Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Now there`s a title to a topic - stress!

Stress must be one of the commonest terms in the vocabulary of people who run their own businesses. I know I experience it regularly. However, stress doesn`t have to be the big problem many people seem to fear. For one thing, I would be bored rigid without some stress. It is what makes me tick, and I know it occurs because I am continually seeking to do new and different things. People who know me, will be aware of my thoughts on this issue.

Stress becomes negative when we get overloaded. The challenge is to make focused business decisions (day to day and strategic) that reduce the occurrence of negative stress.

What do fellow business owners think?

David


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Professor David Johnson
email david@venturetothink.com
Venture to Think

well, I have plenty for stress for you :) Were almost done with our build out and the stress level with me and my wife is seriously 1000%. I`m normally a peaceful individual, it takes a lot to get me pissed off. Now with all this going on, if my soda doesnt have ice in it, I loose it (insert appology for McDonalds worker here). I`m sure it will all pass once the shop is open, but for now I`m a basket case labeled `Do Not Open Until Christmas`. One thing I`ve learned from this experience is that daily business stress is really trivial compared to those one timers, like a build out, or the day you took the plug and quit your job. Those days have a high level of stress where daily stress seems like a joke.

I`ve tried to turn my stress into engery. When I get mad a build stuff. I got upset with our sign guy one day becasue he kept promising the sign to be up, well one day I called him and left a nasty message, hey he deserved it, then to remove my stress I built a reception desk.

I guess we have our own ways of dealing with it, and my personal suggestion is try to turn the stress or anger into something positive.

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He who gets greedy like a pig, gets slaughtered like a hog!

My suggestion is to be sure you find something outside of your business; something just for yourself that you enjoy.  When I started my business I would wake up in the middle of the night with chest pains.  Then I discovered yoga and the ability to put all things in perspective.  It really helps me let go of the anxiety and nervoous, negative energy and better concentrate on my business.  That was seven years ago and I still make the time to practice.

 

(I was gonna answer but I`m too stressed to think about it....)

How funny - I was just re-reading a HOW Magazine (one of the major design industry publications) article tonight on Shedding Stress.  I was interviewed for the article when it was written back in 2004 and I was posting a link to the piece on one of my blogs.

- J.



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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Hey Logo I read that article, yes Im a HOW reader too. How funny.

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He who gets greedy like a pig, gets slaughtered like a hog!

Todd -

I`m on the magazine`s Editorial Advisory Board and have written for them in the past as well.  They are also the publisher of my books.

- J.



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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Jennifer

I agree with the notion of doing something like Yoga. I tried TM but found it impossible to stop thinking. I actually staretd to think more as I tried to slow down.

I manage stress by acknowledging the type of person I am - I need to do activities. Whilst I dont do Yoga, I can imagine it would work well for me.

It is a strange one because I spent many years in UK universities and the pace of life was such that I could do what I wanted. Now I live the life of the entrepreneur, I have to acknowledge I like to be busy.

Best W`s

David


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Professor David Johnson
email david@venturetothink.com
Venture to Think

David,

I totally understand what you mean about TM. I found that some guided meditations worked well for me and as I progressed, then I moved on to TM. It took awhile but it was well worth the effort!

~Sandra

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Sandra Pearson
The Mompreneur Next Door
www.themompreneurnextdoor.com
sandra@themompreneurnextdoor.com