Do you work in or own a business that's affected by seasonal cycles? Do you live in a community whose population changes significantly during the year (e.g., tourist influx, students returning to college)? Do you ever feel stressed out or frustrated by the seemingly constant changes or the extreme highs and lows of your life or your business?
Many people feel that these cyclical changes are just something they have to tolerate. Never mind that your relationships, physical health, and your sanity can be stretched to the breaking point during busy seasons. Or that you're so tired by the end of busy seasons that you simply don't have any resources left for anything else.
Cash Flow Can Be a Problem
If you make most of your money in three or four months of the year, how can you plan your expenses over all twelve months? And if your predictions about what you'll make during the busy season are wrong-you can have serious problems. Wouldn't it be great to approach a new season with money left in the bank from last season? By caring about and paying attention to your cash flow, you can stop worrying about making ends meet during the slower seasons.
Your Personal Relationships May Get Shortchanged
During your time of high activity, you see no one. Your partner, your friends, your family-all have to live without you for a few months. Well, what if they get used to doing without you? What if they become so tired of your not being around for them, that they stop being around for you? It doesn't take a great deal of time to pay attention to your personal relationships during your busy season, and it's an investment that pays off handsomely.
Your Physical Health May Be at Risk
How many more years can you push yourself to your physical limits in order to meet the ever-increasing demands of your busy season?
Getting Stuck on the Stress Roller Coaster
Do you love roller coasters? It's easy to get addicted to the adrenaline rush of the big hills and the loop-the-loops. Ever been stuck on one, or ride the same one many times in a day? It's one of the most boring things ever. The view never changes, the thrill of the unknown dwindles, and you just can't wait to get off. The same thing happens if you find yourself stuck on the roller coaster of seasonal stresses. Instead of rolling with the ups and downs, you become stressed all the time. How can you get off the ride? Check out the Ten Ways to Reduce Stress This Season?free!
Seasonal Changes Can Be Isolating
Living with seasonal changes can make you feel unique. Not many people get to live on Martha's Vineyard, right? Not many people get to have the summers off, especially if they're not teachers?aren't you lucky? Well, the very things that make your life or your business unique may also make you feel alone. You feel like you shouldn't complain because you live in paradise; or because summer vacation is built into your job. Luckily, there are many ways to find and communicate with people who are experiencing the same things you are: online communities, networking meetings, coaching groups. Sharing ideas, stories, and hints for dealing with seasonal changes can go a long way to helping you feel more connected and less stressed.
"That's the Way It Is" Is Not a Valid Argument
Just because you live in a seasonal community, or work in a seasonal business, doesn't mean you are required to be miserable during the busy season. Being able to successfully deal with the stresses of seasonal cycles can have a wide-ranging impact. If you are happier and more confident, your customers (family, co-workers, etc.) will be too.
(c)2005 Barbara Bellissimo.
Barbara Bellissimo is a women's life transformation coach, and author of the book, "Become Your Own Great and Powerful: A Woman's Guide to Leading Your Real, Big Life."
Visit http://www.seasonsofsuccess.com to get her no-cost special report--"Turn On Your Power and Lead Your Self to Greatness"--and her easy-to- use tools and ideas for leading the real, big life you want--right now!
rental limo Atlanta .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareA strategic alliance is when two or more businesses join... Read More
I am not a big fisherman, but I do enjoy... Read More
Businesses tend to avoid doing their annual business plan thinking... Read More
Remember Chux? The disposable diaper that took the market by... Read More
Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
Entrepreneurs often give little if any consideration to their computer... Read More
The trick is to determine what uniquely identifies your best... Read More
The boom of the dot-com era in 1999 brought the... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More
Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More
A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More
When developing the competition section of your business plan, companies... Read More
What gets measured gets done.How do you keep your business... Read More
People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More
"I don't need a business plan."Neither did Alice in Wonderland."Would... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
I am surprised how few sales professionals, independent consultants, and... Read More
Writing a business plan is not an easy endeavor, nor... Read More
If you're a solo professional like I am, you know... Read More
Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
Is your business growing as fast and effectively as it... Read More
How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
Bedford Park taxi to Midway ..Many of us are discouraged by the networking events that... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
Anyone who has been watching the Idaho Market Carefully for... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
All investors greatly desire and are motivated by a clear... Read More
To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More
It doesn't take a Terrorist Act, Tsunami or Earthquake to... Read More
After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More
Writing a business plan to help you direct and manage... Read More
No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More
How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More
For many consumers and producers, MSP is an acronym for... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains does wonderful ERP job for horizontal markets... Read More
A survey released by the American Institute of Certified Public... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
If you're a solo professional like I am, you know... Read More
Succession planning requires the owner of a small or medium-sized... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
From time to time there seems to be a flurry... Read More
One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized age... Read More
More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More
Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given... Read More
The new check cashing instant clearing will take some time... Read More
Strategic Planning |