Written By Tamiko Cuellar
For many, transitions can be difficult, particularly if you're trying to get from one level to the next following discouragement. Have you lost your fire, drive or passion for your business as a result of being hit with a series of setbacks? As a Small Business Strategist, I've had to re-instill confidence in women entrepreneurs and small business owners after they've come through an onslaught of closed doors, financial droughts and other disappointments in their businesses. The good news is that you can move past your disappointments and get back in motion even better than before!
Refocus. The first step to reclaiming your momentum is to take a step back to refocus. While it might seem at first that you are losing momentum by taking a step back, refocusing often helps you to get clarity to assess the reality of the situation. The saying "You can't see the forest for the trees" is true, especially when you've suffered disappointment. When you take time away from a stressful or frustrating situation, you will actually be able to see the full "forest" or perspective. During this time, you'll be able to clearly identify what exactly wasn't working and what needs to be changed in order to move forward. Write it down. This will also help you to eliminate distractions, i.e., time stealers and dream killers.
Make a new plan. Disappointment comes when we thought what we were doing was going to produce a much better result. But the reality is, it didn't, so now it's time to pick up the pieces and move on. The new plan might include a better process in your business that will lead to making more money with less effort, rebranding in order to reach your desired target market, outsourcing tasks that you dread, discontinuing offering a service or product that's not profitable or in alignment with the vision of your company, and/or hiring a business coach who can help you get to your next level.
Move forward. Fully commit to your new plan and keep working it until you see positive results. Make sure you don't get stuck in the past or paralyzed by the fear of trying again, and always choose to think and speak affirmatively and optimistically according to the results you want to see. Also, be willing to be flexible and make adjustments along the way. As you perfect the way you operate your business, things will get more streamlined and smoother and you'll become more efficient, effective and profitable.
On the other side of failure is often success. I, and countless other successful business owners could tell you tons of stories about how we pushed through to the other side after hitting a brick wall and becoming discouraged. Disappointments are often blessings in disguise. When viewed properly, they can serve as sign posts to change directions or as a means to build resilience for future challenges that will arise. One thing is for certain. If you quit now, you'll never see the rewards of your labor. The reward of the diligent is success!
Dynamite in a small package, fearless and inspiring are just a few words to describe Tamiko Cuellar, speaker, best-selling author, Small Business Strategist, and CEO & Founder of Pursue Your Purpose. She has been invited to speak at Microsoft, First Bank, the City of St. Louis, conferences, churches, and on several radio programs. Tamiko has also been featured in the St. Louis Business Journal, STL TV, on the cover of the UK-based Small Business Owner Magazine, and is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management at City Vision University.
Born and raised in low income housing projects, she's a flower that rose from the cracks of concrete and flourished. She went on to obtain three business degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia on a full academic scholarship, the University of Phoenix and City Vision University respectively, and had a successful career helping to secure $30 million clients and obtaining millions of investment dollars prior to launching Pursue Your Purpose.
Pursue Your Purpose is based in St. Louis and provides small business owners and entrepreneurs globally with cutting edge strategies and inspiration for getting "unstuck" and identifying profit opportunities. To contact Tamiko for coaching, speaking or media features, email info@PursueYourPurpose.com.