How do you keep going when you feel like you’ve got nothing left to give?
When to close a business. I got this very question from a lady called Diane on my facebook page recently and was so moved by her plight that I decided to make it the subject of the very first episode of my brand new online TV show. (Yes, you heard that right – my brand new online TV show!)
The fact is, every new project (or job, or hobby, or company) starts out exciting and fun. Then it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point—really hard, and not much fun at all L
And then you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle.
Despite the old saying, sometimes winners DO quit, and quitters DO win.
It’s all about TIMING. Knowing when it’s time to dig deep and push forward, and knowing when it’s time to walk away.
If you’ve found yourself asking these questions, watch my video below titled When to Close a Business and subscribe right away to BernadetteTV – my brand new online TV channel (Can you tell that I’m excited?!)
On today’s new episode of BernadetteTV you’ll discover:
- The two things you MUST do before you make any life-changing decisions
- Why ‘years of struggle’ are a sign that something needs to change and …
- …the first 4 things you can and should change if you choose to turn things around
Once you watch today’s show, I’d love to hear your thoughts about knowing when to keep going and when to walk away.
Please share your experience in the comments below.
I’d love to hear your views on this one.
P.S We’ll be bringing you a brand new episode of BernadetteTV every Thursday from now on. It’s my intention to get practical and inspiring advice for being the best you can be in business and life into as many hands, heads and hearts as I can each and every week. If you want to help, please share this episode with your friends and family. Thank you
Congratulations Bernadette on your new TV show!
Thank you so much Catherine!
Great video Bernadette – I really love the checklist to help you come to a decision. It’s not only relevant for deciding to stick with a business, it also applies to products and programmes and other things you do in your business – so I’ve made tonnes of notes.
A few years ago I was looking at my accounts with my accountant and he implied I should give up (the truth was I would make more money stacking shelves).
But I wasn’t prepared to do that and in that moment as you said, I committed 100% to my business – and said to my accountant – “you wait, next year I’ll have made a profit”. I was confident to say that because I had already signed up to mentoring with you and in one month I had made what I made the previous quarter.
When we reviewed my accounts a year later my sales had tripled 🙂 And there were 2 key factors – being 100% committed and getting the right support to move me forward. So thank you Bernadette.
Such a great example! Thank you Melina 🙂
Hi Bernadette. I’m impressed 🙂 You are going from strength to strength …………. Big Congratulations.
Thanks Luana, we had a lot of fun putting this together and I want to help as many people as I can through this weekly TV channel. I appreciate your comment – stay tuned!
Great video Bernadette. I remember this was the exact advice you shared with us a few years ago and the next year we doubled our revenue……………………( sell what people want!)
Because you take ACTION Denise 🙂
Great video and very timely. Thank you Bernadette.
I took two years away from my trading time-for-money IT consulting business to build a Software-as-a-Service revenue stream. The challenge has been immense and there have been a series of setbacks at every stage. Despite the best laid and carefully thought through plans, the truth is we learn as we go. You don’t foresee all the things that will trip you up and sap all your energy and enthusiasm. I have found that at each roadblock I have been forced to reevaluate and adjust. I have had to learn many new skills (that were never part of the plan), redevelop things I thought were already done, work twice as hard (with no income to compensate), and face a great many fears about my current and perceived future circumstances.
It’s difficult to know what advice to give Diane in addition to whats already been given. I have been extraordinarily lucky to have the complete support from my loved ones. They give me the renewed energy needed to overcome obstacles and plough-on. Logically, I “should” have given up before now, but my heart has always said otherwise and I’m truly grateful that I listened.
Thanks for your comment Phil – I could relate to everything you said – especially the piece about the unforeseen setbacks at every stage – no matter how careful you plan. If this gives you any bit of encouragement I think the willingness to persevere when you’re at the stage you’re at is the ‘difference that makes the difference’ and from your comments i have no idea that you WILL get there and your efforts WILL pay off.
You are very lucky to have the support of your loved ones, not everyone is that fortunate. Wishing you the best of success with your business!
I love the new video style as it shows off your personality much more. Liked the cheeky yoga move in the intro too 😉
Thank you Victoria – that’s what we were aiming for. You like my backward bend? It’s improved quite a bit since you last saw me hasn’t it? You were the one that got me started on the yoga path – so thank you 🙂
Bernadette–that 4 1/2 minutes was a tour de force (def: feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty). Thank you for the inspiration and answer to the puzzling question of when to move on.
Very simple but effective advice – Thankyou!
Very good advice and beautifully delivered. You are a good role model for entrepreneurs. When I started my business I knew I had good products which had helped many people. So I felt confident. I felt that at my age I had no time for mistakes so I found mentors. They believed their own hype and I believed them too! It took some to time realise that I knew best about my biz. As I toiled my confidence ebbed away. I was driven and felt I had to succeed. Eventually I achieved what I had envisioned from the start. But I walked away because I knew that I no longer had the time or passion to go travelling to take the business onwards.
Mistakes: – Shaky sales skills. Undercapitalised. Working alone.
There is a little goldmine in my back bedroom – but no one to mine it. Pity.
Love the new TV show! You are a natural 🙂
I like that you can deliver such good info in such a short video.
Thanks Carole – it’s really important to me that people get maximum value from the time they invest watching these videos so I’m glad we did it for you! Thanks and stay tuned!
The other piece of the jigsaw is how we all play The Inner Game. My work is about helping entrepreneurs Master their Inner Game so they can love building their fun, creative, exciting businesses that makes them the money they want and gives them time to play. I have spent 12 years at http://www.wow-coaching.co.uk and my work in progress new website is at http://d695329.eechost.com/. You can be doing all the right things but without the inner game mastered, things don’t work! I know you know this Bernadette.
Excellent Bernadette.
Thanks Bernadette this is Fab!! I think sometimes it takes a long time to see the wood for the trees. What seemed confusing to me 2/3 years ago is now astonishingly clear and I can’t understand why I didn’t see it before. Faith is important too you really have to believe in yourself and your ability to deliver. Some great advice here. I love this new format. Thank you xx
Hmm, yep, it applies to relationships too – ‘Should I go or should I stay’: ‘is what he offers what I need’, ‘is my price to high’, the model is probably not right, and definately need a break to reconnect with me! Thank you!
And regarding my business: I am in start-up fase, going through the motions of figuring it all out and so grateful to have you showing me so I can skip a lot of hurdles. Your authenticity inspires me big time!
Wonderful advice, Bernadette. Don’t know if it’s the accent that wants me to listen more but I’m listening. I made the decision to turn a print publication into an online publication, and that was a struggle. Now my graphic design business is struggling. I always find it weird when I hear the advice to charge more. I fear my clients would leave if I did. I know I need a change. Just not quite sure what that change is. But this video gave me a lot to think about. Thank you.
Your worst day in business pursuing what you love and
who you aspire to be is much better than your best day
at a job.
Don’t bow your head and focus on the bricks. Keep your
head up and concentrate on where you’re going. This is
how I get through all of those “bad patches”. We all have
them, and it comes with the territory.
Hope this helps someone. I know it’s done wonders for me.
Enjoy the day!
A couple of followup comments, if I may:
First, a quote from Winston Churchill that fits
perfectly into this blog topic:
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Second, a quick shout out to Bernadette.
I’ve never seen anyone on the Web position a blog as an online “TV show”
and deliver it via email. That’s very fresh and original thinking on your
part, Bernadette. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this trend catch on
elsewhere. Well done!!!