Associated Press writer Joyce M. Rosenberg reported last week that, “No matter how much small business owners love their companies, they also have moments — maybe even weeks or months — when they hate what they’re doing and feel ready to give up.”
The AP article noted that, “Many owners find a way to get through tough times is to get some support, either from family members, mentors or other business owners. They realize the go-it-alone mindset common among entrepreneurs have doesn’t always work when products don’t sell or associates let them down. And some realize they need a break to reconnect with the non-business parts of their lives.”
The article stated that, “In the three decades Jeff Hoffman has owned ACT Network Solutions, he’s had to respond to tectonic shifts in the computer industry. His Cary, Illinois-based business began as a retailer selling computers and software to consumers, but was getting beaten by superstores with lower prices.
“‘I went to the office one day resigned to the fact that I was going to have to shutter the company,’ Hoffman says. But an order for 50 computers revived his spirits, and he has been able to shift his business model several times to keep pace with the industry. Now, ACT focuses on computer security and protecting customers’ data.
“That first blow didn’t make Hoffman immune to despair: ‘Each event hits you like a baseball bat alongside the head, so you never really get used to it.'”
The AP item added that, “Rafael Romis’ website design business just wasn’t taking off; six months after starting Weberous in 2012, he had few clients and was barely covering his expenses.
“‘I started thinking, maybe I screwed up with this one. Maybe I should have gone and gotten a steady job‘ says Romis, who lives in Los Angeles. The disappointment even became a cloud over plans for his wedding.
“Romis realized he needed help. He began following founders of other web design firms on social media, reading their posts about how they overcame obstacles in their companies. He contacted some near him, and took one out to lunch. The man became something of a mentor to Romis, telling him, ‘To be successful, you need to knock on doors.’
“Romis began reaching out to local businesses and convincing them they needed websites. When they hired him, he asked them to refer other businesses to him. That began to work.”
