10 Things You Need Stop Struggling With

Many entrepreneurs find themselves struggling to create their dream businesses and lives. This struggle and strife often leads to unhappiness, resentment and a floundering business.

The list of struggles can be long and overwhelming but don’t let them get in the way of your passions and dreams. Here are some of the big ones that we see time and again.

1. Stop Struggling With Social Media

Look it’s here to stay. And, new platforms will continue to pop up regularly. Instead of fighting against the latest Snapchat, Vine or Periscope and downplaying their importance as something only the teens are using (so not smart to discount this group no matter what your business is), you need to learn it. Be at the forefront of the latest platform. Alternatively, you can simply pick your favorite platforms (and where your audience plays) and master it. Either direction you head, embrace don’t struggle against it. It’s not going anywhere and we’re lucky to have direct (free) access to our customer base.

2. Stop Struggling With Comparison-itis

Get off your competitors sites already! I can’t emphasize this enough if you fall prey to compare and despair. I know it is important to know what others are doing to stay competitive but if you are in a particularly vulnerable mood just don’t do it. If you’re able to re-frame this into feeling inspired – giving you fuel to create action – that is the best use of looking at your competitors.

“Comparison kills creativity and joy.” – Brene Brown

3. Stop Struggling Against Marketing

You started a business because you love the product you sell or the service you provide. No one told you you’d be spending the majority of your time marketing. It’s a fact and it’s one that you’ll have to become ok with otherwise your gifts won’t get in the hands of your fans.

4. Stop Struggling With Your Fears

Fears will always be there – either they’re debilitating or they’re quietly running the show. Other times they appear based on situation. Regardless, you cannot completely become fearless but you can manage these thoughts much better. Recognition is the first step. What you do from there is up to you.

5. Stop Struggling with Self-Doubt

Am I making the right move? Should I have gone with Infusionsoft over Mailchimp? Should I scrap my current branding and start over? Was that the best decision to go to the conference? We can easily fall into a sea of second guessing, should’ves, would’ves and doubts when we’re working on our businesses. We can only access the decisions we’ve made and logically determine our next steps. What’s the reason I want to rebrand? Is it really necessary right now? Can I wait 6 months, 12 months? There are a million tiny decisions we make and there will be a million more, be confident that you’re doing the best you can with what’s in front of you.

6. Stop Struggling Alone

I’m impassioned about this topic because so many women are starting and running businesses without the support of a community. Whatever it takes, make sure you find others who are on this shared journey and meet regularly. In person can be tough, but it is easy to use Skype to see someone face-to-face these days.

7. Stop Struggling Against Change

Change is inevitable and change moves at the speed of light online. Just when you think you have something figured out, the next day it’s completely different. Facebook is a great example. One day you have massive engagement and the next day only 2 people viewed your post. Instead of complaining that Facebook is greedy (hello they’re a business too!) or boycotting them altogether, understand that you have to change too. Most people will give up – you can learn why things change and change with it. You’ll be at an advantage.

8. Stop Struggling Against Who You (Really) Are

In a land of high production videos and stylish high gloss entrepreneurs, you can be tempted to do things that aren’t naturally you. If you wear your hear in a pony tail and have for years (that’s me!) then doing videos with your hair down seems unnatural and not the real you. Imagine if you started speaking in an Australian accent – that is essentially what some people are doing online when they create a whole persona – the person they think others will better relate to or be impressed by.

9. Stop Struggling Against Your Values

This one can create a lot of conflict – particularly for moms. You decide to start a business because you want to have more flexibility with your kids. You wake up one day and realize that you’re working longer hours, are more cranky and trying to compete against 20-somethings who don’t have the level of responsibilities that you have. Then you proceed to beat yourself up because you’re not doing enough – enough for your business and not enough with your kids. It’s painful. This is when you need to step back and get reacquainted with your values and make some tough choices.

10. Stop Struggling Against Time

“There just isn’t enough time.” We all hear that one a lot. It’s not the time itself that’s the problem, it is how we use our time. If you’re struggling with getting everything you want done, take a look at how you spend your day. What can be cut out? What can be outsourced? Are you binge watching the latest Netflix series? Take stock on how you spend time – you may find you have more than you thought.

11. Stop Struggling Against the Long Game

“Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.” Hunter Thompson

As much as we dream of becoming an overnight success, the fact is that very few people (if any) are true overnight sensations. Starting and growing a business takes time  –  a lot of time. You have to stick with it. You have to ride the waves of failures and successes. You have to commit – all in – to your idea. Then commit again and again and again. It’s truly the long game. Struggling against this notion only causes strife and unhappiness. Work hard. Stay committed. Keep the faith. Practice patience.

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