So for those of you that follow my blog, you know that I have been in a funk lately and was able to turn it around by setting new goals. At the same point I realized that I had been working too hard on my business (if that is even possible), but trying to move it in a direction that I really didn’t want to head. More importantly I was not getting the results I needed from those efforts. I realized it was time to start moving in a different direction and find a new focus!! Well …. you know the old saying “be careful what you wish for!!” …

I am happy to say that although my business looks nothing like I thought it would one year ago, it is a business that I am very proud of today. When I looked at my goals and reviewed what I really wanted (instead of what others expected) I was able to create a new picture for my business and the greatest thing is that picture is actually coming to fruition!!

In the last week I have signed 2 new clients I absolutely love and I have gained 2 new coaching clients. I realized that I absolutely love coaching and this is a focus that I want to work with in the next little while and an area of my business to grow. I think the key to that success has been letting go of what I perceived that everyone else expected from me and getting back to what I wanted in a business!! I lost the attitude that I had to be someone that others wanted me to be and realized I could just be me again!!

I look forward to each and every day and can’t wait to get into my office again … it is a new found love for both my business and my clients.

So the reason for this post is to allow you, my readers, to realize that you and only you can determine what your business goals are and what your vision for your business is!! As entrepreneurs we need to stop looking at everyone else and doing what others are doing or what we think others expect from us. I believe that once you create your own dream and vision you will be excited with the results!!

This is so true in any business isn’t it? How many times have you dealt with someone in a bad mood and thought … “I can’t wait to talk to them again!!” …. NOT!! As business owners, it is important to remember that we are our business … what we say, how we say it, what we do and how we act are key!!

Even on the days when we are at our worst, it is important to project a great attitude. Here are a few tips for helping out on the days when we aren’t feeling our best!!

SMILE - even when you aren’t feeling your best, a smile shows others that things are great. Even smiling when talking on the phone will be reflected in your voice.

THINK - think about the best outcome a situation can have and go into the situation concentrating on that outcome … it’s called the power of positive thinking and believe it or not it works!!

SURROUND YOURSELF - with positive people!! On a bad day call up a friend and ask them to help you gain a positive attitude. Who better to pick you up then one of your supporters and cheerleaders!!

TREAT YOURSELF - to something you love to do. Immersing yourself in a hobby or pasttime that you enjoy is sure to give yourself a better attitude!!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember though as a business owner … if you know that you are having a bad day and will project a bad attitude, that may be the perfect day to avoid people (including in person, by phone and by email)!! Save that for when your attitude has improved!!

As I posted last week, I was in a funk and realized the reason for that funk is that I had reached all my goals and had not set new ones. Once I posted that post, I received several emails and private messages from friends that they too were experiencing the same thing. In particular, my co-author Sally and I both realized we were “funking” together. So, we spent some time the other day reviewing our old goals and setting new ones. We got to pat ourselves on the back for reaching goals that seemed like “big dreams” a year ago.

Now that I have those new goals I am happy to say that I truly feel like I am back and raring to go!! I couldn’t believe that I had forgotten to “practice what I preach” so to say. So many times I have said … without a vision how do you know where you are going!! No wonder I was lost and didn’t know where to turn.

In celebration of Sally and I getting our groove back we are offering a special on our book Managing Your Thriving Business for Success. If you enter the code word: productive you will receive $10 off the cost of the book! If you are in a funk or have lost your groove we hope you will join us in getting your groove back and let us know about your light bulb moments.

For the next 10 days we will be offering this $10 discount. Go to http://www.thrivingbusinessmanual.com/managing and enter the code: productive to start getting your groove back today!