How to get moving when you're stuck

I’m stuck …

It’s more difficult than I expected …

I can’t get over the hump …

Things just aren’t working out …

I’m lost …

Tell me what to do!

These are a few of the typical comments I hear during the initial discovery meetings with many of my new clients. Being an entrepreneur or small business owner is difficult, particularly in the first 1-3 years, and you can get frustrated when things aren’t going your way or there aren’t a lot of people around to turn to for advice and counsel.

At some point in time, we all hit a wall and need to re-examine our priorities to determine the most appropriate course of action to take in order to move ahead. So, how can you break out of the slump and start to move forward again when you’ve reached an impasse?

Here are six suggestions that may help you get moving in the right direction again when you’re stuck …

Change your routine. Start with the little things – i.e. take a different route to the office, or check email later in the day, rather than the first thing in the morning. And then build from there to find creative and expansive ways to get outside your comfort zone and develop solutions to overcome the challenges that have been holding you back.
Adjust your vision. The “I can’t see the forest for the trees” syndrome can be overcome by simply adjusting your vision. When you are stuck you have a tendency to look at your shoe tops rather than what is ahead of you. Stay focused on your goals and your vision and don’t allow yourself to get distracted by the events of the day.
Step away from the problem. I commonly refer to this as the “out of body” approach. When clients hit the wall, I encourage them to examine their actions to determine what changes they need to make to get back on the right track. Remember: life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it!
Take a day off to decompress. Similar to #1 above, sometimes all it takes is a day away from the office to get your motor running and the creative juices flowing again. Grab some of your buddies for a round of golf or gal pals for a day of retail therapy. You’ll be amazed at the difference it will make in your mental outlook.
Go visit your best customers. There is nothing more invigorating than spending time with your best customers when you need an energy boost. Your best customers are always a great source of positive energy, as well as a resource for new ideas and approaches to help you get unstuck. So, take them to lunch and enjoy the conversation.
Hire a business coach. You knew this was going to be on the list, right? In addition to providing expert advice and counsel, a business coach can bring a fresh perspective to help identify the source of the problem, then work with you to develop the requisite solutions and action plans to get things moving in the right direction.

If you need assistance to help you get moving again, then contact me at Tres Coaching Services™ http://trescoach.com/. We are here to help you achieve the results to move beyond your vision.

Enjoy the journey!

John

How to Get Moving When You’re Stuck

John Carroll