Some days are more challenging at my store than others, which is something that I'm sure anyone in the retail business can easily relate to. Actually, I think that anyone in any kind of business can probably relate to that. Particularly in any field that involves interacting with the general public on a regular basis! It's so easy for negativity to start to form over time--the day after day grind of long hours, few customers, rude people, slow sales, and so on, can quickly become a dark cloud above your head. Last week, I finally had enough of it. I had started to feel like a depressing broken record--always talking about how slow it was at the store, how worried I was about bad sales numbers, freaking out over how I would be able to pay the rent, etc. I certainly did not solve all these problems over the past week, but I did decide that I am not going to stress out about these things anymore. I am just not going to do it. It is too hard and too unpleasant, in addition to being just plain counterproductive. I instead decided to start really focusing on all the things that I actually can do to help my business. And freaking out is definitely not one of them!
Instead, I've been spending a lot of my recent time at the store working online. I've been reading business articles, talking to other business owners, looking for new ways to promote myself, etc. It feels good, because I actually feel productive, no matter what is happening on any one day at the store. And the truth is--it's early August. A month from now, many more people will be out shopping. But for now, there are other things I can focus on to help me and my business get better. And I can put all of these unhelpful worries aside.
Life is more enjoyable this way, too. I also believe--without sounding too much like The Secret here--that good energy does attract good things. I've been trying to go out of my way to be more generous than usual lately too, as a challenge to myself--when money is short, I tend to want to hang on pretty desperately to what I have. But I heard a quote once about it being better to have an open hand than a clenched fist, and I think that is very true. So that is my personal challenge to myself--a challenge that started after I did a free jewelry repair for a woman down the street last week. I don't usually repair jewelry, much less for free. But she was nice, and she loved this pair of earrings that she'd had for awhile, and I was able to make them as good as new for her with less than twenty minutes' work. It felt good to make her day. So I am going to try to keep all this positivity going! And that is my plan for the month of August :)
Anyone have any good business tips or ideas for me??? What do you do to stay positive?? Thanks everyone and have a good night!
