By:Kyna Ysabel

https://medium.com/thinking-pandas/the-struggle-is-real-how-to-make-it-as-a-struggling-entrepreneur-789059040690

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a struggling entrepreneur. You know that feeling when you’re sitting at your desk, staring at your computer screen with a blank mind. You know you have to write content, but you don’t know what to write. You know you need to make sales, but you’re not sure how. when you’re not sure if you’ll make rent next month. When you’re drowning in debt and not sure if you’ll ever pay it off. When you’ve considered throwing in the towel and quitting. You know your business is failing, but you don’t know how to fix it. I get it. But

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

One of the most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur is managing the struggle. We face a constant barrage of challenges: work-related, financial, personal, and so on. The struggle is real. For entrepreneurs, it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help.

I like to think of entrepreneurship as a journey. A journey that can be riddled with pain and failure. A journey that can be long and arduous.

Pack your BHAGs up for your journey

I like to think of entrepreneurship as a journey. A journey that can be riddled with pain and failure. A journey that can be long and arduous.

During these dark days of entrepreneurship, what you brought with you on this journey could be the difference between giving up or pressing on. Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) are the kinds of goals that will sustain you when everything else is telling you to quit.

The bigger the goal the more power it offers you through the dark days. If you believe that what you are doing needs to exist, you’ll fight to make it a reality. On the other hand, if your goal is only to become rich and famous, you will pack up and leave at the first sight of struggle. Big Hairy Audacious Goals will keep your feet moving when all you can see is emptiness.

As you think about your own BHAGs, remember that success isn’t reaching a goal. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. Whether you reach your BHAG right away, or if it takes you a little longer than you expected, like Dave, the pursuit of your goal — the steps you take toward it — are a success.

Ways To Make It Work

Let’s be honest, things are changing rapidly, the world is chaotic right now, and struggling entrepreneurs are scrambling to maintain any sense of control during these tough times. But with so much up in the air, there’s still a lot of optimism to hold on to. Folks may be divided these days, but what we all have in common is the goal to keep striving for success.

So, how do you make it work? Here are 5 tips for keeping yourself focused on your goals while the ground is shifting beneath you. No matter what, you can absolutely do this.

1. Focus on your to-do list

Whether you’re still stuck at home or not, it’s important to take a look at this rare moment in history and try to find some positives. If your business has slowed down lately, one positive could be more time to get things done. Everyone running their own business has an enormous to-do list, and now’s the time to tackle it, both in your personal and professional life.

Mobilize yourself for the future instead of sitting around, lost in doubt and worry. One thing that really helps me tackle my to-do list is to schedule each item so I don’t feel like I have to do everything at once. If there are important things to accomplish in your business, figure out the realistic amount of time it will take to do each, and mark due dates in your calendar. If you can outsource any of your tasks to someone on your team, all the better.

2. Build team morale to help weather tough times

It’s more important than ever to get your team excited about the future. Whether you’ve been an entrepreneur for a long time or are just starting out, you know how important good employee morale is to your company’s success. But these days some businesses are finding it slipping through the cracks.

Since you’re the leader of your team, this starts with you setting a good example. Try not to be in your pajamas on your Zoom calls. Set up your home office so it’s a place that looks professional, uplifting, and speaks to your brand’s vibe.

Stay positive. Avoid sharing negative news you may have read online, and choose your words carefully when talking to your employees. Focus on what you all, as a team, can control. Encourage others to share fresh, new ideas they may have to grow the business.

3. Rethink how your business should operate

This is also the ideal time to assess what has been working for your business and what hasn’t been. Many things we used to do before quarantine have been proven to be unnecessary; for example, going into the office. These strange times have taught us that a lot of the processes that we relied upon before are no longer necessary. Ask yourself what other things you do for your business that no longer make sense to continue. Is there a better way to do things going forward?

Use this as an opportunity to engage your team. Brainstorm new ideas together on how the business could be run more efficiently.

4. Learn how to manage your stress

I’m just as guilty as everyone else of being glued to social media, clocking all the changes that are happening, and trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. I can tell you this does nothing positive for my stress levels. There are so many rumors flying around and so much misinformation out there that it can be detrimental to your focus and mental health.

As a hard-working entrepreneur, it’s important to keep your stress levels down. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out to a friend on the phone, go for a walk, or play with your kids or your pets. Try to do something that brings you pleasure every day. It will provide a needed boost for your personal and professional well-being. Getting regular exercise is also important, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

5. Connect with your peers and share advice

Take the time to study other entrepreneurs, whether they are your competitors or simply your peers. What are they doing these days that seems to be working for them? What are they doing that doesn’t seem to be working? Most people are facing the same challenges you are, and we all have a lot to learn from one another.

Since we can’t gather around the office water cooler, find a water cooler online. Consider pursuing new business partnerships. Perhaps you once had a mentor who encouraged you to become an entrepreneur in the first place. Reach out to that person and ask for some advice.

Rest. Everyone needs rest.

Your employees need rest, your customers need rest, and your business needs rest. If you don’t take care of yourself, your health will suffer, and you’ll have no energy for your business. Take time off, whether it’s a full day or just a few hours. Get a walk-in or read a book. Talk to your partner or spouse. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Go camping. Take a yoga class. Play basketball. Go dancing. Do whatever you need to do to recharge your batteries. You’ll come back refreshed, happy, and motivated to get back to work.

An entrepreneur has much to learn in order to be successful, including the day-to-day mechanics of running a business, producing products, delivering services, making money, and dealing with people. The biggest challenge of all is developing an understanding of themselves. They come to grips with what they want and what motivates them; this sustains their willingness to prevail over the long term against adversity. Successful entrepreneurs have learned to transform their thinking, allowing them to prevail where others fail along the way.