"Consider This" - It's Just Business

© Bastos

I started to write an email to a good friend that's been down in the dumps over business issues lately and decided to turn it into a blog post because I realized we all have the same challenges. In fact, now and then I simply have a day filled with frustration. Because I'm older than many of you I know like any storm, what I'm feeling at the time will pass.

It's not a bad life, just a bad day!
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Owning your own business is filled with ups and downs. In my case, I worked for other companies my entire life until eight years ago when I decided to stop living vicariously through all of you. I wanted to see if I could walk the talk.  Just like so many of you I have days that are terrific, but then there's a day now and then when nothing seems to go right. It's perfectly natural, but too many of you give up too early.

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success.
They quit on the one yard line.
They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.
Ross Perot

This is a short post - being in business for yourself is a roller coaster ride. Unreasonable customers, slow payments, impossible requests and even a little abuse here and there are all dips in the ride. However, nothing compares to those moments of success like a client who says thanks, people who call because they love your work or just a day when life is good and you feel appreciated.

On those days when the world seems to be crashing in on you, before you decide to give up, consider a change in your journey. There are a lot of different paths to take when it comes to achieving your dreams.

Don't be afraid to share your frustration with a close friend - that's what the core of your network is for. Most important of all, and I learned this in a caregivers support group when we were dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's, remember you're not alone in what you're feeling!

Being an artist and business owner are opposite when it comes to the skills you need for both. Take the time to walk away from the business for a little while, if you're having a bad day - then, kick back and think about how you got here in the first place.  You're not alone in feeling frustrated or having a little self-doubt. We all go through it!

Before you give up, think about the reason you held on so long.
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