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Questions to Ask Yourself Before Venturing into a New Business. In 2020 it was estimated that there were 800,000 business startups. Statistics only give a 50% of those a chance to survive over 5 years. The odds are against you. Personally, I have started 4 businesses. Three of them I would consider successful, but one was definitely not.

Lately I have been feeling tired and lacking excitement in my life. I am tired of being confined by a mask, by cold weather and by work. I am tired of the constant news of sickness and death. Then I recall a remark I overheard that offered me a bit of hope.

Time moves quickly when I’m having fun. It also seems to drag on when I am bored or in pain. It is easy to get into a routine and forget why I had that routine and where I am going. As tax season comes to a close, my life shifts. For three months I focus on taxes, speed, repetitive work and meeting very strict deadlines. Then it stops and my business and I shift gears. I slow down, way down and focus back on the business. To make that shift efficiently I focus on a few steps.

Spring is time for new growth in nature – just look around. The grass starts turning green, the spring flowers start rising from the earth and I hear the birds chirping. I know every year this will happen. It shows up slightly different each year, but I can count on it showing up.

In March I think of the lucky four-leaf clover. It is too cold outside in Green Bay, WI to find one, but I discovered other ways in which we can increase our luck.

Recently I attended my son’s wedding. James and his fiancé, Stephanie, invited family and friends. It was very beautiful. During that evening I met many of his friends. Friends who are very successful in types of business that weren’t around when I started my career. Businesses such as medical marijuana, virtual currency, marketing, a million-dollar Amazon reseller, etc. Most were confident young men that live life to the fullest and do business in ways I was never taught, nor did I imagine. College trained me for a job not to build a business.

Remember when you started the business. You never stopped thinking about it and you were so excited to get to work. Then life got in the way. Challenges started showing up – customers don’t pay, the pandemic happened, staff got sick, etc. Here are some things you can do to bring the excitement, enthusiasm and revive the passion.

February reminds me that our world evolves around love. Despite the anger, fear and hate that I see in today’s world when Valentine’s Day comes around, I think of love. I have a special man in my life, Steve my husband. We have been married for 24 years. Steve is a key part of my life. He is my rock and my cheerleader. Everyone needs someone like that in their life, to be accepted just as you are. Along with a strong marriage I have created other elements in my life that I love.

Small business owners wear many hats to keep the business operating.   They find their customers, deliver product and/or services promised, keep cash flowing and stay in out of trouble by following the law as best they can.   A good balance between those challenges makes a healthy business. Most business owners dread the accounting & tax side of the business.  However, with just a little time set aside each week, they can conquer it and improve their financial results!  So how do small business owners keep being financially successful? The key is finding the habits that work for you.

Now that 2020 is over I want to reorganize my life.  Tax season is just around the corner and I need to prepare to handle the tsunami that is coming.  My inner organizer has kicked in.  Since the year started with a long weekend at home, it started at home.  I packed away the Christmas decorations.  I sorted and got rid of stuff that I haven’t used in years.  I already reorganized my clothes closet and dresser.  I keep in mind Marie Kondo’s motto “keep what I love and get rid of the rest”.