After an extra long chat with one of my clients today, we did some break-through work to help ease some of the growing pains that come with owning your own business. I'm the first one to admit that having a business is the absolute BEST therapy session of my life. The hidden signals, signs, and experiences that are presented on a daily basis are surreal. It's as if having this passion to succeed doing something you love has a way of opening and slamming a lot of doors. As I listened attentively to my client, I learned more about her, and perhaps even more importantly, I learned a lot about me.

You see, owning a business is challenging. It throws you curve balls just to make sure you are paying attention. The most important aspect of my telephone conversation (at least for me-- I'm sure it was different for her) was that if something doesn't work for you, then stop doing it.

That might sound a bit trite and or like you're giving up, but having a business that works for you is about doing what feels right and ditching what doesn't. Your feelings are your truest guide to success and that's why having your own business is so powerful. You'll never learn so much about yourself as you do with the highs and lows of following your bliss. Some days you are down in the dumps while others you have marketing strategies flowing in your sleep-- resulting in you jumping out of bed to get back to work!

So what is the magic formula for staying in tune with your life purpose even when doors close or your motivation is lacking in a big way? With my personal experience, I have found that being open to your creativity is the best way to go. As I discuss in my audiobook, The Energy of Perspective, it truly is the way you are choosing to see your current obstacle that gets in the way of true success. What isn't working today, is perhaps your inability to think outside the box.

Thinking outside the box can be difficult when creativity is lacking. And while my brain might work different than yours, I find that making little tweaks to what isn't working makes a huge impact. In a thousand (or more) marketing books they talk about changing a headline or rearranging a placement of an ad to see if you get new results. I believe the same is true with frustrations or lack of motivation. Asking yourself new questions will help you create new ways to do things.

Questions to ask yourself when you need a new perspective:

•What is my mission?
•What satisfies me the most about my talent?
•How can I change my circumstance so it's more in alignment with who I am?
•Is what I'm doing truly representing my greatest gifts?
•What are my gifts?
Often, when stuck in a business-rut we are trying to follow in someone else's footsteps instead of creating our own path to success. The lack of motivation and creativity are signs that you aren't utilizing your greatest gifts. The frustrations and pain you feel when things aren't working are simply the universe trying to have a conversation with you. It's trying to tell you to keep learning and go back to your mission statement.

What you are here to achieve is so aligned with our values that often times they are overlooked by the footprints that were paved before us-- by the experts that came before our time. This life is about YOU. Self-realization is the key to unlocking the stagnation and lack of artistry. You always have the answer, sometimes they are just wrapped up in what's not working, so you can finally discover what does.

Author's Bio: 

Angel Quintana is the Founder/CEO of Holistic Fashionista magazine, the #1 online haven for rad chicks in business. Her extensive knowledge in brand building, search engine marketing, and authentic selling strategies naturally attracts rebels, tastemakers, and visionaries who are ready to ditch the copycat syndrome, play by their own rules, and curate a sustainable and profitable brand using the internet.

Her innovative coaching program, Signature System helps business trendsetters develop and market a step-by-step plan that solves an urgent problem in the marketplace using what they already have in their personal toolbox. To get started in developing your Signature System and developing a cutting-edge brand that stands out, take The Business Trendsetter Archetype Quiz found at www.HolisticFashionista.com or visit her website to learn more about her private and group coaching programs at www.AngelQuintana.com.