Wednesday

Stress

What isn't under the stress these days? It seems that more than just the stock market is experiencing jitters and twitters. In fact, it is safe to say that most people seem a bit on edge.

There is good stress and bad stress. The stock market is having a bout of bad stress. The kind of stress that has made it seem slightly "unwell," as if it needs a good doctor to administer some antibiotics to sort of "disinfect" whatever is ailing it.

Small businesses (and their owners) can experience stress too. And the stress can also be good or bad. One of the stresses a small business might experience are: meeting legal obligations in a timely fashion (filing taxes, paying insurance, finding the right employees, meeting payroll, paying creditors, dealing with competitors, staying in the "black" and meeting the expectations of customers) when business is slow. Another big one is keeping the business in business.

As for the small business owners, they experience the human/personal stresses of keeping up with it all, both at work and at home. The thing with the small business owner stress is that bad stress can incapacitate a business person to the point that they can't function in their role as a business person. And many of these businesses are so small that without "YOU" there is no business.

So it is imperative that a small business owner manages and handles stress. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, practice relaxation, meditate, walk, go to the gym, take mini vacations, hang out with upbeat people. Or do whatever it is that helps you avoid going to your doctor's office with heart palpitations.

If a small business owner is managing his or her personal stress well, then he or she is likely to handle the stresses of the business with a lot more aplomb.