They say you should write what you know. Well, I know a handful of completely useless facts: (the King of Hearts is the only King in a deck without a mustache, none of the 50 states use the letter “Q”, oh and of course, approximately 700 grapes go into a bottle of wine). But, I also know quite a bit about women and business, AND women IN business…And businesses that are founded by women… And completely mind-blowing statistics about women in business…
This is probably why I have made it my life’s work to assist women in their pursuit of business happiness.
So, are you happy? I’m not talking about over the moon, new love, giddy at the sight of your business card happy. No, those moments have already occurred. I am talking about on a regular basis, day in and day out. Are you satisfied/happy with where you are in your business? Are you happy with your growth? Your customers? Are you happy with your marketing plans? Are you happy with your outfits that you wear every day to your very own Boss Queen office? Are you happy?
If the answer is yes, then I applaud you, and you can skip to my next blog! (ha!)
But if you answered “no” to any of those questions, how can you (we) fix it? What course of action needs to be taken to find that professional bliss? Let’s talk about a few top “concerns” that are affecting your professional happiness.
1. Money – let’s get this one out of the way, straight off. Money is usually a concern for any and all entrepreneurs, but it doesn’t need to be. Probably, and I am guessing here, but I am rarely wrong on this one, you have little to no plan for your money – whether it’s going in or coming out. How about a budget? (What is that?) Well, this is what I can say – finding professional happiness when it comes to money can be attained in one, if not two, ways. First, make a plan. Have a monthly budget, a quarterly budget, and an annual budget. Then make sure you are doing your due diligence and recording both incoming (Accounts Receivable) and outgoing (Accounts Payable) monies. This will help to alleviate a lot of guess work, anxiety, and unhappiness when it comes to money. BUT, I said two ways...
The other way is a little trickier. This goes to your mindset. Oftentimes, we must address our relationship/mindset in regard to money. Money is not everything. We make it and we spend it. You can’t take it with you, so be CONTENT with what you have, with what you are making, and with where you are, in your entrepreneurial journey. No, I am not saying to forget financial goals and benchmarks. I am saying, however, to be patient with yourself as you aim for these goals. Find contentment with what you already have, and you will find happiness.
2. Customers. Repeat after me – the customer is NOT always right, and that is ok. Well, it is okay to think, (and maybe scream into a pillow at night), but not okay to say to their face though (please)! Here’s the thing, people get on our nerves over little things, and usually our customers are not coming to us with HUGE issues--(unless you’re a brain surgeon, and then my point is completely irrelevant). Anyway, they are not huge issues, so we need to learn to let it roll off our back. Don’t hold on to what Mary with her size 7 narrow, but I also need extra room in the toe, has to say about her shoes. Just sell her the shoes. Get paid. Let the little things go. Do not hold on to them. Even if your client comes in screaming, take what you can from the interaction, and LET IT GO. My number one favorite thing to do to accomplish this is the following: I take three minutes before I leave the office and I mentally list the things that pissed me off that day, (especially when it came to clients), and then I leave it there at work. Find a way to leave it there, and you will find peace and happiness.
3. Progress. Ok, so here’s the thing. You are not going to be amazing 100% of the time. You are not going to reach every goal you set. You are not going to always be thrilled with the pace of your business growth. For perfectionists like us, those last three statements hurt a little. But, it’s the truth. As entrepreneurs, we have to accept that we are going to win some, and we are going to lose some. Ultimately it is about the war, and not the battle. I know I mixed metaphors, but you get my point. Look at the big picture. Are you steadily going up, even though you may have had a slower-than-normal holiday season? It is okay to have stalled moments. You will find a lot more happiness within your business, if you not only understand this concept, but also accept it.
So, are you happy now? I don’t expect you to be after reading a few words, but what I do expect is for you to take a long look at how you are viewing your relationship with your business. If happiness is the goal, (and it definitely should be), then we have to be willing to let go of misconceptions and learn the art of contentment and good planning.