Denise Alison empowers business owners to build relationships and connect with their potential customers on social media, and through live video.
By Denise Alison
Feeling stuck can be debilitating. There’s something going on in our life or business that we know has to change, but we lack the courage to act. We tell ourselves that we don’t know what to do. What we really mean is that we’re scared of what might happen if we do act. To make matters worse, this fear is contagious. Instead of feeling uncertain or anxious about one challenge, we start to question everything. These emotions can have a devastating impact on you and your business. So what can you do about it? Embrace the Challenge Those moments when you know you’re not happy where you are, yet don’t quite know what to do next—aren’t just common, they’re necessary. For an entrepreneur, they’re a signal that you want more from your business, a reminder that you shouldn’t have to settle. Don’ t waste time second-guessing past decisions
I hesitate to waste words (and your time) explaining why this is pointless! Stop listening to that inner critic that is berating you for making a dumb decision. You did your best, and more importantly, you can’t change the past. Move on. Figure out what ’s really bothering you and what needs to change The more stressed people are, the harder it is to get them to clearly commu- nicate. I ask a simple question like “what would have to change for you to be happy,” and then sit back and wait for the long rambling discourse. And there’s a good chance the answer to the question is nowhere to be found in all those words. When I get stuck trying to figure out what’s really bothering me I fall back on my core values. I value family, friends, health, respect, integrity and the environment. If I’m unhappy, then something in my life is threatening one of those core values. Nothing else has the power to make me unhappy. Your job is to figure out which of your core values is threatened, and by what or whom. Know this, if you want to be happy then you have to eliminate threats to your core values. Doing nothing is not an option. Know that there are always choices “I think there is choice possible to us at any moment, as long as we live.” (Muriel Rukeyser) This is one of my favorite quotes. If you’re not happy there isalways something you can do to change it. It’s just that sometimes those changes are scary. Years ago, I was stuck in a rut. My business was making enough to put food on the table, but not much more. I was working long hours and didn’t see much opportunity to increase sales of my current products. My gut told me that my business was at risk if something didn’t change.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018
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