Setting yourself up for Success
How to avoid that post holiday burnout and set yourself up for business success in the new year
You took all the orders, made all the treats, pushed through the need for sleep, and wrapped all the things to keep up with the rush. You made it through the December craziness, but now you’ve hit that post holiday burnout.
Burnout is real.
I have been there - from the lead up of orders to that last New Year’s eve push, it can take all you’ve got to just make it to the other side. When I was managing a bakery several years ago there were days when I didn’t think we would get it all done. The orders just kept coming and I somehow never found more hours in the day. It left me feeling overwhelmed and like I was letting everyone down.
Those feelings of stress and overwhelm can lead to getting stuck in the day to day survival mode and your business mojo being down.
It can leave you feeling creatively fried and show up in your relationships at home and at work. It can lead to resentment for your business and family demands. December is amazing for sales, but it makes the pressure of your business 2x more than usual especially when you are taking on everything yourself. Have you ever heard yourself say, I can do it all - I don’t need help. I’m totally fine. I’m just starting out, I don’t need help. I’ll wait until I am bigger and busier. Perhaps you’ve said these at several points throughout the year, but as the holidays draw near they get louder and louder.
Are you trying to convince yourself or everyone around you?
Living by these expressions leaves you trapped in chaos and doesn’t leave room for you to build faith in yourself and your business. It can breed disorganization and doesn’t allow you room to step back and look at things in your business. It creates a vicious cycle that you are doomed to repeat if you don’t change things.
Continuing to live trapped in your business chaos is BULLSHIT.
You started this business with a passion to bring your confections and treats to your customers, because you enjoyed the act of making. You deserve to reconnect with that joy. Food is a uniter and a common thread we all share. This common thread is why you started your business. The business side of shit is obviously important, but it shouldn’t suck away the part that you love.
I see your fears and self reliance. I know you are putting in all the work to build this business of yours. It is your baby and you had a vision. You are doing a scary thing and putting yourself out there and that is AMAZING.
Here’s the thing though - continuing to try to do it all and following the same path will continue to lead you to the same place come January. That feeling of burnout, not making enough money in your business, having to close, and having to return to that dreaded 9-5. And your worst fears realized.
What if you decided that wasn’t going to be your story? What if you chose to use that post holiday high to set you up to have that happily ever after. Creating a life and business that gives you better balance.
It would mean being more prepared, creating better systems, and building your community with your customers. It would allow you to focus on creating and providing for them and feeding your creativity at the same time. It would mean being able to say yes to your loved ones or going out with friends.
Imagine what it would be like to ask for help and take some things off your plate and set yourself up for success. What would you experience? Would you be a happier person, friend, or parent? By giving yourself permission to ask for help, it would allow you more freedom in your life and to create better boundaries and systems in your business. You could get back to your WHY and build your community and show up as your best self in your business.
Wearing your self reliance like a badge of honor won’t help move the needle in your business.
I get it, asking for help is freaking hard, but you started this business to create a better life for yourself and your family. And to do that you need to ask for help. It doesn’t mean you aren’t capable, but rather puts you in that CEO mindset.
Don’t let your business run you.
Use that post holiday down time to ask for help and put systems in place to set yourself for a better year ahead with more profit, better balance, and fall in love back in love with this business you created.
I love working with bakers, confectioners, coffee shops, cookie makers, chefs, & pastry packaged products. A bakery I worked with recently had this to say, “I don’t think I even realized quite how much I needed to work with you, until I did. I think you really helped to lend a ton of perspective. I’m extremely grateful for everything you’ve done this far.”
I love cheering and supporting entrepreneurs in their business success. If you are ready to make big changes in your business and stop letting it run you - let’s work together to help level up your business for success in the coming year.
You deserve to show up as your most creative self and have a better balance in your business and life.
Want help to plan a better year ahead? Let’s do this - click the link below to get started.