The ups and downs of running a business are all too familiar to so many of us. I don’t know a single solopreneur that hasn’t thought about jacking it all in at some point!
So, if you’ve reached a point where you feel like you’re ready to break up with your business, don’t throw it all away just yet – it might just be time to seek some therapy!
And as with all therapy; patience, an open mind, acceptance, and a willingness to listen are key.
By the way, it’s you talking to you here, just so we’re clear – so you need to be even more compassionate, because we all have a tendency to be really hard on ourselves.
So in the spirit of being caring and compassionate towards ourselves, I invite you to take a breather, go make a cuppa, and sit down and read this with an open mind.
1. Are you suffering with a lack of direction?
You may need to shake things up!
It might seem scary to sit and evaluate if you’re happy with the direction you’re going in. I get it. It took a hell of a lot of work to get here, right?! But if you’re not on track to achieve your goals and fulfil your vision, it might be time to make some changes. This could mean simply pivoting your strategy, slightly altering your business model, or even completely reimagining your vision.
In the wise words of Seneca, “If a (wo)man knows not to which port (s)he sails, no wind is favourable.”
2. Are you on the brink of burnout?
It’s tough to prioritise our wellbeing when we’re so busy but you’ll be no good to anyone if you’re burnt out. So make a pact with yourself to adopt some healthy habits to help.
Make sure you’re scheduling time away from your business and prioritising it – non-negotiable time to enjoy yourself!
And if you can’t leave the ship to steer itself, you have plenty of outsourcing options. Perhaps it’s time to allow a first mate to step up and help you to navigate to clearer waters?
3. Are your systems and processes working for you?
What processes do you have in place to help streamline the stuff that’s necessary but time-consuming? What about the stuff you loathe doing or aren’t very good at? Are you just fed up with all the things that aren’t what you love doing?
There’s nothing wrong with seeking improvement so check to see where you’re stressing with your systems and take action. It may be as simple as a software change or delegating, freeing you up to do the stuff you really love doing and reigniting that spark.
4. Have you reached stagnation?
It’s easy to reach this point in business, we get used to doing the same things, often the things that don’t fill us with enjoyment or excitement – and we tell ourselves we can’t enjoy every moment of business. But you started your business to do what you love, right?
If the balance of running your business is leaning towards you doing more stuff outside of your zone of genius, then it’s time to step up your game and shift things to where they need to be.
And yes, you can do this alone, but you reach a certain point where you hit a ceiling. If you want to move up a level, you have to smash through that ceiling. And that requires some effort, action, and faith in the next steps.
Remember, seeking therapy for your business isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make your business succeed.
If you’re looking for ways to breathe new life into your relationship with your business, why not reach out to LIME for support. Not only can we support you with mentoring, we can help build a business strategy around you – for the wellness of you and your business – so each gets the attention needed to create harmony.
And we’re all about harmony here!
