It is easy to get drawn in by the slippery slope of the economy and every day, more and more people and businesses are affected.

 How can you prevent the harsh reality of these challenging times from seeping into your skin? How can you continue to focus on growing a healthy business in these tough times?

 The answer isn’t a simple one. The answer doesn’t lay some instant “fix-it-right-now” reality.

 You can take steps to stay on track and focus on the here and now. You can make a commitment to your business and self and find solutions that deliver long-term results.

 You cannot get swept into worrying about how the times are affecting you. You cannot sit and wait for the other shoe to drop.

 Worrying about things that you cannot control binds you and limits you. Worrying about what is happening next can become a substitute for a solid action plan and can prevent you from taking the steps you need to take right here and now!

 Worry creeps into you and paralyzes you.

Paul J. Meyer writes in his article, “Making the Choice Not To Worry,” (Success Magazine, March 27, 2008):

 “More damage is done by worrying than by what is being worried about. This is because 90 percent of all worries never come to pass.

 Here are a few of the side effects of worrying:

Self-doubt – It is a downward spiral that focuses on the negative and why things cannot be done versus why things can be done. It is a sinkhole, a debilitating attitude, and a terrible habit.

Mediocrity – Capable people who worry are rendered incapable of accomplishing their intended goal. Worry makes you peck around on the ground like a chicken when you were intended to soar like an eagle.

Fright – People who worry are not being cautious or thinking things over; they are simply scared. Running scared is the enemy of success, peace, contentment, happiness, joy, and laughter.

No spark – The excitement is gone. Worry lets the air out of all you do, draining the fun and excitement from everything.

No creativity – The freedom to be creative is squelched by worry. You simply cannot excel to your full potential when worry controls your thoughts.

Improper shaping – You are molded and shaped by your thinking, and worries should not shape your future.

Hazy results – Those who worry are second-guessing themselves, which produces a hesitancy that brings with it an unclear focus. Such a hazy goal will produce a hazy result.

Bad habits – Worrying is a habit, the result of preconditioning and years of practice. The destructive habit of worrying turns people into prisoners.

Physical ailments – The body reacts adversely to internal worries. John Edmund Haggai insightfully stated, “A distraught mind inevitably leads to a deteriorated body.”

Wasted time – Over 90 percent of what you worry about never comes to pass. To worry is to waste time; therefore, the more you worry, the less you accomplish.

Make the decision for yourself to live life worry-free. It is not only possible, but it is also very enjoyable! “
 If you are interested in accelerating your company and its growth during these “worrisome” times, contact Kathleen Wood Partners, LLC at Kathleen@kwoodpartners.com