Beating the Business Blues

Running a business can be elating and depressing – sometimes at the same time. Maybe you received negative feedback from a client, or maybe sales just aren't what you expected and you're not sure how to fix the problem. Perhaps an employee just quit. Or maybe you just don't feel like going to the office today.

Many of us start businesses because we think it will make us feel free to enjoy our ideal lifestyles. Without a boss or a set schedule, we can do whatever we want – get up early and go to the gym, write a blog post at 2 am, answer emails from the beach. Though this is the dream for many people, a lot of entrepreneurs end up feeling more constrained by their companies than free from the 9 to 5 grind. On the days when the pressure of planning and building a business feels like it's too much to take, it's really normal to feel down. Here's how you can bounce back.

Talk to a Mentor

Don't internalize your self-doubt (it's a buzzkill). Instead, go find a colleague you respect and feel comfortable around, and grab a coffee with that person. You don't even have to talk business. Your Mentor for a Day can help you put things in context, so you can start looking ahead again instead of wallowing in today's misfortunes.

Hit the Gym

Sometimes the best way to get perspective on your business is to get out of it for a bit. Head to the driving range, lift some weights or go for a run. It's not just good for your body; it'll put you in a different frame of mind and you can head back to the office with a fresh perspective on your bad day.

Review Your Business Plan

Chances are, when you wrote your plan you were feeling pretty upbeat about your business's potential. If you managed to instil that enthusiasm into your plan, it can serve as a great reminder of why you're in business, and how you're making people's lives better. Take a look at your Vision and Mission statements, review your revenue goals, and read up on your ideal customer. You'll have renewed energy in no time.

Celebrate a Success

Something bad might have happened today, but chances are you also had a victory this week. Maybe a client isn't happy with something you produced, and meantime you landed a new client. Think about what you did to earn that victory and how you can repeat the same steps to get those positive results again.

You can't plan for every possible business scenario, and some days will feel like a catastrophe. If you can remember that these lows are only temporary, you'll recover faster. A bad day is just an opportunity to get even better at what you do, and that can only yield positive results for you and your company.