Several years ago, if I experienced some down time… I would literally freak out. I would freak out alone — then I would call my best friends and likely my mom and I would freak out to them too. I would over-analyze the steps I took during my busy season that must have led me here. I would enter fear-mode.
Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, I would question myself…
“Am I just kidding myself? Maybe I should go get a REAL job.”
“What if I’m not good enough to keep this business alive?”
“Can I really be a small business owner… or have I just been fooling myself into thinking I can?”
Over the past 12 years of being in business I have accepted that just like everything else in life, business is cyclical. There are seasons of UP and seasons of DOWN… and as I reflect back on the seasons of DOWN, I know that God was purposefully and intentionally forcing me to take that slow down season.
I didn’t always understand why in the moment… but, I did start embracing the seasons of slow.
5 THINGS TO DO WHEN BUSINESS SLOWS DOWN
01. EMBRACE THE DOWN TIME
Yes, I mean it. Embrace the heck out of the down time… because as a small business owner, when you are busy — you are so busy that you can’t seem to get it all done. For me, this means getting to my desk around 9am instead of the moment that my kids get on the bus. It also means: lunch dates, grocery shopping mid-day when the store is quieter… and sometimes, even a nap. It’s easy to get burned out when you’re working hard every spare moment of the day and embracing these down times always helps me to find the energy and focus to get back to the grind when it’s time.
02. RETHINK YOUR BUSINESS MODEL
We don’t always get our businesses right the first time around and when we have the time, we should use it to reflect, refine and maybe even redesign a part of your business that you wish you had available. For me, I always start with my website’s homepage. The homepage of every business is where your new visitors come to first. If your website could use some sprucing up, then download my 11-page HOMEPAGE CHECKLIST. The guide will walk you through the areas of your website that will help to convert your visitors into paying customers.
03. NETWORK
You have some time now — so start looking for local business groups, business meetings, monthly meet-ups or facebook groups to join. It’s common that when we’re in the middle of an UP season, we barely have time to respond to inquiries, let alone network. Use this time to start building a presence in a few groups.
04. INVEST IN YOU
I know what you’re thinking…. “But, it’s a slow down season which means I’m not making as much income right now. So, how can I afford to invest in myself?” Great thought… but not all investing in yourself costs money. Consider taking a free course on a topic of interest that you didn’t have time to take before. Maybe you’ve been thinking about taking a course on sales funnels, building your Instagram account or even your email list. Sign up for a free course and see if this inspires you.
05. START ANOTHER BUSINESS
Maybe you’ve been thinking for some time of another business idea or creating a passive income opportunity you want to create. As a fellow entrepreneur, I get it. Ideas pop into my head all of the time but I don’t often have the down time to research the opportunity. Take the time right now to do that… and if you need some helping setting Achievable Business Goals, read my article on how to establish those before you dive in.
