Got the 'Business Blahs'?
Go ahead. Admit it. You know what we're talking about.
These days, it's not easy to do business.
The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. But, there's so much standing in the way. Doing business is expensive. And, it takes a lot of work. Work takes motivation. Motivation can be difficult, even in the best of times. And, it's often lonely, particularly if you own your own business.
Add in a down economy, concerning headlines around the world, and (if you live here in Boston, at least) the lingering effects of a miserable winter, and you have the makings of a serious case of…
It's tough to get ahead when you have a case of the business blahs. The blahs turn into a barrier standing between you and your success.
So, how do you deal with them?
We say, embrace them.
That's right, embrace them.
Cut yourself a little slack. If you're feeling tired after working a 60-hour week, then maybe today is not the day to expect that you will totally reinvent your business. Maybe it's a time to kick back and clean up the office today, or take a long lunch, or step outside for a quick 20-minute walk. We've found that these sorts of things can be where you end up getting your best ideas.
But, maybe your blahs are caused by something other than tiredness. Maybe you have a nagging feeling that you're not on top of things, or it's been too long since your last major achievement. If you're in that situation, kicking back and taking a long lunch won't help; it might make things worse. FOr you, the only way to beat the blahs is to take decisive action, even if it's something small.
So, what to do?
Here's a good tip. Go over to Facebook or Twitter right now and connect with five new people whom either of those sites recommends to you. Then, post an update about something your business is doing. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a sentence or two about what you're doing. Post a link back to your business Web site. This will take you less than five minutes, and you're guaranteed to get noticed by people who have an interest in you. That means more business - and less blahs.
Looking for some other ways to get noticed, or maybe you're not already a social media guru? Check out our recent post about Five Spring Cleaning Tips to Make Your Business Shine for some more ideas.