3 Emotions That Go Along with Operating Your Own Business

Owning a business is an emotional ride. There's the thrill of opening your doors for the first time, the pride of a happy customer and the stress of a day when nothing goes right. Some days you love it. Some days you wonder why you started.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Most business owners run into the same three emotions sooner or later. Knowing what they are, and what to do with them, makes them easier to handle.

1. Fear

Fear shows up early and often. Fear of losing money, fear of making the wrong call, and sometimes even fear of succeeding and not being able to keep up. Running a company always involves risk, and it's human to feel uneasy about that.

Fear isn't all bad. It can keep you careful. The problem comes when it keeps you from acting at all.

What helps:

• Talk with people who have taken similar risks. Other owners can help you tell the difference between a smart risk and a reckless one.
• Keep learning. The more you understand about your market, your numbers and your customers, the less there is to be afraid of.
• Break big decisions into smaller steps you can test before you commit.

2. Euphoria

When things go well, it feels amazing. A big order comes in, a customer raves about your work, or you hit a goal you've been chasing for months. That rush is a great motivator, and you should enjoy it.

The catch is that success takes daily effort. A great week doesn't guarantee a great month, and a happy customer today still expects the same care next time.

What helps:

• Celebrate the win, then look at what made it happen so you can repeat it.
• Stay close to your customers even when business is good.
• Be ready to adjust. What worked this year may need to change next year.

3. Frustration

Missed deadlines, late payments, equipment problems, a staffing gap. Frustration often comes from things you can't fully control. Left alone, it can spill over into how you treat your team and your customers.

What helps:

• Step away for a few minutes before you react. A clear head makes better decisions.
• Take some time each day for yourself, even if it's short. If you're worn out, everyone around you feels it.
• Look for the pattern. If the same problem keeps coming back, fix the process behind it instead of fighting it every time.

You're not doing it wrong

Feeling all three of these in the same week is normal. It doesn't mean you're bad at business. It means you care about it. The owners who last are usually the ones who learn to notice these feelings, take a breath and keep moving forward.

Lean on the people around you, too. Your family, your team and other local business owners have likely been through the same ups and downs.

How AC Graphix can help

We can't take the stress out of running a business, but we can take a few projects off your plate. From design to printing to delivery, our team can manage your print projects start to finish. Give us a call when you need a hand.

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