Business Education

5 Effective Methods for Coping with Fear and Anxiety Right Now

Anxiety, stress, fear, and even anger. All these emotions result from a lack of control in a state of uncertainty. And, little else can describe the current state of events. It’s a time filled with unknowns and that’s not good for the human condition. After all, no one really relishes living in an environment of uncertainty.

What Causes Fear and Anxiety

This is precisely what triggers feelings of fear and anxiety — uncertainly. Having little to no idea of what to expect next or, being without any sense of control. It’s a combination of these two elements which cause anxiety, stress, fear, anger, and more negative emotions.

For many people, the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle. We don’t know how exactly we’ll be impacted or how bad things might get. And that makes it all too easy to catastrophize and spiral out into overwhelming dread and panic. But there are many things you can do—even in the face of this unique crisis—to manage your anxiety and fears. —Help Guide International

The good news is, even during the most uncertain and stressful times, you can do something to deal with such negative emotions. Better yet, once you begin to establish even a small sense of control, you’ll start to feel empowered and that by itself is a huge relief.

5 Ways to Cope with Fear and Anxiety

To deal with anxiety and fear, you have to first accept your current set of circumstances. Fighting reality simply won’t work, because it can’t be changed. However, you can change how you respond to fear and anxiety by doing the following:

Contextualize. Your first step toward conquering or at least coping with fear and anxiety is to contextualize. Here’s an example. Money is tight and bills are due. But, it’s only a temporary circumstance. It’s not an end-of-life situation. You will get through it and putting things in context is a big help.
Take small steps. Next, you’ll need to take small steps in order to feel a sense of control. Sticking with the example above, you can reach out to vendors and ask what can be done. Just by communicating and better understanding the what’s actually going on will give you a sigh of relief.
Limit news consumption. You’ve probably already heard this advice several times. So, take it to heart. Limit your exposure to news media, including social media, and other outlets. You only need to keep tabs on key developments but not bombard yourself with big doses.
Revisit and revisit your goals. Now is a great time to revisit and revise your goals. This will help you to see and feel better about the future. And, it will also provide you with a sense of new possibilities, which is very empowering.
Visualize and start to execute. It’s also a good time to visualize and execute. Although you may not be able to take things fully to fruition, you can at least start and that too, will help to give you a sense of control, accomplishment, and hope.

What other suggestions do you have to combat feelings of anxiety and fear? Please comment and share your thoughts and experiences!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Here’s Another Key Ingredient to Success — Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

December 15, 2018 No Comments

“Stop comparing yourself to others!” Chance are excellent you’ve heard this advice more than once before. It might have been a parent, coach, a teacher, or even a friend. Okay, we all know this is true. Comparing yourself to others will inevitably lead to disappointment. But, we all fall into this trap and it isn’t helpful. So, how do you resist the feeling in the first place? Let’s take a look at how you can effectively stop comparing yourself to others. If You Keep Comparing Yourself to Others, You’re Standing in the Way of Success Before we get into the logistics, we’ll take a peek into what this actually does — it prevents you from succeeding. That’s right. Think about it. If you’re always comparing yourself to others, you keep moving the goal post. Comparing yourself to others’ accomplishments is a losing battle. There is an endless supply of people to whom you could compare yourself and your accomplishments, but, inevitably, you’ll always end up on the losing side of the comparison. That’s because there will always be someone who has done something that you wished you could also accomplish. —Forbes.com And, we all know what that means. So, doing this is essentially self-defeating. You can’t reach the goal if you keep moving it further away. It’s really that simple. Yet, it’s difficult to resist the urge because we all want to accomplish more. How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Now, how do you stop comparing yourself to others? Sure, it sounds easy but it isn’t. Fortunately, there are ways to beat back the impulse: Practice getting over your FOMO urge. FOMO or fear of missing out. It’s a good portion of what drives the success of social media giants like Facebook. People are always measuring their own lives up against others on social media. Take a break. For instance, don’t check social media for an entire weekend. Or, make your evenings social media free. Look for commonalities, not differences. Instead of comparing yourself based on differences, try identifying commonalities. It will give you a level of reassurance, at the very least. It will also tell you that you are incumbents in some ways and boost your confidence. Take a long, mindful trip down memory lane. One of the best ways not to compare yourself to others is to compare yourself to yourself. That’s right. The you of today is likely a great improvement of the you of the past. Understand what you can and cannot change. Another way to stop comparing yourself to others is to understand and accept there are things you can change and things you cannot change. Doing so will certainly help you contextualize. What other methods would you recommend to stop comparing yourself to others? Please share your thoughts and experience by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Is Your Business Really Ready to Expand in the Coming New Year

January 7, 2020 No Comments

Is your business really ready to expand in the coming new year? Although the question seems complicated, it’s not too difficult to answer. Just four key factors can quickly help you determine if you’re ready to expand your business. And, perhaps more importantly, if your company is ready to expand. What it Really Means to Expand a Business Business owners often think about two elements when it comes to expansion — output and sales. Of course, it’s not that simple. However, these are two very important parts of the overall equation. Nonetheless, what it really means to expand a business is to take on a whole new level of responsibility. Even thinking about growing your business is exciting. Expansion means more products or services, customers, sales, and income for you. And, for businesses with physical locations, expansion might mean opening a bigger or second location. Before you rush into expanding your small business, you need to make sure your company is actually ready for growth. Your recent business success isn’t the only thing you should look at. —Forbes.com It also means the business having to respond to a new level of production while not losing it’s nimbleness or its personalized customer service. After all, if it can’t do the latter two — stay agile and maintain customer care quality — it will hurt the company greatly. 4 Signs It’s Time to Expand Your Business So, just what are the signs that it’s time to expand a business? Well, it comes down to only a select group of factors, which include the following: You have too much business. Time and again, you’re falling behind because you simply lack the resources to get all the work done. You’ve streamlined every single solitary step along the way and still, you’re not able to adequately keep up. Worse yet, it’s starting to show itself to customers. Too much work and too few resources to get it done in a timely manner. You have a strong team in-place. Your team members are your secret sauce. Without them, you’d really be in big trouble. Fortunately, they’re able to pull off magnificent feats over and over again. Well, that’s not only good news for the present, but really good for a future expansion. You have the money to expand. Expanding usually means incurring significant expenses. But, if you have some retained earnings saved and a strong forecast for the next several months, you probably can afford to expand your operation. You have a plan to upscale your operation. While the first three elements are absolutely critical, this is perhaps the most important of all because it will define your way forward. (It’s also where winging it just won’t cut it.) So, take the time to consult an experienced business consultant and coach. Someone who has helped companies grow before. Work together to formulate an actionable expansion plan. What other advice would you give business owners who want to know if it’s time to expand? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

The Two Key People that Can Tell You if a New Hire will Work Out

August 21, 2020 No Comments

There are two people in your life that can immediately tell you if a job candidate is a good hire. When both (or either one) doesn’t get a good vibe, it’s an important warning sign to heed. While some candidates fit the bill precisely on paper, but it’s what’s not on the resume that’s most telling. Trouble is, you might miss these cues. And, that’s where two key people in your life and business come into the picture. Resume versus Reality Paper credentials are indeed important. But, if his or her personality doesn’t gel, he or she just won’t work out. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because it means there are other qualities that you need to have in that position. Put another way, intangibles can’t be ignored. Even when there’s an impressive track record, that doesn’t seamlessly translate into the perfect fit. Hiring someone who doesn’t fit your company’s personality can be a very costly mistake. To avoid making that mistake, make sure to interview job candidates for cultural fit, as well as job qualifications. —Inc.com We’ve all heard the stories of Steve Jobs. A marketing genius. A man who could somehow see into the future. However, a very difficult person to work for and with. Although he built a huge company, he did so stepping on a lot of toes and hurting many people’s feelings. Of course, this is just an example. Yet, it does help to illustrate a point — someone can have a spectacular resume but isn’t a true team player. Best Ways to Size-Up a Potential New Hire So, how do you know if someone is a good fit for the position? Sure, read his or her resume. Ask some questions before and during an interview. Then, rely on two key people to read the tea leaves. Just who are these individuals? The answer is: your spouse and your right hand man. While the latter makes perfect sense, the former just might surprise you. (That is, unless your spouse works in the business with you.) But, for business owners who don’t work with their spouses, this could be a bit out of left field. However, it’s a great way to get a real feel for someone. After all, your spouse knows you just about as well as anyone could. She or he can glean things from another person you could easily miss on your own. And, that’s where your right hand person is also valuable. He or she will also be able to judge a potential hire in more ways than just on paper. So, get together for lunch and over dinner. And, do so separately (your spouse on one occasion and your right hand on another). Then, ask their impressions about the job candidate and listen carefully. You’ll probably learn a lot. Plus, you’ll get valuable feedback that can help you to make the right decision. What other suggestions do you have for sizing up a potential new hire? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.