A much needed rant...or moan :)

[Jsuper]

Hey all,

I am 20 years old and I have been running my international company for 8 months now, I am doing pretty damn well considering how little time I have been able to invest in my marketing etc. but I am getting the business blues...

Is this normal? Is this some kind of time limit when you get to where you are and think oh gosh I am actually doing this? I am really happy essentially with my business and how much I have achieved, but the daunting and stress factors seem to have kicked in over the last week or so...I just hope this is normal and not just me.

..............struggle...........struggle........struggle.......

 

[smo]

Business is always a struggle but the mere fact that you have started a business which is still up and running after 8 months is in itsself a great achievement.

You say you are happy with the business and what you have achieved so instead of kicking yourself how about a pat on the back.

Everyone gets the business blues, i'm currently experiencing them with a host of problems that have arisen, the key is to break it down and work through them bit by bit and not to try and tackle everything at once.

Dont forget with communitiess like UKBF there is always support from people who have been there and can offer advice, so if you need guidance or help then ask as we are all here to help and share our advice and experiences

 

[Jsuper]

Okay...my messages have not come through...but it was a massive thank you - 3rd post lucky

 

[TurricanII]

You might benefit by setting a long term goal/exit plan. Are you going to grow and employee someone to do your job (then retire)? Or grow and sell?

If you have a plan then you can work towards it and be sure you are moving forward.

I can recommend a book "The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Fail, & What You Can Do About It" which reveals a lot of situations where the stress originates from, and it illustrates how you can end up trapped in your own business.

 

[raineshoe]

Like someone else above has said we all get them. If you are really, really fed up I find that if I do what I really have to do and walk away for the rest of the day I come back refreshed.

My bug bear yesterday was VAT and I was really fed up with it, no motivation nothing. Today I'm bouncing off the walls again.

I think also it doesn't help, as running your own business in some respects can be isolating, and you have no one who fully understands what you are going through when you grumble about the tax man, VAT or customers that have given you grief.

Another thing is to look for new challenges within your business as that can help drive you forward again too.

 

[SamStones]

Another vote for new challenges : what can you improve ? What system or process can you spend an entire day on perfecting so that the day to day running is easier or faster? Ie spend all of today doing X will save you an hour a week every week.

 

[lynxus]

Set yourself goals. ( Achievable ) goals. Ones that you can SEE the result ( be it money or whatever )

Change all problems into challenges by once again breaking it down and turning into mini-goals.

Write it all down on an excel task list. mark all DONE / Completed ones in bright green!

Maybe print it out and use a highlighter!


The trick as with anything is to be able to SEE progress. Without seeing progress you loose faith in it all. ( A bit like spending months on weight loss but not being allowed to see yourself loose weight, You would soon loose any drive. )

 

[bdw]

Is this some kind of time limit when you get to where you are and think oh gosh I am actually doing this?

Yes, but normally not before you are 21.

.

 

[SillyJokes]

International eh? I've sent some parcels to Scotland too, stressful ain't it?

Seriously though, well done. You're doing well, unless your problems relate to finding out you aren't actually making any money!

If I get annoyed with problems turning up I say, "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it,"

Luckily most problems are surmountable and most people are happier letting someone else face them, hence why you are in busines and they are employed.

Best of luck with this business and any others you may go on to have in the future.

 

[Latebloomer]

It is not the business itself but human nature. We just naturally get fed up doing the same thing sometimes.

 

[PBaddoo]

20 years old and running your own company for 8 months - massive pat on back.

Chin Up!