Falling in Love

Hey Reader,

In so many ways, being an entrepreneur is like having a virtual spouse. And like any long running marriage, there are good days and bad days. Since so many marriages end in divorce, it’s also important to point out that many businesses “fail” or are sold - so the relationship is put to rest.

And, also like a marriage, your relationship with your business takes work and constant tending to keep it healthy.

I was talking to a client recently who had fallen out of love with her business for the last few years. She dabbled in other businesses. She distracted herself with hobbies and other passion projects. She filled her time with “less taxing” (her words) work.

But the truth is that her business that she felt was a drag was also the thing that paid the bills and allowed her to participate in all those distracting diversions.

Now she’s feeling the financial pinch.

Her business that she hasn’t shown any love to for the past few years is now dying. Yes, a dying business = no income. Yikes.

In order to bring it back to life, she’s got to really dig in and show it some love. She has to FALL IN LOVE with her business again. Connect with the passion she originally felt - her “why” behind the business - and find the joy in the day to day again.

Hopefully, this will breath new love back into her business and her clients will feel the passion again and come back for more.

So how do we fall in love with our business?

Well, it turns out there are actual scientifically proven questions you can ask another person that are designed to help you find connection and can lead to real loving feelings. (You can Google it.)

Unfortunately your business can’t talk back, so we have to use other methods.

Here’s a few things you can do to fall back in love with your business:

1. Go re-read your brag book (if you have one) or all the compliments you have received. If you don't have a Brag Book, start building one right now!
2. Write out a list of “50 reasons I love what I do” (seriously, 50+, and they can be simple!)
3. Write out your “big why” - why did you take this on to begin with? What did you set out to accomplish that this business would help you achieve?
4. Your business is a vehicle or tool in your life - what can it help you build or achieve if you really put your focus on it? What's possible?
5. Whose life changes or improves as a result of you doing this work? List them all - from clients, to their families, your own family, employees + their families?, your community. Get them all in there!
6. Go ask your clients or friends/ family what they like most about your business. WRITE it down. It’s not enough to simply hear it, you have to record it to really be able to take it in.

Being in love takes work. Show your business some love today!

Loving the work!

Jenell

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