How to Deal with Unexpected News as an Entrepreneur

Here’s the thing: as an entrepreneur, it can feel like there is always something to deal with. You only make it out alive (and with a decent amount of sanity), if you just embrace the ebbs and flows. Despite your best planning, sometimes things happen that feel like a punch to the gut. Things like: an employee suddenly quitting, a client not renewing their contract or a bill that leaves you wondering “how will I pay this.” Yes, none of these are life or death, they can feel like a big deal at the moment, and leave you doubting your career path.

As always, I find the inspiration for my blog posts based on things that happen in my life. If you follow me on social media, you are probably already heard my problem. On Friday, my accountant lets me know that I owe a few thousand more dollars for my 2017 taxes. It caught me off guard because I thought that I was already paid up for the year. Not only that, it felt like an even bigger blow because 1) I pride myself on being on top of my taxes and have never been short and 2) I have been making an effort to save more money and this will cause a dent in that.

Like I have said before, I am not a very patient person, and when things like this happen, I tend to fly off the handle. After receiving this e-mail, I am not proud of how I responded. I sent a snappy e-mail back to the accountant saying something like, “This is wrong. I don’t owe anything” in a very annoyed tone. Then, I took my frustration out on my husband as he was trying to figure out what was going on.

The point of me telling you this again (I already shared on social media) is because this is life, and things will always happen. Ultimately, what is more, important is how you react!

Now that I have reflected on the situation, I have come up with a few things that I am going to try to do the next time I find myself in this situation:

Step away from the computer. Instead of writing a short, rude e-mail back, I should have stepped away from my computer to gather my thoughts. You just aren’t productive when a million thoughts are going through your head.

Have your facts straight. Another one of my big problems is that I get so lost in the heat of the moment that I have no idea what I am talking about. Before responding to any e-mails or having a conversation with anyone, I should always do my research to brush up on the facts. There is a reason that they say knowledge is power.

Remind yourself that no one is dying. Things having to do with money can feel very overwhelming, but at the end of the day, worst things can happen. I get so stuck on something that is happening right in front of me that I can’t focus on anything positive. I have to actively repeat to myself that all the people in my life are safe, I have a roof over my head, I have a job that I love, etc. By pointing out all the good things going on, it helps me to put things into perspective.  

Do something fun! Does anyone else ever feel guilty having fun?! I don’t know why, but sometimes I do. When I have a lot going on, I feel like I don’t deserve to have fun. I can’t even begin to tell you where this comes from. However, when work is getting me down, the best remedy is doing something I enjoy! This weekend was the perfect example. I had a friend come to town, so it forced me to disconnect from work.