Here’s an important question for all of you entrepreneurs who are busy building a business: How do you feel – how do you really feel – about your business?
Actually, this question is so important, I’m going to ask you to look at it this way, too:
If you were in a relationship with your business, what would that relationship look like?
Is it a relationship you take for granted? Do you wake up next to your business every morning with no real sense of excitement? Do you expect it to be sitting at its rightful spot at the dinner table every evening? Are you spending all of this time and energy building a business while secretly wishing you could be doing something else instead?
Or is it a relationship filled with passion and excitement? Can you not wait to say good-morning to it? Do you sneak away during the day to check your business email, and think about it all. The. Time? Do you prioritize it, spending quality time with it?
Take a minute to really think about it, right now.
Here’s why:
About a year ago, I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.” It’s all about how to live our most creative lives, balancing soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism. In it, she talks about how she decided to have a “wild love affair” with her writing.
As a creative person—and especially as someone who has recently rediscovered my passion for writing fiction—I can get on board with the idea of having a wild love affair with your art!
But what about having a wild love affair with your business?
Imagine with me now …
Every morning, you’d practically jump out of bed because you couldn’t wait to see your business. You would spend every spare moment with your business, and maybe you’d even sneak away to check on it when you’re “supposed” to be doing something else, like dishes. At night, you’d go to bed thinking about it, and it may even show up in your dreams.
How would that feel?
Now, I’m not saying that in reality, you should spend 24/7 on or with your business. But what if you could capture that feeling, that energy, excitement, and passion?
Imagine everything that would flow back to you in terms of clients, opportunities, and money. After all, money follows passion, right?
It sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?
If you don’t feel this way about your business right now, know first and foremost that that’s okay! There is a way to build a business you love, and that loves you back. (More on that in a moment.)
Second, take a few moments to think about WHY you don’t love your business – and I mean love it passionately. In fact, I invite you to take this process even deeper, by having an actual conversation with your business.
Action Step: Imagine your business is a person, sitting across from you, and talk to him or her. Ask her what happened! What has gone wrong, and why? You may be surprised at the answers that pop up.
Look, if you’re going to spend all of that time and energy building a business, wouldn’t you want to feel like you’re having a passionate affair with it?
If this post resonated with you, you may want to check out my book, “How to Start a Business You Love AND That Loves You Back.” It’s designed to give you all the tools you need to start a business you love – one with which you can have that ‘wild love affair’! Click here to learn more.
Heidi Richards Mooney says
Thanks Michelle for the inspiring article. As a long-time entrepreneur, there are ebbs and flows in business. I have fallen in and out of love with my business several times. I found it comes down to choice. Love it or sell it. I chose to love one business and sell the other. Now my business and personal life hold a lot less stress. i actually enjoy what I do and would not change a thing (except maybe deciding to let go earlier).
Thanks again. i plan to share this as my audience could really use your wisdom.
My best,
Heidi Richards Mooney, Publisher – WE Magazine for Women, Founder Women in Ecommerce and President, HERBusinessListings.com
Michele PW says
Thank you Heidi. That means a lot to me. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.