Intelligent hard working people don’t set out to fail; but some days it just all gets a bit much…

I can’t “gloss over” the facts – it DOES take HARD WORK to make a business work – and it takes passion and courage and discipline and determination and vision and sometimes sheer bloody “stick-ability”. Nobody I know developed a successful business without doing some work…

They have the willingness to do what other people won’t do.

I’ve discovered that there are two types of people in this world

1. There are people who fall in love with the idea of being successful
2. And people who roll up their sleeves and get on with the work to become successful

If you’re struggling right now, DON’T throw in the towel!

If you’re business is sound and you’ve got the fundamentals right then there will be a little “lag” time between now and the success you want.

Here are 7 Ways to effectively tackle overwhelm, stress and tiredness:

1. Practice the 3 “P’s” – Patience, Persistence and Positivity – be realistic. It takes time to build a good business – be prepared to give it your best shot. Celebrate each milestone of success and record your progress. Pat yourself on the back more.
2. Reconnect with your vision – what was it you went into business for? What will your business look like in 2, 5, 10 years’ time. If you wanted a lifestyle business hook back into what that means to you. SEE yourself in the future.
3. Work to a diary – not just an appointment book. Structure a weekly diary with set tasks and routines to cover all of the things you need to take care of each week or month. Separate them into PROactive and REactive. Make appointments with yourself in your diary – and keep them. Make set times to do the work, do some admin, check the finances, work on growing the business – any regular activity that you would like to do that is not getting done now, including a little rest and relaxation. If you find yourself getting too busy, ask yourself “Is what I’m doing right now getting me closer to my goals?”
4. Get clear on your role – don’t be the “dogsbody” or the “trouble-shooter”. Define your best talent and skill and work in that role. Being happy in your work is a BIG client magnet.
5. Outsource as much as you can – get that superhero suit off and give other people the opportunity to help you. Get a PA if you need one, a bookkeeper, a virtual assistant, technicians, salespeople, marketing people. Do whatever it takes to get other people doing the work of your business to free up your time.
6. Have you own personal “cheer squad”– surrounding yourself with people you can confide in; a coach, a mentor, your accountant, and great friends who believe in you and will cheer you on. Be around people who make you laugh and give you a “reality check” – and above all don’t be so serious! Having your own business is meant to be FUN.
7. Get physical to get rid of pent up stress – Yell and complain and bitch if you need to – get it out of your system, just don’t stay in negative emotion. Meditate, go for a run, swim, ride, get a massage, go to the gym… anything to break the state of feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

So, here’s to focusing on the days when you’ve reconnected, when you love your business and it’s so fantastic that you don’t even mind the time and effort it takes to build something worthwhile…

…it also helps not to take yourself too seriously. You won’t die of embarrassment from doing crazy things that don’t quite work – I haven’t yet. I guarantee you will make some mistakes, you’ll have egg on your face and things won’t quite go according to plan; BUT you WILL survive and you’ll get stronger and wiser every time.

…it helps to be flexible when things change. Just when you think you’ve got it together the rules will change – go with the flow.

7.5 THE BONUS TIP … it helps to have a sense of humour in BIG CHUNKS – See the silly side of things, invite people into your life who make you laugh more!