Chances are good that you are feeling all the feels right now.
What started as a two-week pause back in March has grown into something beyond your wildest imagination.
Can I get a witness?
I mean, honestly, it is August… August! The school year is soon approaching, days are getting shorter and pumpkin spice is being served up at your favorite local coffee shop.
Pumpkin. Spice.
And if you are like me, you are somewhere between where you were and where you want to be in business.
Instead of staying in your head for far too long, spinning wheels and stalling out, roll up your sleeves and do a little soul searching.
It’s time to work on your business for a bit, not in it.
Whether you are feeling stuck or feeling grounded in your choices, these reflections will serve you.
So grab a notebook and pen, settle in, and begin by taking a few deep breaths.
Here are the three simple things to think about as a woman in business. To shift both your mindset and your business.
1. So much good. Jot down something positive that happened in your business last month – or, even better, last week. Be specific.
This will get you to a place of positivity, a place of strength.
Maybe you had someone say something encouraging to you.
Or maybe you found a mentor online or a new podcast that is filling you up.
Maybe you gained a specific client, carried a new item in stock that has been super popular or created a piece of content that generated real conversation.
Do not overthink it.
Jot down something good that has happened.
2. Your favorite customer. Describe him or her. List how you served him or her, and all the things you appreciate.
This will center you in your gratitude. Take a moment and scroll through all the people you have served.
Those you have helped in some way. Literally, picture their faces and names.
As you visualize your favorite customer, think about how you interacted with him or her. How she made you feel. Or the variety of products she buys from you. Or how when you work on his project you are at your best creatively.
If you don't have a favorite customer - yet - no worries. Dream him or her up right now. Create an avatar, give him or her a name, and jot down characteristics, including how you will work together.
Start thinking about how you can attract more of your favorite customers. Let it simmer in the back of your mind as you continue reflecting.
And be sure to jot down any random ideas. I keep a notebook on my bedstand and send myself emails when inspiration strikes.
3. Your frustrations. The things that drag you down, those things you wish you could improve. Think money, marketing, process, and time wasted.
Ok, so things are not all rainbows and unicorns. Especially now.
Jot down the things that keep you up at night, the things that stall your forward progress, and the things that bog you down.
Get specific here, too.
Maybe your administrative tasks weigh you down. Or maybe your frustrations come from content creation or accounting functions. If your sales slowed or dried up, this is the place to angry write.
And look for themes. If possible, group items – create buckets or symbols, and make a mental note each.
Even if you are not in a place to have an ideal solution, such as hiring someone – an employee or by contract – it is important to know where you get bogged down.
Come up with a strategy to handle those activities and save your sanity.
I cluster my admin tasks and block time to sprint through them right after my kids start quiet time in the afternoon. I’m usually pretty productive during that time, but it is not my most creative stretch of the day.
With these three exercises, I hope you find clarity. I hope your perspective has shifted and you feel that you are stepping into your strength as the business leader you are.
Next week, we’ll look ahead to cast our vision.
If you want to capture your reflections, check out All Things Business, a free, simple-to-use, 2-page worksheet. It includes the three simple reflections, above, and provides you space to plan your calendar for the Fall months.
Look, I get it. I’m walking this walk with you, trying to pivot in a direction that makes sense for my business, my family, with the future in mind.
We are in this together.
And if you are looking for more badass ladies in business, here are my three favorite thought leaders to follow on LinkedIn:
Cheers to you as you work on your business.