Yes, I’m going there. I’ve decided to talk about some of the emotional ups and downs that come with running your own online business. Let’s face it, we already go into business feeling a little nervous and excited but with the hope that things turn out well. And maybe they do. You get your business off the ground and things set in motion…but what comes next is a series of emotional leaps and hurdles along the way.
What are some ups and downs? Well it could be a new product that’s not selling well, the loss of social media engagement or a sudden increase of email unsubscribes. Or maybe the marketplace you sell on isn’t promoting you as you think they should. It could be anything. It’s happened to me time and time again and I admit, my first instinct is to let it get to me but then I quickly remind myself that I’ve gone through this cycle before (and I will again).
Regardless of what the issue is, occasional setbacks are going to happen as our business continues to grow. That’s par for the course. Expect it and plan for it, but never give up. A product that doesn’t sell well right now could suddenly sell leaps and bounds. A drop in social media followers or an increase in email unsubscribes is temporary if you continue creating (you’ll drop a few and gain some more). A marketplace may eventually decide to promote your latest product. All these things will happen but you’ll never know if you give up.
So don’t give up. Don’t stop creating.
A year and a half in my own online business has taught me a lot of lessons. For one, things can be great one moment and not so great the next. One day you’re elated! Then a week goes by and suddenly you’re getting less likes on your social media posts, or you haven’t made a sale in days. You start feeling discouraged and look back confused as to how one minute you were feeling thrilled and now you’re just miserable. “It’s so frustrating!” we think…but that’s just the emotions talking. Running a business is a continuous cycle of ups and downs as it is, we don’t need the added burden of emotions pulling us down.
Ok, so maybe it’s not that dramatic for you but you still feel a little down when things seem to be not going so well. So you start questioning yourself “should I be doing this?”. My answer is; yes, absolutely. Here’s why.
While these feelings of elation and discouragement are normal, we have to remember this is business. Emotions in business can certainly help us; they keep us passionate, driven and allow us to connect with consumers and their wants & needs. However, they can also cloud our judgement if we get too caught up in them. So always keep a check on your feelings, especially when making business decisions. Keep your mind clear and focused.
This is because logically we know that no business is going to be all success and glory. Yet you still made the decision to start one, so the least you can do is follow it through…you owe that to yourself. Remember that nothing worth having is going to be easy. That’s what makes success so much sweeter. You know you earned it.
Also, remind yourself that change happens in all aspects of life, so learn to expect it. What you think is a ‘bad’ day may not necessarily be so bad. It can actually be a good time to pause and reflect. Stay practical in your thinking and a little less emotional, whether it’s a feeling of elation or discouragement. The more you balance your feelings and logical thinking, the better off you’ll be. This is good advice for both our professional and personal lives.
Finally, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve made it this far, wherever that point is for you…you did it! And you didn’t get there by taking your ball and going home. You didn’t let those feelings of anxiousness and discouragement stop you from doing what you love. Instead, you used positive thinking and determination to keep it going. So accept a round of applause!
Have a similar thought or experience you want to share? Feel free to drop a comment.
Until then…
