Do You Still Love Your Business?

Running a business is like being married. You have your good and bad days, but if you aren’t careful you will lose your passion for your brand and get stuck. This week I will show you how to reignite your passion and take your business to the next level.

It’s easy to get sucked into the glitz and glamour of not working for “the man”, but the truth is being an entrepreneur IS REALLY HARD.

You can’t blame a boss when the boss is you. You can’t blame a lazy co-worker when you are your entire staff. And when that reality sets in, many people want to give up. DON’T.

How Bad Do You Want It?

Every career has benefits and disadvantages. You want to be a world-class performer that everybody and their momma knows? You are going to have to practice, tour, and miss time with family and friends when you are promoting your albums. We all know Beyonce is queen bee, empire maker, and mogul, but she got where she is because she was willing to take the bad along with the good in the career of her choice. It’s the same for you. You have to continually be willing to learn, grow, pivot, change, adapt, lose sleep, interact, and give to your business.

This doesn’t mean that you have to only “suffer” for your craft, it just means that you need to be cognizant that everything has two sides and in order to succeed you must learn to thrive in light and darkness. How do you do that? It’s more simple than you think.

1. Remember your why

2. Look at your competitors with curiosity instead of jealousy.

3. Get a hobby.

4. Plan for your success.

Why did you start your business?

What drove you to leave the job you already had to break out on your own? That feeling of power that made you smile from your core can still be found deep inside of you. Grab a piece of paper and pen and set a timer for 10 minutes. Write “I remember feeling…” and write down everything that comes up from that time when your dream of being a business owner first started. Keep writing for the full ten minutes, even if you repeat sentences. Now notice what came up. Are those reasons still enough to keep you raising to the next level, or do you need a new ‘why’? It’s ok if you do.

The goal of this exercise is to know your why and keep it at the forefront of your mind. I’ve heard of many entrepreneurs writing down their ‘why’ daily or keeping it posted in their office to help keep them going when times get hard.

Look at your competitors with curiosity.

Yes, you’re jealous, everyone seems to be making more sales, getting more followers, and getting more interaction than you. It sucks. You are trying so hard and doing all that you know, but still “failing”. It’s time to take a step back and get curious.

If you were a fan of the competition, why would you be? How do they talk with followers? What kind of community have they created around their brand? What makes their fans loyal and excited? What tone of voice do they use? Do you feel like you know exactly what the competition stands for?

Look at all the commonalities of your competition and see how you can do the same, but in authentic ways for your brand.

Get a hobby.

You say what? Yes, darling, GET. A HOBBY. It’s known in many creative circles that the best way to spark creativity back from hibernation in one area of your life is to start being creative in another. Making yourself a more well-rounded person will inevitably make you more joyful, relaxed, and creative. The results will be more joy in your work, more creative ideas flowing, and a sense that you are exactly where you should be. I’ve started taking foreign language classes and not only has it made me happier, but now I’m learning about new nations I can market to. That's a win if I ever heard one.

Plan for success

Many times your business will suffer due to feelings of overwhelm brought on by not being prepared. Every business should have yearly goals and those yearly goals broken down into bite-size pieces month by month then week by week. The administrative side of the business isn’t always fun, but it’s as important for your business to thrive as water is for your body’s survival.

Go back to the basics of your business plan, and stay on top of the little things. Get scheduling software, hire a PT assistant, do whatever you need to do, to help the bones of your business run smoothly. 99% of the time, this is the area business owners stress about the most. You fix that and it frees your brain up for more important tasks. So * insert Mulan theme* Let’s get down to business.

For more business help in your journey be sure to pick up our marketing manual, "Your 1st 30 Days." at www.lilyrosedma.com/shop

Also, check out our podcast Leslie and Lily available on Apple Podcasts, Anchor, and Spotify, and follow our social media pages

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Instagram: @lilyrosedma

Linkedin: @lilyrosedma

Podcast: Leslie & Lily

Until Next Week,

Stay Fabulous Darling,

Leslie Rodgers-Berry

Owner

Lily Rose DMA