Making Money

All businesses see a fluctuation in their income particularly in those early years, for a business to become established it can take up to five years, if after this time you are not seeing a steady rise in profit then it is time to review your business strategy.  It is easy to cling to your dream of owning a company or of working for yourself, reviewing that dream is harder, it becomes something we love and do not want to let go even if common sense tells us change must take place.

The small to medium business has a staff roll to support, so loss making cannot be tolerated for too long, or so one would think, yet over recent years we have seen big names disappear from the high street, companies and organisations that many would assume to be recession proof, so can we protect the small and micro businesses.

Of course there are many things you can do and some you shouldn't do.

Inquiries for orders and services should be treated as genuinely as possible with the provider answering questions honestly.  If you are trying to sell a product or service, to be able to offer that service or product sooner rather than later can be the difference between winning and losing the sale.

A buyer is ringing because they want something from you or someone else who provides the same thing and to be the persuasive one, or the most available is more likely to settle the deal quickly, a client or purchaser who has to call back is 90% more likely to call someone else.

From a business point of view the provider always looks with different eyes, but the only person you would want to appear too busy to are your competitors.

With 1 in 3 small businesses failing in their first three years in the UK, a sturdy business plan is essential, so why do some businesses flourish where others fail, even within the same domain, knowing your market is one of the keys if you are thinking of working for yourself or beginning with a micro business then getting out and finding out what people want is the best move you can make.  This also is the first step into networking.

Although companies can be competitive they can also be friends.

Do you have a network that you can lean on for advice, it can be useful to have a network of professional friends, a coach or mentor, sole traders can find themselves in a lonely place, surrounding yourself with other sole traders or partnerships can be a salvation in difficult times.

Bereavement

How do we ever cope when someone who was in our life everyday is no longer there, losing a parent is something we prepare ourselves for, losing a parent prematurely is much harder, and generally when one leaves this life the other follows.  How can we protect ourselves from the pain, in short, we can't, how long does it take to grieve, forever.

February has always been one of the worse months for loss, I myself have experienced a loss this time of year when my dear son, aged just 18 passed away, fit and healthy and then gone.  The shock is immense, recognising you are in shock is one of the harder things to deal with, a feeling of panic is not unusual but most commonly it is numbness, the wheels spin very quickly and before the information is digested along comes the funeral.

Funeral time has mixed reactions from my clients, some see it as a welcome part of grief, where they can formally say goodbye and share the moment with those who are closest, that also is a chance to allow others to take part in the protecting of your emotions, and a safe haven of understanding.  For others the funeral is a difficult time, it is the reality of the moment which can send shock waves through the body and any physical symptom from shaking to complete breakdown take place.  To look back after this time it can feel as if you had been swept up on a tide of organising the event and having to take care of others and their needs, while within a family network we would expect that, but self protection is essential, the strength needed for the preceding months must be preserved.  Missing each element can often be viewed as a void, however our body protects us by shielding our emotions during that time.

Mourning, funerals and displays of grief have changed over the last few centuries, different cultures and religion have their own traditions, but commonly all groups will walk the path of different stages, guilt, sorrow, anger, pain, disbelief, and eventually peace.  Can the process be sped up, there is no need for that to happen, because we all handle our pain in different ways, the one who cannot cope would need medical intervention but even with a relief from reality in the form of tranquilisers or intensive therapy, the reality of the situation still needs to be faced.

Bereavement coaching can be a positive step and a support, for some who have had counselling you may feel dissatisfied with the lack of time dedicated by the therapist, there are many charities offering free services, and have done for many years, coaching has a different approach, it helps the client learn to grieve alongside everyday life, the feeling of guilt can be one of the hardest to bear. Coaching is often the next step after counselling, where counselling looks back coaching looks forward.

A lady I saw had lost her child sixty years ago, her life has never moved on from that moment, an extreme reaction, her pain still raw along with the disbelief, it is possible to choose to stay in that moment by choice, hypnosis in these situations can often help, if you want it, which of course is the key.  For the majority wanting life to have normality but to not forget is key.

When grief is new, it is not unusual to see someone, unknown or familiar, having a good time and to be upset by this, don't they know can't they see how you feel, this is a healthy part of grieving.  The loss of someone can actually be quite taboo, with some not knowing what to say so choose to say nothing at all, how often do we talk about bereavement, some clients are embarrassed to talk to close friends because it seems to be all they want to talk about it so don't wish to become a burden.  Is it possible to balance the two, possible but not easy.

Identifying which stage of grief you are at can be great for coping, taking care of yourself during emotional vulnerability is crucial.

I am a qualified bereavement coach, losing my son and my parents very close together led me along this path and it has helped with the important understanding needed to encourage strength and support.  My current study for a Psychology Bsc (hons) has enhanced my ability.

www.aicoachingsolutions.com