Okay, so you’ve just finished up a lengthy quote for a sizable bid, and the client calls with major changes and add-ons. You’re back to square one. Or you’re just starting to see the profits roll in and your vendor or supplier declares bankruptcy. Big change can send a home business owner or entrepreneur into an emotional tailspin. Change in any business is inevitable, but when you’re on your own, it can make you feel isolated, hopeless, frustrated and angry. You can’t do much about the change that is happening, but you can learn strategies that will help you deal with it. Here are some tips to handle change within your home business: Get it down on paper. When something unexpected happens, it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of obsessing about it, playing scenarios over and over in your head, and losing focus on what you should be doing. Write down the problem or situation, and make lists of strategies, concerns and solutions. Simply seeing what you're dealing with down on paper can help calm your nerves and make you feel in control instead of victimized. Brainstorm. When you’re dealing with change, you might need to also change the way you normally do things. Try to be objective, or seek the advice of trusted colleagues, and brainstorm ideas and creative approaches to your particular issue. This may be the time to solicit part-time help to handle the extra workload. You may need to step up marketing, change the focus of your work, or reorganize priorities. Don’t rule out anything until you’ve brainstormed and come up with multiple ideas and solutions. De-stress. Your first reaction when confronted with big change is usually anger, and playing the blame-game. “That client is crazy! It’s all their fault…” This is normal, but you don’t want to react to your client when in this stage. Try to take a walk, take deep breaths, go work out, or do something physical that will help relieve this anger. Once you’re calm and thinking clearly, you can be more effective and tackle the issue at hand. Set boundaries. Don’t become a victim and let yourself be consumed with the problem at hand. Things always work out in the end, so know your limits, and stay within them. In other words, if you know you become manic when you lose too much sleep, then make sure you get enough. If you find yourself running around in circles for one client that always changes things up and makes your life miserable, maybe it’s time to set some boundaries, or cut the customer ties. If you become a victim of your client whims or circumstances out of your control, then know what you can or cannot handle, and stick to it. Of course you must be flexible, but you also need to maintain your own sanity in order to have a productive business. Dealing with change can certainly be a roller coaster ride. You just can’t avoid the highs and lows that come with running a home business. But the way you deal with those fluctuations can be the difference between failure and success. |
