There are many things in business that can cause anxiety and increased stress levels for Christian business women that may not affect non-Christian business owners in the same way. This stress is often in your “blind spot” and causes you to unknowingly back off of doing the very things you need to execute so the calling on your business can be fulfilled. Yet you can still be unclear about why things aren’t moving forward as forecasted.
When these stressors are present, the energy and creativity it takes to keep producing your desired results can dry up like a withering plant just waiting for more water. The follow-up calls that need to be made don’t get completed in a timely manner. The products don’t get properly released to your target market. The marketing activities that your business needs to thrive do not get carried out. You may silently be frustrated and stop significant forward movement in your business.
As Christian business women we often do not feel like we have the space to admit that we have the same struggles and secret fears that plagues other business owners. We know that the scripture informs us that we should not worry or carry fear. We know that it promises that if we seek the kingdom and his righteousness first that all things shall be added unto us.
We know that Jesus did not give us the spirit of fear but yet it runs rampant in our businesses and lives without us even understanding what is really going on and its cause. We often lead with our hearts and can struggle with the many necessary aspects of building a business for longevity. Bits of shame can even sneak into our thought process because there is something deep within you that knows you should be doing better.
These stresses are caused by fear, which creates the existence of anxiety.
Here are a few of the things that cause Christian women undue stress in business:
- Fluctuating revenue. All-too-often Christian women do not enjoy focusing on the numbers of business. Over the last 7 years building Touch and Agree Christian Women’s Business Network, I have heard countless women declare, “I don’t like numbers!” or ” I am not good at the numbers.” This leaves you feeling a lack of confidence in areas of fiscal management required to properly leverage to grow your business.
- Being spread too thin. Juggling family, taking care of ourselves and trying to get through our ever increasing to do lists while not always having the help we need to can be exasperating. You can stay very busy handling the administrative aspects of your business and never get to the marketing and revenue-generating activities that keep your business thriving.
- Feeling isolated. As you build your business and handle all of the aspects of your family’s life (that you do so well that it might even be taken for granted), it is easy to look up and not have time to connect with other like-minded and like-spirited business visionaries like yourself.
- Lack of marketing clarity. Women are amazing promoters and lousy marketers. We are great at sharing our upcoming programs or events with anyone who will listen (promoting) yet don’t always have the clarity about only promoting to those who need what you have to offer and can afford it (marketing).
- Lack of budget for outsourcing and hiring. Without the proper team on-board we can stay busy doing non-revenue producing activities and not operating in the fullness of our gifts. This keeps you in a tail-spin of frustration as you try to get everything done on your own while longing for the right people to get the vision of your business and help you carry it.
- Making decisions with our heart. Christian women are heart-people. We are gifted at loving people and not so gifted at having the tough conversations that are an everyday part of doing business. From hiring and firing to writing proposals to saying no to opportunities that don’t fit with your vision, moving beyond making decisions only with your heart can be uncomfortable and quietly add to your stress factor.
- The guilt of greatness. Traditional teachings that value humility and meekness can often stop you from boldly putting your products and services out to those who need them. There may be something within trying to convince yourself that it is not okay to openly market your offerings and ask for the sale. And have a bank account that is constantly filling up as as you do so. It is not only okay to fully accept and express your inner greatness; it is necessary to fulfill the calling on your business.
All of these things can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. But make no mistake about it, each one of these things is a manifestation of fear. Once you clearly identify which of these stressors potentially keep you up at night you can go through a process of completely eliminating them from your business so you can enjoy every minute of building a powerful business enterprise and walk in success with no fear or hesitation.
I will be walking a select group of business women through the a specific process of eliminating these stressors and more this weekend at the Business Breakthrough Day: Walking in Fearless Success. Click Here to Learn More.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Ericka