MOTIVATION: What You Need To Hear When You're Struggling With Your Business

I’m not going to tell you, ‘keep going’. Because sometimes you shouldn’t.

Apr 19

It’s another day, another addition of the Frolics

I’m, as always, Ellen “Jelly” McRae, the writer/solopreneur/content creator/whatever you want to call me, with the goods.

By trade, I write ‘💜 1 Lovelock Drive 💜’ and relationship articles using my experiences.

To my faithful, welcome back. I’ve missed you!

If you’re new to my blogletter, I’m pretty happy you’re here. Stay awhile, get to know me, and come with me as I stuff up life, make amazing and dumb-ass career decisions, and share my *cough cough* wisdom.

A Little Back Story: I’m A Failure

I never like to admit I have many failed businesses.

My website design business went down the toilet, albeit I pushed flush on it. My social media project with a group of my friends lasted a little under a year. And a collaboration website with a friend of mine barely got off the ground.

I’m still here, with a thriving writing business, and I’ve never given up the idea of building an empire that I’m passionate about.

But it’s been bloody hard to get to this point.

I’ve been where you are now, on your knees, begging the universe for an economic miracle, and a considerable change in fortune.

For every day I’ve wished and pleaded, it’s always been me who has made the recovery. I’ve had to change the way I view my unfortunate position and pull myself back up to keep going.

And I’m sorry to say but you’re going to have to do the same in this situation.

This is for everyone who has been where I’ve been. I’m going to be the BFF I wish I had. I hope it helps. 😍

ONE: Giving Up Is Ok

There is the expression, ‘trying to flog a dead horse’. And when it comes to business, it can feel like you’re trying to sell the most prominent racing trainer the bones of a deceased animal. It’s an impossible task.

No one wants what you’re selling, your business is more than done, and your ideas have run dry.

Yet everyone is telling you to keep going.

I love wrestling and will reference it every given chance! 😜

Giving up isn’t an option.

You can’t be the quitter, because that’s not what people in your situation do.

A two-second search on Pinterest and we’re told not to give up

But this advice doesn’t make any logical sense. Especially when you keep pouring money and time at a doomed concept.

It’s perfectly ok to give up.

To quit, to walk away, to let the business dissolve into nothing. No matter how you want to label it, sometimes it’s not smart to keep going.

It’s a foolish option.

TWO: Failure Is GUARANTEED To Happen

Your current slump or failed attempt at launching a new product is normal. In fact, you should have expected it. Running a business or building an empire is no different to life.

Here’s my suggestion on what to remember: Everything isn’t going to go the way you expected it should, or the way you planned it.

This is a frustrating reality. I know how hard you’ve worked and prepared for everything to play out a certain way. You almost foolproofed your idea, spending every waking hour making sure this eventuality didn’t happen.

But the business world doesn’t always work the way we plan.

It doesn’t mean this situation sucks any less by the way. Or that you should pack up your frustrations.

Getting annoyed by this awful situation is healthy. We need to remember though it wasn’t something we did specifically, nor was it an attack on us.

It’s what happens.

THREE: Take A Break, You’ve Earned It

When the going gets tough, go sit on the couch for a little bit. Some of what is happening to you is a result of overworking and extreme fatigue catching up to you.

I know first-hand how cloudy and confusing the situation can look when you’re tired and unable to focus.

Here’s my suggestion: Take a break, not only do you need it, but you’ve earned it.

Sometimes you need one or two days off. But other times you need an intervention of sorts, where you take yourself on holiday, away from work, home and any working temptations.

It doesn’t have to be a big trip or overseas adventure.

However, time on the couch can quickly turn into a little work on your laptop, and suddenly you find yourself engulfed in the business when you should be resting.

FOUR: Fix Your Priorities

You’ve had your break or decided you don’t need one. You’ve taken the moment to breathe and reflect on the situation and perhaps, now, you have an action plan to implement.

But if you want this plan to work, if you want to bound out of the problem you’re in, something has to change.

The way you’ve been working, or haven’t been, led you to this position.

If you want to change it, you can’t go back to the routine that wasn’t working.

You can’t make your personal life, or your frustrations, a priority.

Here’s my suggestion: You need to make fixing the issue your new and only priority.

And if you don’t want to change the priorities in your life, this could be a sign your business isn’t meant to be.

FIVE: Stop Complaining

At some point, the complaining about your situation has to end.

We all know it’s hard, and we all know how challenging it’s going to be to recover or move on. But the complaining will only sustain you for so long.

I don’t care about the people in your life objecting to your complaining. It’s not about appeasing them. This is about your own mental health and improving your perspective on the situation.

Complaining is wonderful and encouraged at the start. It helps you vent your frustrations and get what’s annoying you into the universe.

It stops it from festering in your mind.

Yet, there comes a point where the complaining isn’t helping you. It’s holding you back.

It restricts your ability to find a solution path because you’re so fixated on what has happened. The complaining keeps you in the past situation and stops you from looking forward.

Here’s my suggestion: Give yourself a complaining time limit. Once you hit it, move on and start the next phase.

SIX: It’s Going To Be Ok

Businesses come and go. They’re difficult to manage, grow and succeed with. It doesn’t make them impossible, but it does mean you’re in for the challenge of a lifetime.

Despite the challenge, I can confirm everything is going to be ok.

You will survive, you will bounce back, and you will learn from this. It might not seem like it now, in fact, you’re probably telling me where to go because it sucks right now.

But there is the other side of this situation, and I promise you will get there. And you will be all the better for it.

Game-changing advice? Let’s hear it!

Has someone said something to you that just hit right, when you needed it most? Share it; you never know whose life you’re going to help!

Always Leave On A Song

This is one of my favourite tunes from my early clubbing years. But the idea of riding the storm has never been more true for us entrepreneurs lately. We know better days are coming. Sometimes, we need reminding of it.

You’ve freakin’ got this!

This journey isn’t the same without you. And I sure know you can’t find success without support, somewhere to vent, and people just like you. Join me here on The Frolics as we grow our careers together!

Ok, so this isn't enough for you?! Damn, I love your style! You can reach me and get more right here 👇

The Frolics According To Ellen