Do you ever find yourself blaming everyone around you when things don’t go the way you want in your business? Maybe it’s “the economy” that kept you from hitting your sales numbers this year. Or your lack of employees that had you in the weeds all year. Whatever your favorite excuse, put the the kibosh on it in 2015.
If any of these sound familiar, make a New Year’s resolution to strike them from your vocabulary.
- I Don’t Know Enough to Start a Business. If you haven’t yet jumped into the world of entrepreneurship, stop letting excuses hold you back. You’ll never feel like a 100% expert in your field, so waiting for the “right time” may never come. Instead, make it your goal to start a business this year and learn as you go.
- I’m “Just” a One Wo/Man Show. I Can’t {Insert Excuse Here}. Being a solopreneur is no excuse for not trying to grow. Sure, you can only do so much, but you can also get help. Start off by hiring an intern or freelancer, and hand some of your work over so you can focus on bigger picture stuff.
- We Don’t Have the Budget to Invest in Marketing. I know marketing sounds expensive, but trust me: it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of strategies you can use — like blogging and guest blogging, social media, and email marketing — that are free or cheap. All you need is time to test them out. So no more excuses!
- We Don’t Need to Grow. We’re Happy Where We Are. Maybe that’s true…or maybe you’re afraid of what growth will bring. Indeed, it will change how you run your business. But that can be a good thing, so be open to stretching yourself and taking your company to the next level.
- I’m Not Smart Enough to Learn {Insert New Skill}. Whether it’s accounting software, social media management dashboards, or a blogging program, there are so many tools you have at your disposal as a small business owner…if you’re open to learning them. Don’t sell yourself short by telling yourself you can’t learn something that’s out of your comfort zone. That’s all the more reason to learn it! Make it a goal this year to learn one new skill or tool a month.
What other excuses have you been hiding behind? For a moment, imagine what you could do if you removed those excuses from the equation; what would your business look like if you stopped holding yourself back? Keep that vision at the front of your mind in 2015 and see where it takes you!
