They say in life “nothing is certain but death and taxes”.
I’d like to add one more thing to the mix:
Nothing is certain but death, taxes and an entrepreneur’s emotional rollercoaster.
Because if you start a small business, you are getting on a ride of extreme highs and terrible lows whether you like it or not. I have yet to meet an entrepreneur who hasn’t felt the full spectrum of emotions whilst setting up, starting and running a business.
It’s part of the course.
But if you’re struggling right now (and maybe have been for a while) and are asking yourself whether you should quit your business or chalk it down to a bad day/week/month/year then here are four things you should know:
1. It will get better
No matter what you decide to do, or whatever is next for you in life and business, you will experience good times again. Just as the lows can be expected from time to time, so can the highs and when I’m having a rough patch in business I remind myself of all the times it’s picked back up again, usually quicker than I expected. Trusting that it will get better gives me the resilience to keep going and helps me notice opportunities again.
2. Do priority tasks only
When you’re struggling and having a bad day, or feel like quitting your business, you might be in danger of becoming overwhelmed. It’s ok to strip everything back for a period of time and only commit and take action on priority tasks (usually client work, sales and marketing). Ditch or delegate anything that doesn’t absolutely need your attention or need doing. This will give you more headspace to deal with the emotions you’re experiencing right now.
3. It’s time to take a break
This may seem counter-intuitive, especially if the reason you feel like quitting your business is because it’s not as financially viable or successful as you’d like right now, but hear me out.
Taking a few days to get away from your business, rest, recharge and maybe reconnect with loved ones will be more productive than if you spend those days stressing, worrying, procrastinating and forcing a solution. Time out gives you perspective and energy to come back and tackle the problem with a clear head.