There may come a time in your online business (or it may already have arrived) when you think “If only I could start over…”
Why would that happen? What would cause you to want to start again from scratch? There are at least three reasons:
1. You lost your motivation. It happens. You get busy or overwhelmed and you can’t quite remember why you were doing this. The amount of “work” outweighs the perceived rewards. So you slowly stop doing anything.
2. You got distracted. Building a business, whether it’s online or offline, is work. And it takes time. Sometimes you’ve not prepared for the time and work required. So you begin to neglect your business in favor of other activities. It’s not that you don’t care – it’s just that other things got in the way.
3. You went down a rabbit hole. This happens particularly with the technical aspect of online business. You choose one tactic and follow it to the exclusion of all else. When you “wake up” and realize you’ve gone deeply into a topic that isn’t giving you the monetary return on your time investment, you need to back up – and start over.
Those are just the three most common reasons that people feel the need to start over. But they are enough to get us started on the road back.
Still feeling like you can’t “start over”? Consider the number of very wealthy people who have built a successful business, gone bankrupt, then come back and built an even bigger business. They have leveraged what they learned the first (or second or third) time into being more successful, even faster the next time around. If they can do it, so can you!
So what are the steps involved in starting over? We’ll be covering those in a series of articles, right here. So follow along and rejuvenate YOUR business as we Start Over!
Meanwhile, why do YOU want to start over?
Jeanette, I have had a giant start over and several mini ones in the past decade. A death in the family and subsequent depression and eventual healing brought about the giant start-over.
Then as I keep getting clearer on who I am and my strengths, my goals in life, I have mini re-starts. Like little makeovers. 🙂
It’s interesting that you mentioned bankruptcy. I was talking with a friend who attended a conference of entrepreneurs and the question was asked from the stage, “How many of you have gone bankrupt somewhere along your journey?” She said at least two thirds of the audience raised their hands.
Encouraging! I think part of big time success is in the coming back – the starting over from scratch. So many wonderful lessons now under your belt, and a new strength and perseverance.
Kudos to all those who have endured through re-starts and come out stronger!
Lisa – I agree completely. Like you, I’ve had a few mini-restarts. But I think this is my biggest one, so I’m really excited about the possibilities. So glad some of my wonderful online friends will be coming along, too!
Jeanette
I had to take a great big step back recently. I made a very bad business decision that caused my Paypal accounts to be closed and I cannot ever have one again. If you would like to learn from my mistake, you can read it here. I would not want anyone to have to start over for the reasons that I did. I am taking baby steps again until I gain my footing.
http://blog.grandma-marilyns.com/beware-of-offers-to-list-products/
I honestly thought I was making a good business decision when I did this. Talk about a slap in the face when I found out that I hadn’t.
Marilyn
Marilyn – I was horrified in reading your story. You’ve been through so MUCH! Yet the spirit remains strong. That’s wonderful! I’m looking forward to starting over with you!
Jeanette
Number 1 and 2 apply to me for sure. I also have “lost” the subject matter expert for my business and I have to step up into that role and am not sure I can do that. So I’m very interested in this series of articles. Thanks for doing them.
Terrie
Terrie – you are the perfect person to Start Over, since so much has changed with your business, your marketplace, and your day job. Plus, you know SO much now that the process will be easier this time around.
That’s the true advantage we have in Starting Over – we get to use all of what we’ve learned and apply it to our “new” business. Whether in the same field or not, you’ll be amazed at how much easier and faster it is this time around.
Really looking forward to making this journey with you!
Jeanette
I have had some of these sites back when I saw you a decade ago … since Bob A had his accident life has been running me … think you have a hard copy of one of my books I will be republishing. Anyway over the period I have had more strokes and mi’s and MS and more and most recently a sigmoid colon resection! Those are my reasons for delays … excuses? Sometimes, but when you don’t have health you really and truly have nothing whatsoever … it is all by God’s blessings
Jean .. keep me in your prayers and hope I will be seeing you out there very very soon … it is overdue!
God Bless! Rick
Wonderful to hear from you, Rick, but sorry things have not been going smoothly. Many of us have had setbacks and challenges in the past year or two – hence, this Starting Over topic. I hope you’ll keep following along with us. And let us know when you book comes out!