Happy Friday Brain,
It's been another busy week... and though there's been lots of "stuff" to do,
this has been a busy mental week for me. I think this happens to all of us at
one time or another. Things aren't going quite as you anticipated, things aren't
moving as fast as you'd like and you get discouraged.
It's really easy to let those feelings of discouragement keep us from our work.
If you walk away from the work, it's easier to stay away from the work, and at
some point you find you haven't worked in a while.
While that didn't happen to me (I'm just too damn stubborn!), I see it happen to
people all the time. But it doesn't have to.
How to Manage Discouragement and Frustration in Business
Discouragement and frustration are business killers. Really. Especially if you let them
fester for more than a minute. As a business owner ~ and kick ass person ~ it's your
job to nip them in the bud. When you're in the thick of it, it can seem impossible, but
here's a few things I do to when it happens to me.
1. Get on my bike and ride!
(If your mind immediately went to the musical version here you go) Go ahead and
listen while you read.
I can't always do this because Hanna is usually here and our bike trailer is broken, but
this is an almost always perfect fix. I've also been finding that just when I need a bike
ride something happens that allows me that privilege, so don't assume you can't do
it just because you've got a kiddo hanging on your leg, the Universe can often make
magic for you.
2. Listen to Abraham Hicks (or whatever you find particularly uplifting)
I usually do this while I'm riding my bike. But this week I actually brought the CD
to the car and listened everywhere we drove this week. It really made the car
(which can be a tough space for me) a LOT better.
3. Listen to music and dance for 5 minutes. (Did you click on the bicycle link?!)
It works. There's something about music that can instantly change our moods
and reframe the day. Here's my favorite get out of a funk music.
It's all fine and good to say "listen to some music and feel better", but that
doesn't really do it. There's something under there that is causing your
discouragement, your frustration. While I truly believe you have to get out
of deep discouragement to be able to deal with it (thus the first three things)
you can't leave it there. You have to deal with the underlying problem.
Find a friend. Seriously.
If your IRL (in real life) friends have no clue or don't care about what you're doing
that's ok. There's a gajillion people online who do understand. Send someone
an email. Find a forum where you can meet people who are like you. Don't
just find a chat room to bitch in, find 1 person who you can really talk to and work
things through with. I am lucky enough to have 2 people who do this for me...
But I had to work at finding them, and trusting them. You can do the same.
Kiss Club is another great option. It's a perfect supportive community
to work through this stuff.
I can almost guarantee that part of the problem is going to be "clarity". And
KISS Club is an awesome place to get clarity. :)
Even if you manage to feel better from riding your bike or rocking out to John
Mayer ~ you've still got to deal with the underlying "stuff" that's creating your
discouragement. If you don't, it will just keep on coming back. Don't be afraid
of it... once you bring whatever it is into the open it becomes much easier to
shine a light on it...and it's the light that will help you let it go.
Like I said... this isn't just your struggle. I think this is a struggle everyone goes
through including myself. Here's how I overcame my discouragement this week
and what I found out about myself and my business in the process.
On another note:
I got an email this week from a long time blog reader who has found herself
a little lost in the transition I've taken. You know I used to send out updates
after every blog post ~ for all my blogs. ;) I was getting complaints that people
were signed up for a few lists (and getting the tutorials from them) and then getting
all these updates as well... bleck ~ too much Jackie.
I started doing this once a week newsletter ~ and now people are frustrated that they're
not getting updates. Mama can't win. Here's what I did. I set up "email update" boxes on
both of my blogs. These updates are simply notifications of new blog posts. You can
enter your email address and you'll be notified when I post. No tutorials, no other emails
from me ~ and if you're getting this newsletter you'll continue to get it once a week.
So... hoping that helps people out. :)
In the midst of my angst this week I realized when I designed It's a Wahm Life I had
a completely different concept in mind for the site, than what it has turned into. I realized
the way it was set up was not conducive to the way it is not being used, so I gave it a bit
of a makeover. I like it a lot better. So, if you click through to some of the posts, make
sure you click the "home" button and take a look at the new look.
What's been going on this week:
From the Time to Shine Challenge:
Blog commenting is a great way to get to know other bloggers, drive traffic, and
create a community ~ but it can take all DAY if you let it. You don't have to. Here's
some tips to help you spend less time blog commenting, and get more bang for your
efforts.
5 Steps to Blogging Commenting in 30 Minutes or Less
Jumping away from blogs, and blog commenting we moved on to Forums and
communities. Here's some tips to help you find and strategically use online
communities to build your own blog community.
11 Ways to Maximize Online Communities to Build Your Blog
This week's Time to Shine Interview was with Laura of OrgJunkie.com.
We had a fantastic conversation and I took a LOT away from the interview.
You might say Laura is what started my angst this week... but it was a good
thing! It's about 30 minutes long, so download it and have a listen.
My Interview with Laura
On the Home and Kid front:
This week I decided to eat a vegan diet. It's gone pretty well.. and my family
has been in the tractor for most of their meals, which has made it much easier.
Here's the meal plan I set up:
Meal Plan Monday Vegan Style
I'm implementing Fun Fridays too... so if you don't hear from me as much
as usual on Fridays it's because I'm off having fun with my kiddo. I have to
keep remembering that I work from home so I can spend time with her, create
memories, and moments... not so I can sit in a hot upstairs room with my nose
in a computer screen all day. :( So... we'll see how it goes. I think it might be
tougher than I think it's going to be. Anyway... here's my ideas and what I plan
to do to make it happen. (as well as some fantastic links to fun summer activities
and resources)
Implementing Fun Fridays
Speaking of having to implement Fun Fridays to get myself away from my desk...
I'm wondering if it's just me, or are other mom bloggers as "workaholic" as I am.
I asked this question on my fanpage and would LOVE your feedback. It's multiple
choice and will only take a couple seconds. I'd really appreciate it.
Are you a workaholic mom blogger?
I got to thinking about it last night as I was reading Rachel Meek's book
Simple Blogging. The whole book was about how you can spend less time
blogging and more time with your family. I thought that's what I wanted but
as I was reading the book I started feeling totally guilty ~ like I "should" be
that person who only works when my kid's asleep, and stays up to the wee
hours of the morning so I can spend all my kid's waking moments with her.
Yeah... that's so not me. I then started to get a little panicky wondering if I
was the only one. :) So really ~ one way or the other, or in between there's
options ~ please take a second to help my neurotic mind and answer the
question. :)
I found some amazing things around the net this week... most of them
are motivational in nature as I was feeling a big hot mess this week.
This video from Ashley at TheMidlleFingerProject.org rocked my world.
Take a cue from the title of her blog ~ if it's not your thing, that's cool.
Here's a fantastic post on how to identify your "right" people. You'll
see my angsty struggle in the comments. :)
If you're sending out guest posts, here's a fantastic post that will show
you exactly how to send them to make the blog owner super duper
happy... you are doing guest posts right? :)
Ok... if you want more of the good stuff I find during the week make sure you're
following me on twitter and facebook... that's where I post it all. :)
One last thing before I go...
I got 1 of the 4 featured spots on #commenthour this week. I'm just tickled pink.
It happened the SAME day I made the new adjustments to the site, and it looks good
all featured up there at the top of the page. Take a look. And while you're there sign
up for comment hour next wed at 8:30 central time. They've separated from SITS Girls
and there are men showing up now... so if you happen to be a fella reading this newsletter,
it includes you. :)
Ok, I've got to get busy now... I have an interview with Michelle Stern of What's Cooking
With Kids this morning, (yeah, I scheduled it before I decided to have Fun Friday) and then
we're off to do some shopping and fun stuff.
Have an awesome week... see you next Friday.
Jackie
www.ItsAWahmLife.com
www.InternetMarketingforMommies.com
PS... Remember, I love to hear from you, so don't hesitate to hit the reply button and let me know
what's going on with you. :)
648 W 90th St South , Wellington, Kansas 67152, United States
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