6 ways to keep going when you feel like giving up

Do you ever feel it’s just too hard being in your own business? You’re sick of dealing with people problems, worrying about paying the bills and hoping that a new prospect will finally become a client. You wake up in the middle of the night, worrying that the money you’ve invested in that special project may not work and you’ll be in more debt than ever. Nothing you seem to do seems to be working.

It’s during these times that you need to get the strength from within to keep going. The gold is hidden in there somewhere and you just have to hang in there long enough to find it.

Some time ago I had a client, John, who owned a technology company. He was at the point of throwing in the towel. He was working his guts out, seven days a week. Even though he had three employees, he was spending too much time helping his guys do their work. John would start work before everyone else and stay late so that he could catch up on his own responsibilities.

He had many challenging times with staff. He didn’t realise it, but he was the problem.

Because he was too busy fixing their problems, he wasn’t training them properly. John wasn’t a boss – he was a highly overpaid worker. He did everything himself: invoicing, answering phones, pricing, ordering, arranging meetings with clients – as well as being a technician.

Imagine being in business for over ten years and doing it all yourself. But that’s what you do when you don’t know any better and you haven’t invested any money or time to find out.

Whatever money was being invested, it was on learning about computer systems, not running a business. John didn’t have the knowledge to improve his situation. There was no need for all that to happen. The solution was simple – it was a case of knowing what to do and then taking consistent action.

Here are my top tips for you the next time you feel like giving up:

• Don’t.
• Get support from a mentor or coach; someone with the knowledge and experience to show you how to do things better…and then take consistent action.
• Get some exercise regularly and eat healthily to keep your body and mind alert and energised.
• Take a break; have a holiday or just get away from the business for the day.
• Find people who believe in you and support you. Talk to them.
• Listen to or read stories from successful people. Many of them have overcome many obstacles to achieve what they have.

The Final Word

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out.

Silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you can never tell how close you are.

It may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight where you’re hardest hit.

It’s when things go wrong, that you must not quit!

– Edgar Guest