Biz Shizzle - A Recipe For Failure

Twice a month, I’m sharing my twenty-plus years of business wisdom with posts on everything from social media to starting out proper to dealing with client conundrums. Why? Although you guys know me as a tarot gangsta, I’m also REALLY into business. And I often get asked about it so why not give you the straight dope right here?

I always like to think that I’ve been lucky in my business but really, I have found a formula that works for me: I am simply me (what you see is what you get), I am organized and treat my business like a business, plus I’m willing to work hard.

Over the years, I have had to learn a few new tricks to keep my momentum going. I’ve adjusted well to technology, I’ve learned to market myself without compromising my values, and I’ve also discovered how to set some hard core boundaries.

The entrepreneur life demands constant tweaking and learning. If you refuse to adapt and grow, you risk becoming stuck in a rut – or obsolete.

There are many ways to kill your business such as:

laziness (yes, it’s called work for a reason – you have to actually work, duh)
copying someone else’s swag (be yourself, yo)
burnout (you need time off especially if you are in a creative or service biz)
trying to do it all yourself (good help is worth its weight in gold)
ignoring paperwork – or not paying your taxes on time
letting your personal problems get in the way of your work life (get therapy)
giving up too soon
not charging enough
a weak brand
no boundaries in place (this leads to client hell)
lack of follow through (no one likes being ignored – answer your damn email)
unreliability (deliver what you promise)
being an online asshat or “troll” (potential clients DO see that and get turned off)
doing something that enrages people (I’m looking at you, Paula Deen)
lack of emotional and business support (you do need peers)
refusing to apologize when you are wrong
not vetting potential partnerships (I learned a hard lesson from this!)
insufficient licenses or insurance
sucking up instead of sincere networking (people can spot a phony with an agenda)
bad timing – or poor time management
not listening to your gut

These are only a few of the ways that you can destroy your biz (believe me, I’ve seen other “creative” ways people have wrecked their careers). And most of these things can be avoided. Seriously.

Sometimes though, even with the best of intentions and hardest work, you don’t make it. You fail even though you are doing it all “right”. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and reboot from square one. Sigh.

While failure may seem like the worst-thing-that-could-ever-happen-to-you, it’s not the end of the world. Often our best business lessons come from the mistakes we make. We can course correct if we are willing to reflect on our errors, start looking for solutions – and become proactive. The more we are willing to take responsibility, the more likely we are able to bounce back, better than before.

In that spirit, I love this quote by Thomas Edison:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

So tell me – what was your most epic failure and how did that affect the way you do business today?

Blessings,

Theresa