Summer seems to be dragging along without much excitement or activity for those of us who are not taking expensive vacations to foreign shores. Everything seems too quiet. Product launches continue to happen, and the results seem to be pretty fair. I am just wondering if other people are noticing a lull this summer. We can talk about the weather, which has been soggy at best, but does everyone in the world take three months off from the normal routine?
Once the third month of non-activity passes, how do you get started again?
Unexpected Events
Recently, a good friend of mine experienced a significant family emergency. All of a sudden, he was just gone without a word. His business is constructed with so much automation that the normal sales processes continue without his intervention. That has attracted my attention because so much can happen without any warning. I have been thinking about some important aspects of my own business.
- Business/Life balance – Events in life will interrupt my business routine, and I wonder if I have enough automated processes in place to sustain my income. At this point, I know that my hourly involvement is required to implement all of my plans. Going forward, I must invest in the tools that will sustain my progress.
- Help from others – In light of recent events, I have been wondering who I could ask to check on my business. My associates are busy people with their own responsibilities. No one can survive in any business as an island. Everyone needs a trusted assistant who knows enough to stay in touch with customers.
- Return to normal – Following an event, adapting to the previous version of normal is more difficult that most of us realize. We are creatures of habit with a love for comfort. Outside of our normal routine we do not realize how tired we have become. Standard workdays will require more rest than we have had since the interruption. Patience is important as we make adjustments and reconnect with others.
Fear of the Future
How many days do we rise to find out that some catastrophy is supposed to change our lives for good? I have learned that most news stories will never touch my daily life. There are other challenges that require my attention, and I must focus my energy on correcting each one of these major categories.
- Lack of knowledge – Of all the challenges I face, this one has to be the most frustrating and the easiest one to fix. I never have to leave my desk to find the answers I need from videos, eBooks or experts. I talk to people almost every day who stall completely because they do not know the answer to one of their questions.
- Lack of funds – Some people are money magnets, but unfortunately, I am not one of them. I do not know why this is such a frustrating category for me. Six-figure salary aside, money has not been a friend or companion throughout most of my life. The answer to this dilemma is to stay focused and be careful of every choice that I make.
- Lack of motivation – I do have days when I would rather get outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather. Certain tasks must be completed to maintain a healthy business. I rarely fight this one because I do enjoy the work itself. I think some people live in the doldrums without enough joy of life to look forward to tomorrow.
Undefined Threats
Wise decisions are more difficult to make when need arises and time is passing at lightspeed. Making the wrong choice might spell the end to your business altogether. I notice my own wish for “something to change” and realize that I am falling for nonsense claims.
- Dishonest people – A couple of days ago, I received a message “Do you have a minute?” This person was completely unknown to me. I responded and asked for the individual’s request. Three rounds of questions later, I still did not know what this person wanted from me. I dropped the whole discussion. Maybe I have become jaded by empty claims that are designed to separate me from my money.
- System failures – Technical challenges happen at the worst possible time. I know that almost anything can happen to my websites, home computer and Internet service. Fortunately, I have amazing associates who also encounter these issues. This category is probably the most comfortable because of my professional training. Every project was affected through various problems at some point in the process.
- Unforeseen losses – As the catch-all category, this area is intended to cause all of us to think about the unspoken risks we face every single day. Anticipation of the “what if” in life is the only way to take appropriate actions without going crazy. Living with these thoughts is not the same as ringing my hands and pacing the floor. Paralyzing fear is not the same as thinking through the possibilities and taking wise action.
What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger
Some of the most successful business people in the industrial age failed multiple times and faced untold challenges. Without their tenacity and willingness to tell the tale, none of us would be willing to face the unknown each day. The only way that the struggles of life are tolerable is to remember what matters the most and the true destination.
“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must
break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable
with the unfamiliar and the unknown.”
~ Denis Waitley
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