how will you weather the storm?

"Life's not about how you survived the storm, it's about how you danced in the rain."

What a beautiful quote and it really means a lot to me.

Because when you run your own business, you could say you truly weather the storm. You rely on people to find you, to trust you and then to love you, your services, your ethics, before they even consider becoming your customer and buying from you, not once but on a regular basis, so you can pay your bills at the end of each month.

I've found the life of an entrepreneur shockingly different from my life back in corporate where I showed up every day, put the effort in, did a good job and was guaranteed a salary at the end of each month. Heck... even when I felt under the weather and couldn't make it into work for a day or two, I still got paid.

Life is so very different now, and even after all these years in business already, I find it difficult not to look back and focus on how I have weathered the storm, or indeed to avoid looking ahead and wondering, almost panicking, what storms are next to appear on my horizon.

But like everything in life, what benefit is there in focusing on the negative, in becoming consumed by the "what if"s? How much further will you travel if you keep looking backwards or worrying about the future?

Storms will come, it's how you react that shows your real character. That's what's really important. That's what shows your true colours.

So when that storm comes do you mope around in your sodden clothes feeling cold and miserable? Or do you dance in the rain and splash through the puddles? Or... do you turn off the rain just in time so not even your pinky toe gets wet while you leave the shelter of the forest? (okay, so the last one sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? And yet it happened, lovely soul... but that's a story for another day!)

Here's the thing. If you're outside and the storm comes, you're gonna get wet. You can either moan about being cold and wet or you can make the most of the rain and have some fun getting wet.

It's the same in business life, whether you're a business-owner or an employee. You can mope around and complain about the unfair cards that Fate has dealt you or you can make the most of the situation and be grateful for what you have, no matter how little.

Because when you're sad and moping, your life will reflect that and you'll attract things that'll continue to keep you sad and moping. But when you're grateful for what you have, even for the smallest things, when you're grateful life will smile down on you and bring you more of the same.

Think about it....

Viv xx