Since there is a lot of work that precedees opening a micro business, and especially if you did everything alone or if you, as a team, did all the work, you might feel a little tired or drained on top of being excited. I mean creatively tired.
As after every big project, you feel like you have finished and the first though that usually goes through your head is to rest. And you are right, rest is necessary to avoid burnout; especially if the last few days you’ve worked extra hard to finish it on time. But, you shouldn’t let loose of all the strings which many people do. They draw a line under the work they have done, take a rest that usually isn’t a vacation or a week off, doing something else. It’s hanging out in the same place, around the same things, at work, but not doing anything.
After only a little while, it gets confusing because you quickly loose touch with the work you have been doing. Even more because you know you have accomplished something, finished it and now you need to keep going. With what? How do you do that?
Well, not every micro business will have to move on immediately. Of course it depends on the nature of your work. What I want to say is that after you celebrate your successes and you feel you are on top of your game again, keep creating as you did before you started your business.
Keep inventing, having fun and be excited about all of it like you did when you decided to start this new venture. That’s what it’s all about, it’s what you wanted to achieve, don’t forget it.
The act of opening a business is just a milestone. It is significant and you are brilliant for comming all this way, but that was never your goal. Your goal is enjoying the work, having the complete freedom of what you do and how you do it. A business on paper is a means to get to your goal.
And while continuing to invent through your work is important for personal reasons, it’s important for your micro company. What keeps you in business and what keeps you attractive on an ongoing basis is always being fresh; inventing, doing new things, moving forward while keeping a recognizable style or staying true to your philosophy. It’s one of the things that builds trust and confidence of your customers, and what keeps them engaged in the process.
Everything in life is about customs and habits; or just about creating comfortable routines. We choose to listen to certain type of music because it makes us feel better then the other. We chose a college that we wanted (or thought we wanted) over the ones that made no sense for us. As customers or clients, we don’t just pay for things and walk away.
When we buy groceries, whether we go to the local market, local green grocer or to a supermarket, we didn’t make that decision only based on quality of the produce or price. We decided to go there because we feel good doing that often and, since we do, it becomes a part of our lives – we go there for the experience. Same with your hobbies or services others complete for you. You eventually build all of those experiences into your life; they become a part of who you are.
That’s why it’s important to also keep inventing and stay engaged in the creative processes the whole time when you’re on the other side – as a micro business owner.
There is a lot you can learn from your own expectations as someone else’s customer. Try to become aware of those things from time to time. And passoin is always a power that pushes you to give the best you can because you love doing what you do. It’s what makes the whole process of running a business much easier and much more intuitive.
photo courtesy svacher
