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!
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More
A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?"... Read More
When looking at Akron carefully one cannot help but notice... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
I am surprised how few sales professionals, independent consultants, and... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
If you own the mid-size business and actively work in... Read More
People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More
The goal of almost every business owner is to generate... Read More
So what makes a vision successful? Everyday companies try to... Read More
I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More
One of the key challenges for any business is to... Read More
To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
The first task before hiring a contractor for home remodeling... Read More
If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
In 1989, Sony founded its Institute of Wisdom at the... Read More
Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More
"Did you hear what your competitor is doing?" This question... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits multiple services market niche and healthcare... Read More
There is so much small business information available today that... Read More
Six Sigma is becoming a proven approach for businesses and... Read More
Although North Americans were the dominant population on the Internet,... Read More
emergency cleaning services Morton Grove ..Strategic planning and consulting is the strategy roadmap to manage... Read More
Succession planning, like any business acumen, is both an art... Read More
Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is... Read More
Private equity firms have raised so much capital over the... Read More
Ask Yourself three simple questions that affect your strategy planning...... Read More
In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More
Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More
More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More
I am surprised how few sales professionals, independent consultants, and... Read More
Six Sigma is becoming a proven approach for businesses and... Read More
Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More
I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More
If you own a mobile car wash business or auto... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
A well known, national chain of restaurants discovered that certain... Read More
You have heard that there is extra money on the... Read More
Many of us are discouraged by the networking events that... Read More
Let us look at a few of the big distribution... Read More
Experts estimate that 90 percent of Australian businesses are overspending... Read More
Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
If you own a mobile franchise business and wish to... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
Strategic Planning |