If you're a small business owner right now, I bet that you’re feeling the squeeze. Sales are down. The economy is challenging. You might even be wondering, am I the only one struggling?
Believe me when I say that you’re not alone. A recent studied showed that around 34% of entrepreneurs report feeling burned out*.
I've been around in for almost 40 years, and I've seen multiple recessions, a pandemic, and plenty of dark times.
Here's what I've learned: three critical elements separate business owners who make it through tough times from those who don't. I call them the 3 D's.
Desire, The Foundation of Business Growth
First up is desire. I'm not talking about some wishy-washy "it would be nice" kind of wanting. I mean a deep, burning desire to make your business work.
When times get tough, this is what tends to happen:
- That desire fades fast.
- The distractions, the noise in the background, gets loud.
- Bills pile up.
- Clients disappear.
- You question everything.
That's when you reconnect with your “why.” Why did you start this business? What problem were you solving? What impact did you want to make?
If you can't answer those questions clearly, it's time to revisit them.
Without that foundational desire, the other two D's won't matter. Business accountability starts when you are honest about whether you still have that fire.
Determination & Dedication, The Commitment
Desire alone won't grow your business. You need determination and dedication (okay, maybe we have 4 D’s). the commitment to show up every day and do the work. Especially the days that seem like nothing is working.
This is where business accountability becomes crucial. When you're determined and dedicated, you don't make excuses. You don't blame the economy. You take ownership.
The Business Owner Mindset
There will be days when you waver or want to fast-forward through the difficulties. That's normal.
Those bad days don't define you. That’s what shifting to a business owner mindset does. Getting back up and keep going is what defines you.
Decisive Action to Move Your Business Forward
You can have all the desire, determination, and dedication in the world, but if you're not taking decisive action, you will stay stuck.
When we're overwhelmed and feeling alone in our business, we do one of two things.
- We bounce around doing a bit of everything (but not one thing particularly well).
- We freeze and do nothing at all.
Neither approach will help you grow your business.
Decisive action means:
-knowing what needs to be done
-doing those things
Hoping things will get better isn’t going to work. It is you, taking that action, taking those steps to move forward towards what you want (also, if you’re more of an audio person, check out Episode 40 of the Stern Truth to hear about the 3 D’s.)
The Power of Community
My friends, you do not have to do this alone. And I’ll say as well that you should not have to do this alone.
Surround yourself with other business owners who get it. Join a group. Find a mentor. Get support from people who understand the unique challenges of being a small business owner.
That's why I created the Momentum Accountability Group. Business owners meet twice a month to support each other, share ideas, and stay accountable to their goals.
Business Owner Homework
If you're struggling, grab a piece of paper and honestly assess where you stand with these three D's. Write them down. Do you have that burning desire? Are you determined and dedicated? Are you taking decisive action every day?
If the answer is “no” to any of these, it's time to make a change. Don't wait for the economy to improve or perfect conditions. Take ownership of your business growth today.
Owning and running a business isn't linear. There are ups, downs, and flat periods. Use these three D's as your foundation to you hold yourself accountable.
Business owners are tough, and we can get through anything. Go make it happen. But if you feel like need some support, reach out to me at marshall@marshallstern.net.
0 Comments