Have you ever had to put your business on life support?

Core Article: Have you ever had to put your business on life support?

Quote I’m Pondering: “Self-care is never a selfish act…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “Abundance is my natural state.”

Cool Stuff: Awww love this sweet dog rescue story and video reunion

Have you ever had to put your business on life support?

Recently, I’ve had some challenges with my mom’s health. She’s been in and out of the hospital at least 10 times in less than a year. She’s in a memory care home, and it’s been a lot of paperwork and obstacles in healthcare that are just exhausting. I knew we needed to make some bigger decisions for her health that weren’t easy, and dealing with all the paperwork in healthcare is just kind of crazy.

It started affecting me and my business. At this rate, my priority is my mom’shealth and better care as she’s winding down her life, and my business is secondary. So, I had to consider putting my business on brief life support until I could get all this sorted.

So it got me thinking about my business and my clients’ businesses in a different way.

When you have a business for more than 20 years, as I have, and life starts to get in the way, the best thing could be putting it on life support for a brief time.

And “life support” in business can look like – you’re not as engaged in building it, not posting as much or at all on social media. And you’re dreading your inbox, and underneath it all, you feel disconnected from why any of this matters.

What I’ve learned is that once you make the decision, it’s really helpful to simply reconnect with your mission and the vision that led you to start it in the first place. This will help you decide if this is a brief life support or if you want to consider closing the business down.

When you do that, you can literally feel the shift, and your energy starts coming back, and your next step gets clearer.

You will know what your business needs to look like while you step away. You create some minimum viable things that you can do until you can give it your 100%+ again. Or if you make the decision to walk away from it.

For example, I’m dedicated to writing this weekly eNewsletter because I love writing, sharing, teaching, and guiding on complex topics and looking at them from another perspective. I don’t want to walk away from doing this for now.

Here’s a quick exercise you can do right now. Take 5 to 15 minutes, set a timer, grab a notebook, and ask yourself these three questions:

Why did I start this business in the first place? (reconnect to that place)
Who am I here to help, and who have I already helped?
What change do I help dream clients create? What do I actually help them do, feel, or become?

And then ask this honest bonus question: Do I still feel called to this, or is it time to refine or change my direction?

If you can’t answer today, that’s information too; it usually means you’re tired, overwhelmed, or you’ve been carrying too much alone, and that’s not a character flaw. You need to take a break, step back, and take good care of YOU!

If you want a new set of eyes on what your answers from the above exercise, or what’s happening with your business, that’s the work I do, and I’m here. I’d be honored to connect and guide you. Reach out to me on my contact page.

Hands at your back.

Always,

Shannon

P.S. I’d love to support you however I can. Leave me a comment, or shoot me a note. I’m here for you.

Quote I’m Pondering

“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”
~ Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“My visibility grows daily, and my message reaches the people who are ready for it.”
“Abundance is my natural state.“
“I trust divine timing and inspired guidance.“

Cool Stuff

I knew secondhand embarrassment was real, yet why do I get it? You know what to do.
This is definitely a feel-good story about a dog who escaped during a roadtrip and his happy reunion.
I just needed this article this week. Who doesn’t want to go to a walkable European city that feels like a movie set?!

Weekly Photos

What a stormy week on the West Coast. Made for some awesome cloud coverage and pics. Check this cloud; it could be a wave washing over the city below. You can barely see the buildings and the houses down there. I think this hike above the city is my new favorite cuz I can get to it just by walking down the block from our house. And these winter views…
On that hike I mentioned above, I saw a whole bunch of deer. I love catching them when they realize I’m here. That stare… And that’s a zoomed-in pic. As it’s a little blurry. I don’t get close, don’t want to scare them, or me!
This was the hike I was on yesterday when I got a call from my sister. I have to admit I was a little out breathe walking up this hill and talking. So, of course, I asked her a question so I wouldn’t have to talk and could catch my breath!
Since we’ve had soooo much rain, these ducks decided to make this rather large and little deep puddle their new private home. You can see them through the weeds.
Here’s Ruby again, the cocker spaniel poodle mix. Been watching her a few times a month. She’s only 18 lbs and curls herself up in such a small ball.
There she is with her favorite toy, wanting me to throw it again. She’s so goofy, and this week I needed the humor, distraction, and TLC from this pup. Oh, and you can see one of Alice’s stained glass creations in the background. I do love to brag on her; she’s so talented. That’s a pic of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can’t see the color at the top because it’s washed out by the sun; it’s all a really cool “golden” color. 🙂 You can check out this quick site I made for her for more.
This was my Sac trail walk when it was going to rain. I got a bit wet, yet it was so worth it to see this sky. The only time we see clouds is in the winter. Our summers are really hot, and no rain either. Hence, I really like the winters here. Not too cold and def some awesome views.

NEW: P.S. New Invitation – I’m going to launch my next Soulful Marketing Accelerator Co-hort in late March 🙂 If you’re longing for like-minded community and ready to move through your fears to grow a purpose–driven business rooted in authenticity and aligned with your dream clients… Welllll. Go here to be first in line when I reopen the doors again. Would love to have you.

P.S.S. Whenever You’re Ready: Here are 3 Ways I can make an impact on creating greater success in your business using marketing that’s aligned with your mission and values without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

1. Make Money Now Sheet – It’s one of the bonuses in my 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. I wanted to give it to you for free to help you create more success.

2. Love Books Like I Do? – I’m always reviewing the best nonfiction books – Where Buddha Meets Business.

3. Get my proven 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. It gives you the framework you need to implement authentic and connected marketing using online customer experiences and launching your products, services, or courses. It will help you create greater success.

It’s a simple system, especially if you love to read like me. There’s no video or audio. Plus, you get my proven templates, tools, and worksheets, all with tremendous value. And I’m pricing it incredibly low so it can be more accessible to more people. 🙂

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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