Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship

Remember the first time you rode a rollercoaster?  You waited in line with trepidation, smiling nervously to your family, friends or those around you, hoping that no one could sense the butterflies in your stomach.  As you got in the car and strapped in for your ride, you wondered how secure the safety belt really was.  You were scared and excited about what would come as the car slowly inched up the hill before the first big drop.  You wondered if it was really such a good idea getting on this ride, and maybe even said a quick prayer.  When the car started downhill and picked up speed, you let out your best Hollywood scream as you sped over bumps and turns and flipped head over heels.  You alternated between feelings of delight and feelings of horror and everything in between.  You felt more terrified and exhilarated than you ever had before in your life.  By the time your car slowed down and stopped at the terminal, your cheeks were flushed by the rush of it all.  You barely knew where you had been, but you were happy you did it and wished it weren’t over so quickly.  As a business advisor, I know that the emotional rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship can be tough, but just like an actual rollercoaster, there are unexpected twists and turns, thrills and excitement to be gained from entrepreneurship that make it all worth the ride.  Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already established a business of your own, here are some things to keep in mind on your ride.

1 – You Can’t Have the Ups Without the Downs

Business by nature is cyclical.  Realize that it will not all be rosy.  There will be ups and downs; it is just part of the game.  There has never been a business built that didn’t face setbacks and hardships.  Not one.  There will be good days and bad, but if you maintain focus on your goals and work towards them every day, and continue to make progress by listening to feedback and improving, you will get through the bad.  You will get out of the dip and start climbing up again.  When you’re feeling like things are down, it is a sure sign that an up is just around the corner.  You just need to keep the momentum moving forward long enough to get to it. 

2 – Enjoy the Moment and Keep Your Eyes Open

Time flies, when you are on a rollercoaster and when you are a business owner.  When I worked in corporate America, it seemed like it took forever for Friday to come along, but when you own a business the weeks start to fly by and it is Christmas before you know it.  If you don’t stay alert, and on task, and follow a plan, you will be wondering where the time went, and why you still haven’t gotten around to doing what you meant to do.  Enjoy the moments that you live every day.  Even if you wish you had more money, more clients, more staff, you need to find happiness in the now.  Instead of constantly asking, why is this taking so long, and looking forward to the future, think of all the wonderful things you have right now, and enjoy the present moment.  Businesses, like children, grow up fast, so don’t forget to enjoy the baby days.  This will make you a lot more eager to get out of bed in the morning.  When you are alert to what is going on in the moment feeling thankful for what you have, you will be able to attract more good things into your life. 

3 – Keep Getting On Board

With any job that does not have a guaranteed return on investment; you must keep proactively putting forth effort and work.  While you may not experience the immediate gratification that you desire, work put forth can come back to you when you least expect it, just like a tax return in the mail.  While your time is valuable and should not be wasted, doing work now can turn into profits later.  Business is about taking a long-term view, so realize that you may have to go around a few times before you start reaping the returns, but it will be worth it when you do. 

4 – Let Go

Lastly, have fun.  Entrepreneurship and rollercoaster rides can be scary, but they can also be wildly fun.  The uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring is what makes the business journey so exciting, so instead of lamenting your lack of success now, let go and enjoy the ride.  Make good plans and put good control systems in place to monitor your progress, but ultimately you have to put your business out there and see what the marketplace thinks. 

Entrepreneurs are like rollercoaster junkies; the ones that build a successful business like to experience the thrill over and over again by always tackling new ventures.  For more information about how you can build your business with the help of a supportive team, visit www.flourishingbusiness.com.