Sticking With it When you Want to Quit
April 4, 2008
photo credit: Aaron Jacobs
When you first starting thinking about starting a business, it’s exciting, joyful, and full of hope. But often these feelings turn to fear, hopelessness, and despair as the pressure mounts to turn even the slightest profit.
Thoughts such as, “If I could only get one more client a month” or “This week I’ll call all the ”S” companies in the phone book” start creeping in.
These are actually normal feelings and don’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. Some people land steady work right away. Others wake up to empty email boxes and dwindling bank accounts.
If you’re tempted to chuck it, ask yourself a few questions to diagnose what’s really going on…
1. Is business slow or nonexistent? What other marketing techniques can I try?
2. Am I only breaking even month after month? Realize that as you get more efficient, you’ll see your profits rise.
3. Am I burned out? Sometimes just getting one night of good sleep can calm your nerves.
I know if I stay up too late too may nights in a row, I can’t think straight. That’s when I was vulnerable to making mistakes.
How you deal with the ups and downs of business ownership will determine if you can make it in the long run. I’ve heard it often but it’s a wise saying, “When you get to a point where you want to give up, that’s when your biggest successes will come.”
Related posts:
- 4 Simple Rules for Freelance Success
- The Freelance Manifesto – Creating the Life you want by Choosing Less
- Why aren’t you freelancing yet?
Posted in Freelance Success, Freelance Support
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April 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Very good points. I remember right after opening my business calling everyone in the S. My marketing was all wrong and now I seem to have just settled into my new marketing technique (hired professional salespeople) and business is just flowing in.