Entrepreneurs, by definition, are risk takers. They are not happy with sitting back and working the status quo. They, are, then, always looking for that next big thing. Challenges and risk are a big part of their everyday existence, and they are not truly happy unless they are taking on at least something a little bit risky. Something that goes along with this, however, is a sense of being alone. Of making all the decisions by themselves. Riding the waves without necessarily having a strong support system around them. And what that creates is a sense of loneliness.
Here's an example that I bet a lot of you will be nodding their heads over: You've just quit your job to go out on your own. You've had a passion to do X for a long time and finally just had the feeling that if you didn't do it NOW, you never would. So, you took a deep breath and jumped in with both feet. Now, however, you're sitting at your desk, totally overwhelmed because you have no (or few) people who are buying your product/service. There's no money coming in -- and LOTS of money going out. Since you don't have your paycheck to rely on any more, you dip into savings, retirement funds, and even borrow from family -- just to keep going for a little bit longer.
At this point, you have a lot of people (friends, family and strangers) telling you that you were crazy for quitting your job. You hear things like, "Why don't you just find a new job." "We can't support silliness any longer." OR, "If you don't start bringing in money SOON, I'm going to wash my hands of you." WOW. These are the people that you thought would always be there to support you, to understand your excitement, your passion, your vision and your dream. But they've abandoned you. You look around and there's NO ONE THERE. What once was what made you jump out of bed in the morning, ready to take on the day, is now something to be feared and dreaded.
Does this sound like you? Do you feel all alone and don't know where to turn? I've been there -- more than once. I am a true entrepreneur: I've had a business of one sort or another since I was 12 (that's only about 40 some years). I love what I do, but there are times when I hear my best friend's words echoing in my head: "Go get a REAL job." And I stop for a minute and say, "Ok. I need to decide". But then, for a number of reasons (age, health, experience in anything other that what I do) keep me from moving ahead along that road. But -- first and foremost, get a real job? My business is NOT a job to me; it's so much more than that. If it was just a job, then yes, why bother with all this -- let it be someone else's worry. I would just do my tasks, go home at the end of my shift and collect a pay check. BORING!!!!!!!
So what do you do? If this is a description of you, there are some things that you can do to help alleviate those thoughts and feelings. Find others that are in the same situation. Regardless of what your business does, there are others out there that are going through (or have gone through) much the same emotions, the same needs (money, clients, etc.), and are there to support you and share with you. This is the first step to eliminating the sense of aloneness.
The second thing to do is to join a program or find a coach that can hold your hand, show you ways to do things that you might not have thought about, tell you things that could/or probably wouldn't work. Be there to be your guiding light when the world gets dark around you. But how do you know who's right? Ask others, do your research, talk with several practitioners and get a sense for who "feels" right. Then use that risk taking mode and jump in. Be careful if you sign any contracts tying you in to any period of time. You should be able to get out if the fit just isn't right. But, when you do find the right person, your world opens up and the growing begins.
If you'd like to see if we're a good fit, contact me at nancy@success4biz.biz and let's have a chat. I'm happy to help and having been there, done that, I get what you are probably going through. In the meantime, sign up for my e-newsletter athttp://success4biz.biz. Thanks all for reading, and have a great week!
No comments:
Post a Comment