I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as a space where small business owners can access educational resources, read success stoies from other business owners, engage with peers, and find tips to help businesses run more efficiently. Every month, the Page will introduce a new theme that will focus on a topic important to a small business owner’s success. For additional tips and advice, and information about Visa’s small business solutions, follow @VisaSmallBiz and visit http://visa.com/business.Â
Recapturing Your Entrepreneurial Spirit
Those of us who opt to start our own businesses are different than other people. Other people might be content to toil away at a nine-to-five job each day, making money for someone else. Entrepreneurs aren’t happy being confined to a desk, following directives issued by someone who may or may not appreciate our contributions to the organization.
In the early days, it was easy to appreciate every day of our independence. We didn’t mind putting in long hours and dealing with difficult customers because we were doing what we loved. But over time, it’s easy to lose sight of what we once loved so much. When funds get tight and demands seem overwhelming, we may begin to wonder if we made the wrong choice.
When that happens, I find it’s important to step back and try to remember what we once knew all too well. Even if it means taking a day off, far away from the daily demands of our business, we need to stop and appreciate just what we’ve accomplished. Here are a few things I remind myself to get me through the rough spots.
Entrepreneurship is Rare
More than half of Americans believe they could start a small business, but very few actually do. They may have a great idea, but most people simply can’t afford to take the risk of walking away from a day job to get started. Whether you walked away from a full-time salary or you took the risk before you had a reliable income, you may have forgotten that the freedom and independence of entrepreneurship is something most “day job†workers envy.
Remember Your Accomplishments
Building a business from scratch is no small feat. You should be able to look at the relationships you’ve forged and the work you’ve created with pride. If possible, take time to list those accomplishment and consider your own impact on your chosen industry, whether that impact is local or global. A small flower shop owner can look around the community and note the loyal customers that rely on that shop to provide flowers for special occasions like weddings and funerals. A business owner that offers services to other businesses can note how those services have been able to help those other businesses thrive. Every entrepreneur makes an impact, whether big or small, and we can often boost our own spirits through occasionally reminding ourselves what that impact has been.
Ask Someone Else
If you’re fortunate enough to have one or more employees, sit down with those workers and host a brainstorming session. You may not realize the inside resources you have at your disposalâ€"these people know your business well and often have ideas for improvement you might not have previously considered. If you are operating alone, consider joining a networking group to interact with others in the industry who can provide new, exciting ideas that will help reenergize you and possibly jump-start your business in a new direction.
As entrepreneurs, we’re lucky to be able to do what we love for a living, even on those occasions when we question our decision. Running a business is risky, but true success in life comes from taking risks. By stopping to remind ourselves of our accomplishments, we can keep going even through the toughest times.
