I hear the truth about entrepreneurial struggles on a regular basis. My job provides a safe, confidential space for business owners to talk about what’s really going on. And often it sounds like, “I’ve never said this out loud before…”
Yes, being an entrepreneur comes with many perks and freedoms, exactly why many of us started businesses in the first place. However, with the ups, it’s inevitable to have some down times.
Have you ever uttered these words?
I can’t keep this pace up.
My work has lost its fun.
There are so many interruptions.
I’m not inspired.
I don’t know what the next steps are.
I have no money.
I’ve lost my confidence.
I don’t even know who I am right now.
I don’t have time to think.
I’m so behind.
I’m never able to get caught up.
You’re not alone.
Even if others view you as a model of building a successful business, if you’ve never thought one of these thoughts, I might ask a doctor to check and see if you’re human.
One thing about entrepreneurs…they have a very high capacity to move forward while carrying the emotional weight of the unknown.
However, it’s disorienting when the weight gets so heavy that it clouds your thinking and impairs your ability to take action.
The second thing about entrepreneurs…they have a well-developed ability to choose the story they believe when things get tough.
Woven into entrepreneurship is the ability to see a future picture of what's possible and take action to support this vision being realized. Sometimes this vision changes or falters and people who are excellent at executing a plan can be left in a very disorienting place when the plan isn’t clear.
When these things aren’t working like they once did, what is at risk of happening?
Busy work - They spend time working on things that make them feel productive but aren’t actually moving the needle forward.
Avoidance - They avoid their emotions, conversations or the reality of what’s going on and the inaction only digs a deeper hole.
Extreme communication - They begin oversharing with all sorts of people who aren’t in a space to offer the help they need OR they talk with nobody and begin an internal pattern of self destruction.
Burnout - Burnout is the extreme case where everything comes to a grinding halt, but on the way there is overworked, overstressed, no margin and overwhelm.
The good news is that you can get out.
You can find margin.
You can lessen stress.
You can calm the chaos.
And you can find fulfillment once again.
This is what I do with clients on a regular basis and the cool thing is that every journey is different. I don’t have a one size fits all approach, because everyone’s situation and everyone’s business is as unique as the business owner.
What I love is after working together, I regularly have clients saying things like:
I worked with Halle over a period of several months and she helped me identify some problems that weren’t in line with my true longer term goals. …She can also recognize when you just need some tough love. I loved working with Halle and would encourage everyone to start a conversation with her, if you are looking to improve your business, sales, or life in general! ~Emily, Realtor
…Our coaching has included everything from assessing the structure of my business to evaluating the mental roadblocks that have kept me from growing in certain areas. ~ Monica, Small Business Owner
Halle is approachable, knowledgeable and able to make you think of things about yourself that you just cannot do by yourself. She challenges your mindset, your thinking and what drives you in many different ways. ~ Bob, Coach
…She was instrumental in reminding me of the “why” I own a business and returning me to my core values. The “how” to get back on track was easily discernible after our efforts. Halle worked me through a thoughtful and methodical approach which resulted in empowering me to change my thinking and by extension, my actions. ~ Marc Fairchild, President, Fairchild Renovations
Interested to see how this might apply to your situation?
Until next time,
Halle
ps…if you’re not yet following me over on Insta, click here to do so!
Plus a few other links of interest:
1. TIMEOUT, a 2-day private coaching retreat! Travel to the resort town of Traverse City, Michigan for an escape from distractions to clearly think, regroup, prioritize, and plan.
2. Could your team benefit from upgrading their leadership? Inquire about Leadership Essentials Academy, a 6-month leadership training & coaching cohort for new and emerging leaders.
3. Time for a new journal? Pick up a new copy of my Know Thyself Journal for daily support towards your most important intentions for the next 90 days.
4. Are you into individual assessments? Here is a link to take a free Core Values Assessment (CVI). It only takes 10 minutes and measures your innate, unchanging nature. Take it yourself and feel free to forward it to a friend, too.
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