Mental Wellbeing

Wait! Don’t give up, rejiggle

by Team Holly & Co

Smoking. Allowing yourself to get crotchety because you’ve not had enough sleep. Eating half a packet of Chocolate Hobnobs in one sitting then hiding the evidence afterwards. Those are things that are probably good to give up. Quitting your business isn’t one of them — and there’s a very good reason for that. Despite the fact that talk of The Great Resignation is all around us, what does ‘giving up’ actually mean?’ Because if it’s giving up income, and you don’t have a bunch of savings nestled away underneath the bed, it’s likely you will need to replace that with something else. And what is that something else? If it’s not building another business (as that’s likely to be the reason you’re quitting in the first place) then potentially it’s to go back — or into — the corporate world. But would you have any more control there than you have now? And are you happier deep down currently than you would be in a more traditional role? After all, the pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine are having a negative effect on sales, income is low, outgoings are getting higher by the day and we’re all exhausted. You’d be forgiven for thinking about closing your business in search of an easier life. However there’s one key point to bear in mind…

The grass isn’t usually greener

Giving up means you will need to do something else instead and as our resident Coach Kate said in one of our SME: SOS sessions, what will that be? It’s important that you have realistic expectations and have a plan. The period after finishing a job can be stressful and you would need to do your calculations accurately and honestly to make sure you can cover your outgoings, even if household bills continue to rise. If you are truly desperately unhappy and positive you are in the wrong life, then it’s wise to take a moment to think things through — and make things better — because you absolutely can. All founders, without exception, have felt the way you are feeling at some point on their journey. It’s simply a fact.

On Holly’s podcast, David Hieatt, founder of Howies, The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim said, “One of the biggest gifts you can give your ideas is to not quit on them.” He tried and failed relentlessly for years before finding success with his businesses. Similarly, Sir Tim Smit KBE, founder of the Eden Project, shared what he considered to be one of the most important pieces of advice he’d been given which is to, “Believe passionately that there is no barrier to you doing anything you can set your heart on.” He has overcome some of the greatest obstacles imaginable to realise his dream and it was this that kept him going when he wanted to give up. Chef, author and TV presenter Nadiya Hussain MBE battled extreme anxiety for decades to achieve what she has and said, “I’m never going to put boundaries on myself ever again. I’m never going to say ‘I can’t do it’. I’m never going to say ‘maybe’. I’m never going to say ‘I don’t think I can’. I can and I will.” It is only through reminding ourselves of the spirit we had when we first set up our businesses that we are able to keep going when times are tough.

Could it really be as simple as changing your mindset?

Let’s start by getting you into a positive headspace. Firstly, is everything really awful or does it just feel that way because everything’s piling on top of you and you are exhausted and can’t see a clear way out? Few things feel worse than feeling trapped or experiencing anxiety because you are somehow stuck. So let’s help unstick you. Are the problems you are experiencing at work something you would happily tell a homeless person? Ie. Are they really that big? If not, put them back into the box they belong in and refresh your perspective. Do some breathing exercises, try to empty your mind and think of all the things you are grateful for, before trying the following.

If you are truly desperately unhappy and positive you are in the wrong life, then it’s wise to take a moment to think things through — and make things better — because you absolutely can. All founders, without exception, have felt the way you are feeling at some point on their journey. It’s simply a fact.

Now it’s time for a tidy up — 3, 2, 1, go!

Start looking at what’s right and wrong with your business before you do anything else. Holly’s favourite exercise is to take out the post-it notes, and then on the wall or on a big piece of paper, create two columns: what is working and what isn’t. Then sit down and brain dump everything you can possibly think of onto the pieces of paper. If you work with others, get together and celebrate the things that you are doing well. Very often we don’t take the time to do that or to really remind ourselves what we’re doing all this for, and this can really spur us on. Make a point to remember that from here on in, when things are going well, stop and give thanks. Recognise it. Because it’s easy to forget about these when times are hard and you most need to.

Don’t pretend it’s not happening

Now start working on the tough bits. Keep the post-its as a prompt somewhere handy so that every day you work, you spend your time on the things that matter and that will make a difference. This will also help prevent you from being a ‘busy fool’. Remain focused and choose three things a day to set your sights on to ensure you can make progress on the important bits and start to move the dial. You’ll know what is working and what simply is not, so work on what you need to. You might well find you feel better even by just starting. Then give this process a time period. If in twelve weeks time you can honestly say that doing this made no difference and you have sought out all the additional free help and support available to you, listened to all the wisdom on Conversations of Inspiration from other founders who’ve been exactly where you are now, and read all the articles on the Advice Hub (ie. You’ve tried absolutely everything you can), then re-evaluate.

Now think about rejiggling

Ok so you’ve tried all the hard stuff and nothing is working. It’s been months now and you are adamant you are miserable. Maybe now’s still not the time to quit, just to rejiggle? If nothing is working full-time, how about turning your small business into a side hustle and gaining income through other means (the job you used to do but freelancing perhaps or doing hybrid work or other alternatives maybe, so you can still do what you love part-time)?

It’s also worth spending some time trying something completely different to gain a fresh perspective on what you’re doing now too. There’s a reason people get ideas in the shower rather than when they’re at work because they’re giving their brain a break from it and maybe that’s what you need now. Try mixing things up just by having a good rest. If you’ve been working and worrying relentlessly, give yourself a break.

Finally, if none of the above works the first time, try it all again, because nothing easy is ever worth having. It only takes one element to change the future of your whole business and therefore life, and if this is your ‘Sliding Doors’ moment, think which route will you have been most proud to have taken in years to come? Perhaps before you throw in the towel, just say to yourself, “Wait! Don’t give up, rejiggle” and see where it takes you. After all, you’ve done the hardest part of all which was starting a business. Isn’t it worth giving it one last shot?

Sources:

Stay on the grass sign, by Emma Giacalone
Don’t bury your head print, by Basil & Ford print for Holly & Co

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