Why won’t anyone just say it? Starting a business is STRESSFUL!!!!

It’s normal, it’s ok, and it is expected for anyone who is starting a business….. to just plain freak out once in a while?

It seems this is a dirty little secret no one wants to put out onto the table, admit openly and most importantly offer some real strategy on what to do about it.

I guess we can’t really fix it, (or even just make it a little better) if we don’t talk about it in the first place right? So let’s talk about it!

The truth is I have had several businesses of my own, and helped launch countless others.

There is one thing that remained true for all of them, I am not ashamed to admit this…..every once in a while there would be a meltdown.

I’m talking Kleenex box in one hand and the empty container of Krispy Kremes in the other, kinda meltdown.

Ok maybe we substitute doughnuts for Tequila….your choice. Never the less it happens.

It happens, and SO WHAT if it does! Does it make you less of a person, hardly! Does it make you a less successful entrepreneur, no way!!

Sure there are tears, perhaps even shouting and fist shaking at the sky, and when you are done with your cleansing primal scream….doesn’t it feel better?

Of course it does, but now are you a wreck for the rest of the day? Did it sneak up on you, and your outburst landed on you like ton of bricks?

Maybe you even feel guilty? For what, being human, having emotions?

The answer to those questions is usually yes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. My first snippet of advice for you is to acknowledge and give yourself permission to “lose it” once in a while. Yes that’s right, it’s OK and I expect it to happen, it’s NORMAL!

As long as you don’t; lash out, harm anyone, spew hateful messages, or kick your pet, my guess is you need to let it out……so do it!

While we are on the subject of giving permission, I also want you to add a teeny rule that must be applied to this. You now have a time limit for this “exorcism of stress build up”.

If you feel it coming on, things building up inside……tell yourself, Ok I need to take care of this, and I need to be back in 45 minutes, or whatever time frame you chose. So now you know, you have 45 minutes to unleash those pent up emotions, and when the time is up, your done….LEAVE IT BEHIND…(you can’t move forward if you are still “back there” somewhere) And move into the now. Return to the “scene of the crime” with a new perspective and attitude. It really is that simple!!

I have taken the liberty to jot down a few helpful ideas on how to release some of that emotional pressure you are carrying.

These are actual stress relieving tactics either myself or my long list of clients have used, and still use today:

- Go out for a brisk walk…do NOT drag your cell phone with you!

- Go out jogging……WARNING: if your not used to this…an emotionally charged “jog” could render you unable to walk, think, breath without being in mind numbing pain. So use control.

- Use a boxing speed bag…yes boxing….. mount it in your office, garage, laundry room. Buy the nifty gloves to protect your hands, and whale away on it!

CAUTION: Get some instruction on how to use it, and take it easy at first, because a real speed bag hits back until you get the hang of it!

Guess how I know?

- Go buy a Kids paintball gun and go target shooting!! Paintball paint is water soluble, you don’t need to fill out reams of paperwork to get one, it’s safe, it’s quiet, and inexpensive to operate.

Do I have to say it? Ok I will…..only shoot at inanimate objects as targets!

Make your target something worthy of making that bull’s-eye…like say a picture of your computer, or the words INTERNET, or Day J.O.B.

The point is, you can focus your energy, shoot off a few rounds, make a colourful splat, and if anyone asks…. tell them you are trying out a new interior-decorating technique.

Work on that aim, you don’t want a neighborhood full of pink, green, and blue squirrels!

- Hit a bucket of golf balls at a local driving range. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and you don’t need to own any equipment, just show up, even in heels! Can’t you just picture the source of your stress painted riiiight there on that little white ball. You tee up…….slowly draw your arm back…and WHAM.. Bu Bye stress!!!

* BONUS: you don’t have to clean up a thing, or buy the balls. *

- Go out and get a cup of coffee…walk there if you can.

- Buy some fresh flowers for yourself, maybe even bring back a scented candle.

- Pick a cupboard or closet that needs to be tidied up a bit.

Actually many people do clean to relieve stress. Try not to pick the one that has avalanche written all over it!

- Draw, doodle, scribble, even color with crayons.

One of my favorite clients of all time had purchased a dry board ( you know the kind you can write on/wipe off) and an impressive array of dry board markers…and that is where she goes to blow off steam, to her board.

Sometimes she would draw or doodle, other times she might list all of the items that were to go in her dream home. Doesn’t matter, what matters is she is relaxing her mind and doing something easy that she likes to do. Great idea isn’t it.

The common theme you will see with all of these ideas is they all involve getting UP and AWAY from your workstation, home office etc.

None of them are complicated or costly, the idea is to pick things that are easy, and enjoyable to do…so you know…you do them!

They are all active participation/blow off steam kind of activities. It is really, really important that you step away from the stressor that has pushed your last button.

Change your scenery, allow yourself a moment of pause, and get that emotion OUT of your system!!

So leave the phones for a short time ( they will definitely be there when you return) leave the E-mail, get away to re- group, and give yourself the OK to deal with this pressure.

One last idea and then I’ll let you go.

When your peaceful and calm, generally feeling good about things, start writing down on separate pieces of paper, some activities you can do to relieve stress.

Put them all in a baggie, or a jar, and keep it somewhere handy.

If you are the type of person who goes blank when your emotional landslide (Ex; anger, frustration, fear, overwhelm) is barreling toward you. Try this….

FIRST acknowledge it’s happening and then do something about it!
Reach into your jar filled with these ideas, and withdraw ONE, then without hesitation do it!

No excuses, no putting it off, make it work for you, remember to also give it a time limit 11 minutes or 2 hours, that is your choice. It’s your life, your business, your sanity!!

- Thanks for taking this time for yourself, you deserve it!

© Viki V 2006

Viki V is The Business Buddha: She quickly easily teaches the startup entrepreneur and small business owner how to launch and expand a SUCCESSFUL business, while maintaining their sanity!

Viki V’s national clientele span a wide range of SUCCESSFUL businesses, and she says one thing remains true for every success story.

Would you like to know what it is? You can start by signing up for this amazing FREE monthly E-zine. As my thank you, you will also receive my Free Bonus report !! “The Ultimate Survival Guide for being a successful entrepreneur….while LIFE happens” http://www.Thebusinessbuddha.com see you there!