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Being an entrepreneur can be tough. Sometimes it can seem that running a business is nothing but an endless series of problems to resolve… And, as soon as you solve problem #1, problem #2 gets a promotion!
It’s hard to always remain positive, especially, if your business is going through a difficult period (and we all have those). So, I’d like to share these tips that have helped me, when I’ve been struggling to remain positive.
1. Avoid Energy Vampires
completely cut out or, people who have a negative influence on your life. And by energy vampires, I mean the cynics, the naysayers the doom-mongers, the gossip spreaders in your life.
You know who they are, but you may not realise how detrimental they are to your mental health.
Stop responding to their emails and taking their calls. They’ll soon get the message.
Instead, seek out and spend more time with joyful people and those who inspire you.
2. Focus On What You Can Control
The only things you can control are what you think, what you say and what you do.
Accept everything else as being the way it is and recognise the fact that you actually have no right to try and dictate the way things should be. Stop talking about the negative things that happened to you.
I’ve found many people constantly talk about what has gone wrong for them recently or who did something that pissed them off. They can let something as minor as another driver cutting them off on their morning commute ruin their whole day. They keep reliving the incident and the anger it provoked again and again with anyone who’ll listen.
It’s pointless and detrimental to your well-being.
I, like many tennis players, struggle to keep focused on the game and remain positive when I make a stupid mistake (unfortunately – I make lots of those) or the other side makes a bad line call.
My tennis coach gave me some good advice recently that can be used on or off-court.
He told me, basically if you make a mistake or something goes wrong, recognise your anger, frustration or annoyance. He said try not to throw your racquet (I admit, I struggle with my John McEnroe tendencies) and accept your emotions. It’s okay to feel those emotions, but you don’t need to share them with everyone around you (I’m guilty of that too).
Acknowledge that whatever happened is already in the past and nothing you can do will change it.
Let it go.
But ask yourself: “What you can learn from it? What will do differently if the situation happens again?” Then, stop dwelling on it and move on to the next ‘point’ or, in your business, the next thing to deal with
3. Be Grateful For All That You Have In Your Life
Remember there are many people with a lot less than you who remain happy and cheerful. You can have whatever you want if you go about it in the right way, so be happy and grateful for what you already have and create a plan to accomplish whatever else you would like.
Having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ will change your whole perspective on life.
4. Write Your Main Goal Out Afresh Every Day On A Goal Card
Write it out in the following format: “By [date]. I will have [achieved/ made/ bought/ earned] [whatever your goal is]. Be precise and unambiguous. Your subconscious needs clarity.
Keep the goal card in your pocket so every time you touch it you will be subliminally reminded of what you are aiming for and it will help you stay focused.
Writing it out twice a day – in the morning and just before you go to sleep helps make it super effective and will help embed your goals in your subconscious mind.
5. Reward Yourself
As human beings, we naturally seek to avoid pain and take actions that we believe will result in pleasure. It, therefore, makes sense to reward yourself with something suitable, when you have accomplished a milestone on the roadmap to your goals.
A new pair of trainers, a bottle of champagne, a massage…
It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but by rewarding yourself, it creates a dopamine hit in your brain and helps create a pattern of behaviour, in your mind, that when you accomplish your goals you will receive a pleasurable reward. Therefore, you become naturally more inclined to work towards them and achieve more with less effort.
6. Let's Get Physical
I know that if I don’t get enough exercise not only is my body sluggish so is my thinking. I don’t care how busy you think you are, NEVER make excuses for not looking after yourself. Lack of sleep and exercise will not serve you.
7. "Me" Time Is Important
Find time each day to do something that makes you happy, even if it is just five minutes. Plan to do something special once a month with someone you care about.
CREATE MEMORIES TOGETHER.
Whatever it is you enjoy doing, plan ahead, block out regular dates and make sure you do it. I’ve found this helps you focus on the positive and you always have something to look forward to.
For me, it’s rally driving days, cookery courses or some sort of animal experience, but whatever floats your boat.
