Hey r/smallbusiness,

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Running your own thing can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. Last month one of my biggest clients ghosted on payment and I was totally bummed. My financial situation started feeling pretty precarious, and the stress began to exacerbate my anxiety. I was constantly refreshing my inbox and searching for new leads just to keep revenue coming in.

I knew I had to take serious measures to mitigate the damage. So I went into full austerity mode — cutting every unnecessary expense and only spending on what actually moves the needle. My motivation still fades away after a couple of tough weeks, but I keep reminding myself of the achievements I’ve already made this year. Those wins really shaped the way I approach business now.

Before jumping into any new project or partnership, I always make sure we’re on the same page. If something feels off, we sit down and hash it out over coffee instead of letting it fester. There’s a thin line between being confident in negotiations and coming across as arrogant, and I try really hard to stay on the right side of it.

When summer rolls around I usually try to take a proper break, but right now I honestly don’t have a detailed plan for the next quarter. I’m just going to play it by ear and adjust as things come up. Thankfully one of my suppliers cut me some slack and gave me extra time to pay an invoice — that small gesture made a huge difference.

A good friend hit the nail on the head the other day when he told me I keep taking on accounts that just aren’t worth the headache. He gave me a brief summary of what needed to change and it was spot on.

Anyone else been in this kind of situation? How do you guys stay sane when everything feels up in the air? Would love to hear your stories or any tips that helped you push through.

Thanks for reading!