We have all been the victims of the occasional slump. For a myriad of reasons, we just lose interest in…well everything. And as we have seen, this can be dangerous for your travel business. That’s the bad news. The good news is that shedding a slump is fairly easy. And when you do, you are reinvigorated, happy, and ready to tackle the world! But how to shed it? Everyone has their own theories; but I wanted to share 8 methods that I have used to get out of a slump. They are not intended all be used at once, but perhaps one or two at the right time. And as a disclaimer—none of which involve any form of “retail therapy.”
- Stop Stressing. Understand that things cannot possibly go your way all the time. Life, by definition, has its ups and downs. You will survive and thrive once again. But that is easier said than done. For me, to de-stress, I clear the air. I walk. In fact, I have taken on a regimen of walking 5 miles every morning and it starts my day off with a fresh, clear head. I also get out on the water—it has a tranquilizing effect on me. But other friends of mine will turn to yoga or meditation. Maybe for you it might be doing something special with your children or spending time helping others less fortunate. Find what it is that makes you happy and free—and do a little bit of it!
- Just do it. Set your schedule and go for it. It may take self-discipline, but taking action will beat inaction any day of the week. If you go on vacation and fail to go to the gym, have you ever noticed how hard it is to get motivated when you return? It takes a lot to start up a freight train, but when it is running, there is little to stop it! Find your action items and work on them—consistently.
- Think about it. Take some time and think about what you are doing. It could be process driven; or it could be behaviorally driven. What is working, and what isn’t? If you can, identify areas that can be changed or improved upon. Remember, if you always to the same thing, you will always get the same results!
- Focus on your process. To run, you need to learn to walk. To walk a mile, you need to take a few steps. You have a map from point A to point B and it will get you where you are going Sometimes we lose sight of our plan (marketing or business plans anyone?) and need a refresher. Concentrate on the process and make it happen. But be willing to adjust as needed!
- Keep your goal in mind. Hey, you got into the business for a reason, right? Keep that in mind. It will motivate you for the long term. Envision your own “finish line” every day and picture yourself crossing it. It might be to have retail location—or a home based location. It may be to be listed as a Top-10 agency in your market. It may be to retire comfortably. All of our end-goals are different. Envision yours!
- Learn from the others. There are a ton of resources to jump-start you out of your funk. Marchev, Burris, Earls, Cohen, and the rest all have a ton of inspirational content. Identify the people whom you deem a success (not necessarily in the industry) and read about them—Branson, Clinton, Gates, Jobs, and Buffet (Jimmy or Warren).
- Laugh a little. Jack Nicholson playing Jack Torrance said it best—all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Have some fun. Watch a cat video on YouTube. Take recess. Go to a carnival. Or watch this video:
- Be positive. Face it, negativity is a downer and it will drag you down if you let it. If you have negative people in your life, push them to the back burner. Do you have clients who are always second guessing your expertise and buying online—fire them. If you are exposed to too many negatives in your life, you run the risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Change the paradigm and instead of a downward spiral, change it to an upwards one. Negativity can be toxic. When you catch yourself with a negative thought—change it up. Now!
