This is a silly little thing but something I wanted to share with other entrepeneurs.

Have you ever asked someone at a cocktail party how they are? Only for them to break down in a puddle of tears and tell you how their Grandma’s wooden leg got lost, the dog got run over and they lost their job? Its kinda uncomfortable, right?

The equivalent for an entrepreneur is when someone asks us how our business is going.  Depending on the day the answer could be anything from “Brilliant” to “I’m not sure we’re going to make it, we’re gonna have to fire everyone, I’ll probably lose the house”. The truth of course, is somewhere in between. 

So here’s my tip for answering that question without hurting the feelings of the well wishing friend:

Just say “We’re on the verge of something”.

The question asker will respond ”On the verge of what?” accompanied by a quizical look on their face.

Respond by saying “Well its either complete failure or world-domination. <pause> I’m just not sure which one yet.”

Guaranteed to make everyone laugh, or your money back!

billFLO Ian

Running a small business is tough. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting your business, growing it or just keeping alive there is nothing easy about it. As the owner everything falls on you and sometimes its overwhelming and you want to through the towel in. Don’t ! Here’s a tip on how to deal with those days: Go-To-The-Well. You can call it the well of inspiration, the well of persistence or the well of patience, but everyone has somewhere they can go to juice-up and get going again.

The key is knowing what your well is. For me its time with my peers. A good chat with a trusted fellow entrepreneur helps to blow away the frustration and put things in perspective. For others its family time, a hike in the woods or a good book. Ultimately, its your job to know  your well and know when to go there!

Your thoughts?

billFLO Ian