Falling back in Love with your business.

By Nicola Le Lievre

Remember the butterflies you felt on your first date? You might have experienced excitement when you started your business, the rush of being open on the first day and everything new and fresh. Or when you had your first kiss? Oh, that warm and fuzzy feeling.

Probably one of the most important things that no one ever tells you is that running a business is the same as having a relationship. And as such, you can experience all the ups and downs that go with it.

If you want to be successful, your relationship with your business takes just as much effort, time, and dedication as your romantic relationships. As many as a third of entrepreneurs fall out of love with their businesses, and in a recent report, 24% said this happens several times a year. Here are a few ways to fall in love again with your business that I found helpful.

Remember To Be Grateful

In a committed relationship, you should never take your partner for granted. The same holds in business. When a business experiences a lot of growth and success, especially early on, many owners lose that attitude of gratitude. Their humbleness fades, and they start to take things for granted.

I keep a social proof folder; I put all my business achievements, certificates, magazine articles, images, and testimonials. A folder (digital or hardcopy) is a great tool to navigate when you feel low and need a pick-me-up. Regardless of your business success, never forget where you started. The more grateful you are toward your business, the more love you have for it. The most successful people remain grateful and grounded and give back in any way they can.

Stay True To What Matters Most To You

I believe it is essential to establish core values in your business to stay true to what matters to you. I base all my decisions on my core values. Business owners often lose touch with their core values, mission, and WHY, confusing customers and team. They forget why they fell in love with their business in the first place. You need to keep in touch with the things that matter most to you and drive you to love your business.

Plan For The Future But Enjoy The Present

As most couples age, they must plan for the future. Will they downsize when the kids move out? Are they prepared for retirement? They continue to enjoy the present moment while preparing for the next phase. It would help if you did the same with your business.

• If you’ve built a successful business, maybe you explore selling it.

• If you want to pursue another direction or career, such as myself becoming a civil celebrant, maybe it’s time to explore a succession plan.

• If you’re in the thick of it, maybe it’s time to upgrade your skills and prepare for industry changes.

While staying grounded and enjoying the present moment is essential, thinking and preparing for the future is just as important.

Nobody Said It Was Going To Be Easy

Owning a small business is a tough gig and can be very lonely; surround yourself with people who will take you higher. It is essential to find your tribe and support circle and team up with another salon or business owner to bounce ideas off each other.

Have you joined an industry association? I recommend ABIC to keep me up to date on relevant industry information and documentation.

Keep Things Fresh

Relationships won’t usually survive unless we try to make an effort to keep things interesting. The same holds for your business. Are you just focused on work? Or are you continually trying new techniques, approaches, and ideas?

Keep things fresh in your business:

• Join a business group or local chamber of commerce. Networking and meeting new people can open new opportunities for you and your business.

• Get involved in community-centred activities.

• Learn a new skill set; we are in an everevolving industry.

• Think outside the box; what makes your team and business different? Be open to new ways of doing things.

• Re-visit your core values, mission and vision statement and make sure your team understands what they are.

The Takeaway

Enjoy spending a little extra time with that special someone in your life this Valentine’s Day. If you need to rekindle the relationship with your business and get that loving feeling again, put in the time and effort. You probably started your business because you loved what you were doing, and you probably have so much success for that exact reason. Make the time to reconnect with your business and find love again. As Steve Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Much love & success, you got this. Nicola ox

Download a free guide to finding your tribe at my website below. If you would like to book a virtual coffee with me and find out how I can support you, visit: www.nicolalelievre.com

Facebook – nicola.lievre Instagram – nicolalelievre LinkedIn- nicola-le-lievre-30056476