Are you happy in business?

Are you actually happy in your VA business?

We all have different reasons for starting our own VA business. For some, it is to fulfil a dream. For others, it is about achieving the perfect integration between work and home life. No matter your reasons, the underlying factor is an emotionally driven urge to be happy.  It’s a question I always ask on the Start Your Own VA Business Webinars.

So, now that you have your own business, let me ask you: ARE you happy? Are you happy with your business, the running of it, and being in it as often as you are? Unfortunately, many self employed women would still answer with a resounding no.

Be happy in the present

If you are not happy in your business, it could be down to several issues. Often, we make our happiness dependent on a future goal. We do not stop to appreciate how far we have come or acknowledge what we have achieved already because we are firmly focused on what we still want to obtain.

There is nothing wrong with a future based goal, but it becomes a problem if you neglect to live in and appreciate the present. Take a moment to look around. Maybe you are working from home while your children enjoy the summer holidays. Do you remember when that was just a dream? How about your working hours? Was this always your reality, or did you work hard to make it so? Acknowledge your wins now.

Happiness and success are subjective

If you are unhappy, is it because you do not have what you want, or are you chasing someone else’s dream? We can easily get swept up in the illusion of someone else’s “ideal” lifestyle. We work to replicate it, only to find it does not satisfy us. Why? Because it was never our definition of happiness.

Your definitions of happiness and success are unique to you. If you are miserable in your VA business, sit down and get clear on your own terms. Are you working with the right clients? Do you offer services that actually suit your skills? What about your working hours? In the VA world, there is no “one size fits all” approach. You must build a business that fits you.

Do something that makes you happy

We can get so focused on business success that we forget what brings us joy outside of work. What makes you happy, and when was the last time you did it? Schedule it as a regular slot in your diary.

Happiness is a choice and, as a business owner, it is within your control. Ensure you are prioritising what makes you happy in both your professional and personal life. If you are struggling to find that joy because your business foundations are shaky, the VA Momentum Course can help you restructure for a more fulfilling, professional life.  Or as part of the VA Membership – we do weekly accountability – both setting what we will do and circling back on a Friday to share how we got on.  Often that circling back process can really demonstrate the gratitude we have.

How do you feel about your business? Does it make you happy? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments box below.