How To Manage Your Bad Days As An Entrepreneur

The entrepreneurial life is full of ups and downs, it’s how you deal with it that matters. Being positive is easier said than done, we are naturally negative beings.  To think positive takes practice, it’s like a muscle that needs to be strengthened.  We want to protect ourselves from failure, mistakes, danger and disappointments.  So, we stay safe. We stay inside the box; we don’t take risks.  When you are an entrepreneur this is not the reality.  We are always pushing limits, taking risks and dealing with the possibility of failure and mistakes. 

Remember How Far You’ve Come

The encouraging news is that with each step you take outside of your comfort zone, the easier it gets.  In an entrepreneurial life you have the freedom and creativity to follow your passion the way you want to do it.  There are many factors that turn this liberty into a place of stress, anxiety and self-doubt. 

Learn To Manage Your Negative Thoughts

With the right mindset you can get through these feelings with more confidence.  You can choose to be in charge of the negativity or let it be in charge of you.  What you think greatly effects how you act. Unfortunately, your thoughts can get in the way of moving forward. 

Negative Thoughts Only Hold You Back

“I can’t do this.”

“I’m not experienced enough.” 

“I can’t spend money I don’t have.”

“This will never work.”

“I should be making more money by now.”

“No one will hire me.”

I could go on and on. These negative thoughts can come up often.  They can keep you up at night and make concentrating and enjoying life difficult. 

Challenge the Negative Thoughts

You have a choice to give the unhelpful thoughts power and listen to them or challenge them.  Challenging the thought, helps you move forward in a positive way.  Try replacing the unhelpful negative thoughts with these helpful statements.

                “I can do this; I just have to go for it.”

                “I have a ton of experience and passion.”

                “I’m investing in myself.”

                “I won’t know unless I try.”

                “I have to focus on what I have accomplished.”

                “I have what it takes.”

Why Positive Mindset Works

When you start thinking positively, you will feel positive emotions and make good choices. 

For example: I can’t do this- I feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated- I don’t follow through with my plan.

Instead, your thinking can change the outcome and your actions. 

For example: I just have to take the first step- I feel excited, proud, optimistic- I follow through with my plan, taking one step at a time.

Be Positive, Remember Your Successful Attempts and Then Repeat

The more you repeat the things that scare you the easier it gets.  You start to train your brain that you can do this!  The best part is when your attempt is successful!  These the are moments we need to remember.  Document them, put reminders of your successes around you. 

Self-Promotion is a Must

Talk about your wins, be proud of them.  Especially as a female, this has been a hard thing to do.  I was taught to be a “nice girl”.   Celebrating myself is not bragging.  Being proud of myself is not arrogant.  Speaking up for what I want doesn’t make me a b*tch.  I dream big and share my aspirations with those around me.  The first time I told a group of women my biggest dream it was terrifying.  I thought to myself,

“Who am I to think that I can take my career to such huge levels.  What if my dream never comes true, then they will all think I’m a failure.” 

I did it anyway.  I took the leap and shared my biggest dream with the group.

 “I want to be the next Gabby Bernstein. I want to be standing in front of thousands of people and travelling the world to spread my message.” 

As I looked around the room the smiles and positive energy were overwhelming.  No one thought it was silly to dream that big, no one told me I was being arrogant.

Don’t Get Stuck In Negative Thinking Traps

 I could have turned to the negative and assumed that at least one of the women thought I was ridiculous and that I will never make it.  To tell you the truth, I have no idea what they were thinking, and it’s none of my business.  What other people think of me is none of my business.  When your brain starts going that way, turn it back around. Replace the negative thoughts with positive thoughts.  Look at the effort you put in instead of the end result.  Focus on what went well, and acknowledge the hard work. 

Learn From Your Mistakes

I’m not saying that life is going to work out for the best all the time.  I’m not saying you won’t fall down.  But it’s what you do when things don’t go as planned that counts.  It’s about learning from your mistakes, allowing yourself to feel the emotions, work through them and then move on.  There are things that happen in our lives that are hard, frustrating and unfair.  In the moment it’s hard to see them as a learning opportunity, but if you stay stuck in the negativity it will bring you down.  You have to work through the emotions. 

Build your network of support. 

Have people around you that lift you up and give you good advice. 

Be inspired by their passion and success. 

Chase your dreams with confidence and be proud to do so.

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About The Author

Michelle McVittie has been working with children, youth and families for over twenty years.  She has her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and her post-grad diploma in Child life studies both from McMaster University.  Her experience ranges from working with young offenders,  as a behaviour specialist in daycares,  working in outpatient and inpatient pediatric health care, in child and youth mental health and community education.  She has leveraged her career with her many years of expertise and created “Mom the Manager”.  She has created content for families, children, youth, moms and women to feel more in control again.

Michelle also does corporate speaking engagements on topics such as self-care, balance for better and communication in the workplace. She has recently written a book called “I  Quit! Oh, wait I’m the Mom” a self-help book to help Moms find their joy again in motherhood.

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