Say what? I know what you are thinking, “you did what, Liz?”. I know, right. Let me rephrase that headline…I let $10,000 worth of business walk out the door … almost. Don’t worry my saving grace is the word “almost”. Let me tell you a story.
I do my best work between 5-9am. I have a recurring alarm for that time each day. It’s like a pain in your side that won’t go away.
Until about five months ago I got up at 5am religiously. Every. Single. Day.
I was cruising; in the zone. I had it all sorted. I was in complete control.
Then one day, I wasn’t. I was facing some extreme personal issues that completely floored me. My mind was running over time, I was sick and anxious, stressed and nervous, distracted, I could hardly concentrate, let alone get up at 5am and run a business.
At the time I was also doing a business course and writing my book. Ordinarily, I’m disciplined and organised when it comes to my craft. I take on heaps because I love it.
But at this time I was a mess and I let things slip … a lot. I think it’s just the nature of the beast when you are trying to build and run a business/es and have a life too. Things get in the way.
Among other things, I let $10,000 walk out the door … almost.
I say almost because, thankfully, among the foggy, cloudy, messy, crazy chaos in my brain, I did manage to follow up with people. Not straight away, but in my own time. I also let a few key clients know what was happening in my life at the time and thankfully they were understanding, patient and kind.
After all, they are people too battling with their own issues. They understood.
The best piece of advice I was given by business coach and mentor – David Dugan – was to stay working in my business and to just do the bare minimum each day, whatever I could manage.
And so that’s what I did.
Admittedly, my business took a serious financial hit.
SIDE NOTE: That’s also another thing I’ve learnt in this whole process. Have your systems and processes sorted.
When you’re head’s not in the game, it’s hard to focus and I can see why businesses fail in such periods of extreme stress. It can all get too much.
I wasn’t about to let that happen though. I have worked extremely hard to get my biz where it is today; to boost my profile and be seen as an expert in the eyes of my clients and peers.
My beautiful biz is what made me get up in the mornings … albeit not at 5am in that period of my life.
So if you will allow me to share any advice, if you are having a hard time personally and you own and run a business too, it’s this:
- Be kind to yourself. You will get through whatever it is in your own time.
- Exercise, eat well and meditate to destress.
- Let a few key people and clients (if you feel comfortable with that) know what’s going on so they can support you.
- Allow people to look after you.
- Do the bare minimum in your biz each day. (Thanks Double D)
- Sort your systems and processes … NOW.
- Follow up with people who inquire when you can.
- Get professional help and guidance. The benefits of counsellor will be tremendous for you, your life and your business.
- Don’t worry. Everything happens for a reason and it will all work out in the end, even if it seems impossible right this minute.
Have I missed anything? Let me know shoot me a message over at my Facebook page if there are other points you would add.
