Many business owners seem to be in denial about the fact that they own a business.

This reluctance is common for healing arts professionals, mindfulness professionals, other service professionals, artists and writers. They are so busy focusing on their service or craft that they would like to forget they are responsible for "that other stuff" like pricing, marketing, etc.

Even if they accept that they have to deal with the business side, many still harbor an underlying resistance to it. I definitely did when I was first self-employed.

I’ve heard a lot of comments like this lately: “How do I make my business less of a business?” As if denying it’s a business will help. It won’t.

The question should be: “How do I make the business side easier and more fun?”

The answer is to look at what the business side really means, because it’s not the bear you thought it was. You’ll find you like it! It’s  like a gift waiting to be opened.

Opening the Gifts of the Business Side

When you take a real look at the business side, you’ll find a shift to a new paradigm:

• Self-promotion…
  turns into another rewarding way of helping people. (See remedy for self-promotion angst.)
• Crunching the numbers…
  turns into finding that elusive sense of financial freedom.
• Business planning…
  turns into increasing your faith in self-employment.
• Getting clear on your vision and goals…
  turns into relief from self-employment-induced ADD.
• Competition…
  turns into enjoyable collaboration opportunities.

Once I embraced these parts of my consulting business, I found I loved it so much that I wanted to help others and that’s part of why I now focus on business coaching.

“But I Don’t Want to Wear All Those Hats.”

For clarity, running a business does not mean you have to be the chief cook and bottle washer. Yes, you need to stay on top of many things, but you don’t have to do everything alone. There is help from friends, bartering partners, free business counselors, strategic partners, mastermind groups, etc.

And yes… you sometimes need to pay for help too, and it pays off, if you choose well.

If you think you can’t afford to invest in a bookkeeper or a website, it’s probably time to create a better business plan (or create one in the first place). See whether your business is ready for prime time.

About the Photo

The above photo is just one example of a fun moment of owning a business. Those are two of my creative “solopreneur” friends hanging out after a conference, sharing what they learned. (Solopreneur is the increasingly popular word for people who work for themselves.)

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear your stories and opinions in the comments box below.

What is the fun part of the business side for you?

Which part just isn’t fun (yet)?

[Post originally published on my own blog: Are You a Reluctant Business Owner?]