Shedding Light on the Dark Side of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs are a unique group of people. They have a passion for what they do, a drive to do it and an independent spirit that allows them to take flight. But what if you’re an entrepreneur and this just doesn’t sound like you anymore? Perhaps you’re experiencing what I call the “dark-night-of-business-soul,” or the dark side of entrepreneurship. Maybe you’re going through some cash flow problems right now or experiencing problems with a long-time client. Perhaps you’ve recently suffered a major business setback that’s shaken your confidence —a launch that totally flopped, for example, or a decline in demand for your core services. Chances are, you’ve been through all this before, in one form or another. You know you’ll get through it, eventually, and get back on track with your business—but in the meantime, you’re stressed out, waking up with dread in the pit of your stomach and maybe even fantasizing about getting a J.O.B. Worst of all, you’re not having fun or feeling passionate and driven anymore and you’re probably suffering through this alone. After all, who are you going to share this with? Your friends and family probably don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re going through and your community—well, you don’t want them to think there’s some serious crack in the foundation of your business, right? Please know – and please remember – that you are NOT alone! I know because I’ve been there myself. I’ve suffered from many “dark nights,” but what I have found is that many times, the dark periods occur right before some huge breakthrough. And every time this happens to me I find what I learned to be a cornerstone of what I’m teaching immediately thereafter. Oftentimes these “dark nights” are a direct manifestation of your own intentions – intentions that couldn’t manifest if you stayed in the same mindset with your business. So how do you change that mindset? You will need to dig deep and ask yourself some really tough questions to gain the clarity you need to leap frog forward. When you step into the work that is your life’s mission, it puts a floodlight on any unresolved issues, fears and insecurities you have. If you face them head on, learn from them and break through them, on the other side awaits a spiritual and business transformation unlike anything you can imagine. If you can embrace this mindset, you are on your way to shining a floodlight on those “dark nights” so they are dark no more.