If you know me or read my blog, you know that I usually prefer to blog about the positive parts of being an entrepreneur. Today I want to let you know that even though I love it and I am having the time of my life, it’s not always sunshine and roses! If you ask any entrepreneur they will tell you that it is as stressful as it is exciting. You’re in charge of making big decisions, leading people towards a vision that YOU are bringing to life and actions that could make or break your business. Not to mention there’s usually a good chunk of skin in the game.
Here are 6 things that cause me to feel stressed on a regular basis:
- Accessing Capital
Operating capital keeps the business alive. And even if your business is profitable on paper, you still need enough cash flow to pay people, to cover bills and other unexpected expenses. Staying on top of this cash flow is definitely one of my top stressors as an entrepreneur.
- Making decisions
The good thing is that the more decisions that you make the easier it becomes and confidently making those decisions becomes second nature. I’ve become a decision-making machine! The bad thing is after too many decisions I can get ‘decision fatigue’ that makes even small decisions stressful.
- Being a strong leader
As the leader of my organization I need to keep it together at all times…even when I’m scared or stressed or just don’t know what to do! I have to stay calm and positive and composed even at the worst of times.
- Commitments
There just isn’t enough time in the day and commitments pile up quickly. I love everything I do but sometimes my schedule is packed so tightly that there’s barely time to think. I find myself wondering if I am giving it my all to the things I’ve committed to.
- Finding and keeping great talent
Finding great team members is a gift so when I do I want to keep them—and when I don’t— it can become very stressful. As a small business the addition or departure of a team member can wreak havoc.
- The unknown
It doesn’t matter that I’ve been doing this for 5 years, that I have great mentors, that I have taken every failure as a chance to learn and that I have read or listened to 1000’s of clips that pertain to business: there will always be unknown and unpredictable situations that are going to happen. And even though I totally expect the ‘shit to hit the fan’, facing this unknown day in and day out is probably one of the greatest stresses of all.
These are my biggest stresses and although being an entrepreneur comes with it’s share of situations that test your patience and positivity, I wouldn’t change it for anything. It is still the most exciting ride I’ve ever been on! Let me know what stresses you out as an entrepreneur by commenting below.
Happy Monday!
The A Dot 