3 Steps to Having a Business That Doesn't Suck

It's Friday evening and you've just pressed send on a lovely e-card, wishing your fabulous clients a happy Valentine's weekend.

You breathe a deep sigh and imagine their delight at the unexpected treat they'll soon find in their inbox. "I'm so lucky to have such amazing people to work with," you think to yourself, as you close the lid on your laptop and close the books on yet another delightfully exhausting, kick-ass week ...

At least that's how you imagined it would be ... you know, in the beginning, when you decided to jump ship from the S.S. Nine-to-Five and join the ranks of the fabulously fierce free-agents.

But the roster of dream boat clients you had perfectly pictured in your mind are more like a crew of lifeless minions straight out of Davy Jones' locker. You've been asking yourself lately why you ever agreed to take them on in the first place.

Something is not right here

But wait a minute: Aren't these the same clients you did back flips to get? The same clients for whom you spent hours meticulously crafting the perfect proposal? Are they really so awful now that you can't even check your email without the instant rush of anxiety about what they may be asking for next?

Maybe it's you ...?

No. It's definitely you. And at some point a while ago, you realized an unsettling truth that you won't dare admit out loud. To anyone. Ever:

Your business sucks and you hate working like this (gasp!)

What's more unsettling is the fact that you know how it got to this point, but you can't (or maybe just won't) do anything about. This, friend, is the itchiest most uncomfortable kind of “suck”. And I feel like it's time we do something about it. NOW.

Let's start with the obvious.

1. Admit there is a problem

Do you know why this is always the first step? It's because nothing that is broken can ever be fixed until somebody acknowledges that the shit doesn't work. So let's look at this situation for exactly what it is and try not to assign any judgments. You created your business based on the skills you had and the sheer determination to do things a different way -- your way.

The only "problem" is that now you realize the way you've been working isn't your way at all. So what happened?

More than likely you:

• Got spooked by the big-ness of what you really wanted to do and adjusted your ideals down a few notches
  
• Didn't know it was possible to do what you really wanted to do because no one (that you know of) had ever done it before
  
• Listened to a friend, a former boss or even a coach, who told you to do things a certain way -- their way or the "safe" way
  

That's why the next step is so incredibly urgent.

2. Decide once and for all that it's time for things to change

You weren't built for the daily grind, yet somehow you've convinced yourself it's the only way you can do what you want and earn a living (though you wouldn't say you believed that for anybody else).

So let me remind you of something that you've clearly forgotten -- and perhaps convince you that change is precisely what's in order for you:

The world doesn't need another daily-grinder, who'll put on a brave face and do what's required. The world needs people who will show up boldly and on fire, bringing the best of who they are to the work they were meant to do. {TWEET IT}

And the longer you stay put in that sucky little box you've been in, the longer the people who you were truly meant to serve will go without the gift that you have that they need.

3. Make your pivot plan

Once you've made up your mind that things need to change, there really is only one thing left to do: MAKE IT HAPPEN. And for that, you need a plan. Lucky for you, I've crafted this handy (and free) little resource that will help.

I've given you quite a bit of tough love today, because the clarity junkie in me won't have it any other way. And also, I'm a bit of a bossy pants. But at the end of the day it all comes down to helping you discover your truth so you can ditch the struggle (that I know you've been drowning in) and show up in your business the way you really want to.

On your terms.