5 Survival Tactics for When Everything Goes Wrong

You know the type of week.

* You've worked hard and are gearing up to
launch a new product when a vendor calls and
says that he can't get the new website up on
deadline which is "okay" because the graphic
artist's computer crashed and your product
picture isn't ready anyway. They'll get back to
you.

Tactics

* Taxes are due for those who got extensions
and, in some previous insanity, you agreed to do
them for friends and family. But you still need
information and the tax deadline looms.

* Your hubby needs reading classes but you
can't find the credit card which will give you the
big discount. It's gotta be around
somewhere.

* Your sister wants to borrow your AAA card - it
must be with the missing credit card.

* Your business phone line stops working and
the telephone company insists the problem is in
the home and they can't get to you for a
week.

* It hasn't rained for weeks and yet the dog is
covered in mud and lying on the couch.

* Your largest client calls on a Friday afternoon
and requests the impossible. This was preceded
by your smallest client calling and demanding
that you drop everything as her every need is
*urgent*.

* The bathroom toilet stops working and then
starts leaking and your plumber is on
vacation.

What do you do when it all goes wrong?

1. Laugh.

Laugh hard and laugh often. Laugh like there's
no tomorrow - given the above, there may not
be.

Seriously though. . .laughter will put you in a
much better frame of mind to deal with life's
interruptions without losing your sanity.

2. Breathe.

If laughter isn't possible, and sometimes it just
isn't, then focus on your breathing. Breathe in
and out, in and out as deeply as possible until
your pulse stops racing or you let go of the
throat that somehow found its way into your
grasp.

3. Regroup.

When the walls are caving in around you, take
five minutes and figure out what you can do to
keep at least one thing moving forward.

Follow-up on the email that may land you a new
client. Submit your article to the various article
submission sites. Pay a couple of bills. Do one
thing, anything so that you can cross something
off your *list*. It's probably best if this
something doesn't involve interaction with
others!

4. Give thanks.

"What? Give thanks? Are you insane?"

I can hear the grumbling from here. Do it
anyway! Grab a piece of paper and make a list
of everything that you are thankful for - chances
are, you have it better than millions of
others.

Here's a quick list of things that I know I'm
grateful for: my health, family and friends, my
pets, my business and my clients, sunrises and
sunsets, flowers, chocolate ice cream, the sound
of the ocean and a crisp New England fall
day.

5. Get out.

Get out of the house and out of the office.
Whether you choose to go for a walk, have lunch
with friends, go window shopping (leave credit
cards at home) or browse the shelves at your
local library, get out and enjoy yourself for a
bit. You'll return in a much refreshed frame of
mind and ready to tackle whatever life throws
your way.

Let's be real. Sometimes problems are just
problems and not "opportunities". Sometimes
lemons make bad lemonade. And not all clouds
have a silver lining. When everything goes
wrong, try one (or all) of the above techniques,
accept it and move on knowing that things
will get better!

5 Survival Tactics for When Everything Goes Wrong

Online Business Manager & Entrepreneur, Sandra Martini coaches small business owners to more efficiently manage their businesses while increasing profits and having fun. Sandra's coaching programs are available via teleconferencing, emails and telephone calls. For more information or to sign-up for ‘Effective Entrepreneur’, visit http://www.online-biz-coach.com today. Want to grow your business? Sign up for the FREE e-course "How to Write a Dynamic Marketing Plan" by sending a blank email to smartini-187175@autocontactor.com today.