"Overcoming Business Paralysis: Strategies for Taking Action as a Female Business Owner"

This is an all too common problem many female small business owners feel but may not want to talk about. I am here to tell you and talk about it! This will actually be your first action step when feeling stuck. We will get to that more in a minute.

Business paralysis is when we are in a state of indecision or inaction. This can prevent us from progress or growth within a business. There can be a lot of reasons as to why this may happen. You have grit and resilience; that isn't the case. Paralysis is what causes us to have to be gritty. It can occur when we fear failure, uncertainty about the future, overwhelming complexity of tasks that must be completed, or a lack of clarity on the following steps.

Here are some strategies I like to take when I feel that paralyzing fear creeping in.

Identify the Cause: Understand why you're feeling paralyzed. Is it due to fear, uncertainty, overwhelm, or something else? Identifying the underlying cause is the first step to overcoming paralysis. Write it down, talk it over with your friends and family. Do not feel like you have to carry this feeling alone.

Bite-sized pieces: Break down those larger tasks into bite-sized pieces. What action can you take right now when you are feeling actionless? It can be something simple like crossing the least taxing thing off your list.

Set Clear Goals: You are your boss, so setting clear goals can be challenging when you have to create these on your own. Go back to your fundamentals. What is your mission statement and your core values? Use those as your guiding light and compass for your goals. That is what they are there for.

Prioritize Tasks: What fires need to be put out ASAP? Tackle those first. But remember to keep them also in bite-sized pieces. A fire may require multiple tasks to help put it out, so write them all out.

Seek Support: Don't hesitate to seek support from mentors, advisors, or peers. They can provide valuable guidance, feedback, and perspective to help you overcome paralysis and make informed decisions. Their job is to help you, so utilize them best.

Stay Flexible and Pivot: In business, you always have to pivot. You need to stay flexible with changes because they are going to happen. The best thing you can do is ask yourself, "Okay, this is happening; what can I do to pivot this into the outcome I want?"

Be Present: Instead of getting caught up in worries about the future or past failures, focus on the present moment and what you can control right now. Mindfulness practices can help reduce anxiety and increase clarity and focus. There is no good in focusing on the past, and the future has not happened yet, so don't waste your thoughts there, either. At least not while trying to put out fires or change your business.

I am here if you need any help. Email me at info@drarielblackburn.com

Dr. Ariel Blackburn

Chiropractor

Business mentor and consultant for introverted holistic health providers