Do you have Restless Business Syndrome?
Growing pains. Did you get them when you were a child?I did. I remember laying in bed at night feeling my limbs ache. I would wander into my parents bedroom and tell them how I felt. My mom would tell me it was 'growing pains' and that I'd feel better in the morning. When I got older, my grandmother told me it was actually restless leg syndrome; maybe she was right. :DOver the past few months, I've felt a similar discomfort throughout my body and in my heart too. But this time, it's not a physical discomfort, it's an unsettling feeling surrounding my business.Could it be Restless Business Syndrome? Here are some of the classic "symptoms":
- Procrastinating
- Avoiding correspondence that may bring new business
- Pushing deadlines back
- Not finding time to complete work that you always had time to do before
- Not feeling the same passion for your work that you used to
What was going on? I love my work at home business and love being a mom entrepreneur. Why was I feeling this way?Then it dawned on me. I was evolving. And so was my business.The drive I had for my old virtual assistance business was replaced with a strong desire to shift away from that business and instead, build an internet marketing company. And though it was scary, I decided to go for it . Overnight, I changed my VA business into an internet marketing business.Here are five steps that helped me through my business growing pains quickly and comfortably:
1. Start with your current clients
Do they align with your future business endeavors? Are they still your target market? If not, have a heart to heart with them before they feel like they are playing second fiddle to you and your new business ideas. No one likes to feel like they aren't a priority or important.
2. Adjust your email signature
Add a line that either hints to or announces your upcoming business change.
3. Blog about it
Write a blog post or send out an announcement to your loyal audience and make sure it's shared across all of your social media channels.
4. Get social
Update your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media profiles to reflect how your business has changed. And don't forget your website. Update your header and your About page. Out with OLD; in with the NEW!
5. Clean up your virtual footprint
Google yourself and your old business name. Take a look at what shows up and adjust anything that needs changing.There's nothing wrong with changing your mind about your business. Once I took the leap and changed my business, I discovered newfound passion for my work and achieved a better balance in my life.
What growing pains are you feeling? Share with me below.