You!

You may have been motivated to start your own business for a variety of reasons. Maybe you wanted to earn lots of money, or work your own hours be they part time, full time or all the time. Maybe you wanted to be your own boss and make your own decisions. You are great at what you do so why wouldn’t this business take off and be successful?

But now you find yourself in the position of having the tax office threatening you with a variety of legal actions or creditors threatening you with non-supply and debt collection. You have been introduced to the world of worrying about income coming in, paying creditors, employing and retaining good quality and reliable staff, not to mention the effects on those people who are important to us. The greatest fear can be losing absolutely everything if the business fails, and for some that fear becomes a reality. Suddenly, what seemed like a great business idea is now causing endless stress over what is going to happen and how it can be fixed. So start the sleepless nights and zombie-like days!

There are two important topics within your situation that need to be addressed – the practical side and the emotional/psychological effects this situation will be having in your life.

The area most commonly looked at first when things get tough is the practical side which involves investigating why you are in this position. Getting the proper professional advice and assistance will give you options for moving forward and overcoming barriers to success. This is a very good time for you to contact us at Your Business Angels, as our expertise lies in handling situations just like the one you may be in now. After 16 years in this business, we have pretty much seen it all so it is very unlikely we will be shocked or surprised at your situation and the chances are that we will already have some easy solutions to your problems.

The second, and just as important but often ignored topic is your emotional and psychological wellbeing during this tough time. Most of us, from a very young age, have been programmed to “grin and bear it” when it comes to dealing with life’s challenges. We were told to “cop it on the chin and get over it”. We are taught that showing any kind of emotion is to show weakness, and we must be strong at all times. The reality is that these attitudes are not only extremely difficult to pull off, they can actually create more fear than necessary, and make situations more difficult and can even cause relationship break downs.

Stress is a very real problem that affects not only you but those close to you, be they family, friends or colleagues. They will all want to support you, but if you deny that you are stressed and resist their help, you will block this important support system. You do not need to cope with everything on your own – ever! It is vital that you recognise the impact you are having on others and take time to restore balance and rejuvenate yourself. Some really effective ways of doing this are asking your doctor for advice, exercising as much as you can, spend time with your family or friends having fun – it doesn’t matter what you do as long as it distracts you from your business troubles and gives you a chance to just relax. It’s your responsibility to manage your stress, don’t let it manage you!

At Your Business Angels, we understand the pressures and stresses associated with business and how it affects you personally – some of our staff have been there too. We believe that your emotional wellbeing plays a pivotal role in how you cope with whatever situation you bring to us. We are strong supporters of raising awareness of depression and anxiety. The beyondblue website is a great source of information about depression, anxiety and related disorders, and also includes helpful information on coping with stress and looking after your health and wellbeing during retrenchment or financial loss.

We believe that having a healthy and happy life comes first, and so we approach your business problems with this mantra in mind

Visit www.beyondblue.org.au or contact the info line on 1300 22 4636 or infoline@beyondblue.org.au