Coping with the Stresses of Entrepreneurship

In my previous entry I made mention of the fact that running your own business is hard. What I want to blog about today is how much harder it becomes when you a balancing a 8:00-4:15 job, a two hour commute, and responsibilities at home along with running your own online store. You hair becomes grayer, you’re liable to doze off ANYWHERE due to exhaustion, and you sleep in punctuated by mental lists of all the things you have to do. And I know that there are many entrepreneurs out there that can relate to this 


So what is the key to dealing with this stress? It’s not about grinning and bearing it. The key is keeping the end goal in mind. It’s about reminding yourself that there is a greater purpose to this – a wise friend once told me, “your own business is not as stable as a job but it (is) more fulfilling...$1.00 from your own business feels better than $1,000 from a company”.

Time management does make it a lot easier. Plan out your weekly list of things to accomplish and structure your evenings to comfortably fit everything in. Remember to prioritize because your time is limited. It might mean some sacrifices but remember to keep the end goal in mine.

Sometimes it's even good to take an evening off because if you're tired and stressed, forcing yourself to work may actually be counter-productive. Give yourself a break (and have your business partner earn his keep ) It may just mean you have to make it up over the weekend.

And remember it’s ok if you wanna stop and scream (like I do) to relieve the stress.

It’s also important to have a solid support structure because that structure will be the roots that are going to hold you up when the storms come. They are the ones that will encourage you to pursue your dream, especially when you're ready to throw in the towel.

PayPal

During our development stage an important consideration was how to facilitate online payments and PayPal was our first option. Since we’ve launched, there has been a lot of question on the security of the website so I’ve decided to provide some additional information on PayPal and the security that it offers our customers.

So how does PayPal work? Basically PayPal acts as an online broker or financial middleman that provides a safe and convenient way of making online payments. If you opt to register with PayPal, your information is stored in their database; when purchasing from an online merchant, like The Island Shack, you are simply redirected to PayPal’s website where you log in and proceed with the transaction. Payment can still be made through PayPal even if you do not have a PayPal account. You are simply required to enter your relevant information into their forms and proceed with the transaction. Notably, these online merchants receive the payment from PayPal without ever seeing your financial information.

What makes PayPal so great is the protection that it offers. PayPal protects it users by maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are all in compliance US Federal and State Regulations. Additionally, safeguards such as firewalls and data encryption as well as physical access controls to PayPal’s buildings and files help ensure that you information is closely protected. Simply put, your information is as well protected as the President himself.

PayPal also works with you to protect any unauthorized payment. Email confirmations are sent for ALL online purchases. If you receive an email for a transaction that was not approved, you can contact them to resolve the issue and you will not be responsible for the charge. Additionally, if the product received varying significantly from what was advertised or if you don’t receive the product that was purchased, and you are unable to resolve it with the merchant, you can open a Dispute under their Buyer Protection Program and receive a reimbursement of your purchase price.

This was the main reasons why we option to use PayPal - It protects you, our customers. So you can rest assured that online purchases made on The Island Shack are well protected by PayPal

For more information, you can visit their website at www.PayPal.com.

Testing..1.2.3..

I wanted to share my experience of being an entrepreneur and the trials and tribulations of running my own online store, as the journey thus far has been an interesting one. I have decided to blog about my ongoing experience and hope that the lessons I have learnt inspire those thinking about starting their own business, and motivate those may be stuck in a rut.

I’ve always known that I would one day own my business. After promises of extra money for new shoes, handbags and clothes and a bit of forceful nudging, I eventually decided that it was time make the leap. However, after all the articles I read and all the research I completed not to mention the experience I have in helping persons develop their businesses, I was still not prepared for the long hours and the hard work.

So the first entrepreneurial lesson learnt - Being an entrepreneur is not easy. Dancing through the streets of Port of Spain for two consecutive days in heels is easy. Sitting in traffic for three hours, trying to get to work is also very easy. Being an entrepreneur however is not. I was required to develop patience, forgo sleep and read a million and one articles.

Nothing prepares you for the long hours and the hard work –Nothing

This brings us to entrepreneurial lesson number two– A true entrepreneur does not give up. It’s important that your stay focused and steadfast so you put on your big girl pants and deal with the hard work and the long hours cause….

Entrepreneurial lesson number three – The hard work pays off. Many entrepreneurs preach that having your own business is rewarding. I will admit that it took me some time to get there, but after all the sweat and tears, the end result was something to be proud of.....

Make sure and check out my website The Island Shack