tribulations of working full time while building the business. Building your own business is both rewarding and, at times, extremely tiring and nerve racking.
There is so much to do. You have to become good at everything from sales, to marketing to accounting. You have to build your own network of advisors, supporters, cheer leaders, and referral sources. You have to be reminded or remind yourself of the statistics, that it takes 2 to 5 years to build a successful business. There are times where I think to myself thank God I have a business partner who is awesome reliable, and multi-talented. And thank God she has an awesome husband that one of our biggest fans. And thank God my friends and family are so supportive.
Other times I think to myself what the heck was I thinking?! The times that I feel self-doubt or discouraged are some of the most difficult. Do I say it out loud? Do I keep it to myself? Do I just keep plugging away? Do I throw in the towel?
One of my biggest strengths is having great ideas. I can also see what will work well in a business kind of way. What I struggle with is patience, perseverance and the day to day grunt work. Patience towards prosperity. If you are a small business owner and entrepreneur, you may relate to these struggles. Do you ever feel that you have marketed your tail off only to see little results in secured sales? If you are your product have you felt like something about you is tripping up the deal? Do you work long days with little results? Do you sometimes procrastinate or do anything else but the sales work? Do you work to the point where you get burned out for a bit? Do you ever feel “I must be missing the right way?”
We have been in business for less than two years. We have learned so much in that time. We are becoming certified coaches. We are getting to know each other so well. We are really the perfect match in business partnership, even though we have trying days. The people we do secure and provide therapy and coaching see positive lasting results and like us a great deal. For me, having Mantis has helped me do a better job for the mental health center and my coach approach has helped my clients, my family, my friends, and my co-workers. I guess I am writing this blog for you newer business owners out there that are feeling as though your business should be booming and running more smoothly or easily. I/we can relate.
Here are some things that have helped me to keep working towards prosperity in business. Say it out loud when you are having self-doubt. Take just one day off and don’t think about the business. Make a list of all of the things going well in all aspects of your life. Pray on it or meditate on it. Make sure that you are doing things you love in order to re-charge. Remind yourself that some of the seeds you are planting bloom a few months or down the road. Ask you coach or a mentor some ideas.
Hope this blog speaks to you.
