The Impact of Relationships on Your Entrepreneurial Journey

We’re diving into a topic that is often overlooked in the hustle of entrepreneurship: the impact of your relationships on your business success.

It’s easy to get caught up in building your business and put relationships on the back burner, thinking, “Once my business is thriving, then I’ll focus on my relationships.”

But what if we turn it around? What if your relationships are key to your entrepreneurial growth?

If you’re struggling to juggle a healthy marriage, friendships, and a growing business, this post is for you.

The Connection Between Relationships and Business

Many entrepreneurs focus solely on their business metrics—revenue, sales, growth. But what if the health of your personal relationships could be a direct predictor of your business’s success?

Your Marriage and Business Health

As a business coach, I’ve seen firsthand how the state of a person’s marriage affects their business. Your spouse is often the person you prioritize the most, and how you treat them reflects how you view yourself and your overall emotional well-being.

If you’re neglecting your relationship, it may indicate that you’re also neglecting self-care and your emotional health.

Examples:

• Unresolved Conflict: Imagine trying to close a big deal after having a fight with your spouse. Your energy is drained, your mind is elsewhere, and it’s hard to stay focused.
• Support in Risk-Taking: On the other hand, if your spouse is supportive, cheering you on, and helping you strategize, you may feel more confident to take risks in your business.

You can’t pour from an empty cup, and that applies to both your personal relationships and your business. The stronger your relationships, the better you’ll be able to handle the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Why Relationships Matter

Let’s dive deeper into why your relationships are so important to your entrepreneurial success:

Emotional Well-Being

Running a business can be stressful—we all know that, right? Entrepreneurs face long hours, tough decisions, and a lot of uncertainty.

Your personal relationships provide emotional support and stability, which help you maintain the mental clarity needed to make sound business decisions. When you have someone who genuinely cares about you and supports your goals, you’re more likely to get through these challenges without feeling overwhelmed.

How do I get them to see me? This was a question I saw literally every day back when I was in network marketing, and I still see it today with coaches, especially new coaches. I think new entrepreneurs and coaches are more susceptible to the need for support because their business is still at the pre-success stage.

You know, no one launches a coaching business and then just blows up overnight, they work hard—sometimes for years—before their business really starts taking off. That’s a lot of rejection and heartache to fight past.

But then when you try to turn to your spouse and they say something like “your little coaching business” or try to talk you into getting a “real job” it all just hits that much harder—now you’re fighting through rejection on two fronts.

Support System

A healthy support system allows you to take risks with confidence. Entrepreneurship is full of risks, but knowing that you have a stable relationship or close-knit group of friends gives you a safety net. You can take bolder steps in your business because you know you have people to lean on if things go wrong.

Self-Reflection

Your relationships also serve as mirrors. How you treat your loved ones often reflects how you view and treat yourself. If you find yourself snapping at your spouse or avoiding social interactions, it could indicate deeper self-esteem or self-worth issues. The way you treat others reflects what you believe you deserve.

Nurturing Your Inner Child

In my upcoming success guide, The Crafted Woman’s Ultimate Guide to Success, I share five exercises that focus on health, wealth, relationships, spirituality, and business. One of the key exercises involves nurturing your inner child—a concept that is vital for thriving relationships and successful entrepreneurship.

Why Your Inner Child Matters

What does your inner child have to do with business success? Your inner child is that part of you that holds onto unresolved traumas, unfulfilled dreams, and unmet needs. By nurturing this part of yourself, you can heal past wounds, build confidence, and become more aligned with your authentic self.

Nurturing your inner child isn’t just about healing; it’s about unleashing creativity and playfulness. When you feel free to express yourself, your business ideas flow more easily, and you’re more willing to take creative risks.

Exercise: Spend Time with Your Inner Child

Here’s a step-by-step guide to connect with your inner child:

1. Reflect on Your Childhood:
   • Think about your seven-year-old self. What did you dream about? What made you feel alive? Were there hobbies or activities that brought you pure joy?
2. Visualize Connection:
   • Close your eyes and imagine yourself at seven years old. In your mind, give your younger self a hug. Tell them how proud you are of the person they’ve become. Share your entrepreneurial journey with them—tell them about the business you’ve built and the dreams you’re chasing.
3. Daily Affirmations:
   • Each day, spend a few moments nurturing this bond. Affirm to your inner child that it’s safe to be seen, heard, and appreciated. Use positive affirmations like, “I am deserving of success,” or “I embrace my creativity and uniqueness.”

The Champion Self

By nurturing your inner child, you allow your champion self to emerge. This part of you is confident, resilient, and ready to make bold decisions for your business. Your champion self is the version of you that embraces challenges, takes risks, and thrives in the spotlight.

Take Risks

As entrepreneurs, we often face decisions that push us out of our comfort zones. Your champion self encourages you to take those risks and trust in your ability to succeed. Whether it’s posting your first video on social media, sharing your personal story with the world, or launching a new product, your champion self empowers you to embrace these opportunities.

Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Failure:

1. Reframe Failure as Learning
   • Change Your Perspective: Instead of viewing failure as a dead end, see it as an opportunity to learn. Every mistake or setback brings valuable lessons that help you refine your strategies and grow stronger.
   • Example: If a product launch doesn’t go as planned, analyze what went wrong and use that information to make better decisions next time. Ask, “What did I learn from this?” rather than, “Why did I fail?”
2. Set Realistic Expectations
   • Progress Over Perfection: Don’t expect perfection right out of the gate. Set smaller, attainable goals to build confidence. Expecting perfection will set you up for disappointment and fear.
   • Example: Instead of aiming to generate a million dollars in your first year, break your financial goals into smaller, realistic milestones.
3. Take Action in Small Steps
   • Break Down Big Risks: The fear of failure often comes from feeling overwhelmed by the size of a task. Break big risks or projects into smaller, manageable steps. As you successfully complete each step, you build confidence and reduce fear.
   • Example: If launching a new business feels daunting, start with a small, simple version of your product or service, gather feedback, and iterate.
4. Practice Visualization
   • See Your Success: Spend time visualizing yourself succeeding in whatever goal you’re working toward. This helps train your brain to focus on positive outcomes rather than dwelling on potential failures.
   • Example: Before a big presentation, take a few minutes to visualize yourself delivering the presentation confidently and receiving applause from the audience.
5. Acknowledge and Accept Fear
   • Don’t Ignore Fear: Ignoring or avoiding fear gives it more power. Instead, acknowledge it, accept that it’s normal, and keep moving forward. Often, the fear dissipates as soon as you face it head-on.
   • Example: If you’re afraid to pitch to investors, recognize that fear is a part of the process. Acknowledge it but remind yourself that it’s okay to be nervous, and that everyone experiences similar feelings.
6. Focus on What You Can Control
   • Control the Controllables: Fear of failure often comes from focusing on things outside of your control, such as others’ opinions or market conditions. Instead, focus on what you can control—your efforts, strategies, and mindset.
   • Example: You can’t control how many people will attend your event, but you can control how well you market it and how prepared you are.
7. Build a Support System
   • Lean on Trusted People: Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage you to take risks and help you maintain perspective. Having mentors, coaches, or peers who’ve faced and overcome failure can inspire you to keep pushing forward.
   • Example: Joining a mastermind group or connecting with a business mentor who has experienced failure can give you the reassurance and guidance you need to move past your fears.
8. Embrace the Unknown
   • Get Comfortable with Discomfort: The unknown is scary, but it’s also where growth happens. Instead of avoiding uncertainty, practice becoming comfortable with it by stepping outside your comfort zone regularly.
   • Example: Take on small challenges that push you just outside your comfort zone, like starting a conversation with a stranger or posting your first video online. Over time, these small actions will help you build resilience.
9. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
   • Your Journey is Unique: Comparing yourself to others can amplify your fear of failure, especially when you measure your progress against someone else’s highlight reel. Focus on your unique path and progress.
   • Example: Instead of comparing your business success to others on social media, track your own growth and celebrate the milestones you’ve achieved so far.
10. Cultivate a Growth Mindset
    • Adopt a “Can-Do” Attitude: A growth mindset means you believe that your abilities and intelligence can develop with effort and learning. This helps you see challenges and failures as stepping stones to success rather than roadblocks.
    • Example: Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” reframe it as, “I haven’t mastered this yet, but I’m learning.” This shift in mindset opens up possibilities and reduces fear.
11. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
    • Find Joy in the Journey: If you’re solely focused on the end result, failure can seem catastrophic. Instead, focus on the process of learning and growing. By appreciating each step of the journey, you remove the pressure of achieving a specific outcome.
    • Example: Instead of stressing about hitting a financial target, enjoy the process of building your business, creating products, and connecting with customers.
12. Learn from Others’ Failures
    • Success Stories of Resilience: Study stories of successful entrepreneurs who have failed and bounced back. You’ll realize that failure is not only common but often necessary for long-term success.
    • Example: Look at entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Elon Musk—all faced public failures but used them as stepping stones to even greater success.
13. Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health
    • Stay Balanced: Fear can feel more intense when you’re not taking care of yourself. Regular exercise, good nutrition, meditation, and time spent with loved ones can help manage anxiety and reduce the fear of failure.
    • Example: Make time for daily exercise or mindfulness practices to keep your mind sharp and reduce stress, making it easier to face your fears.

Stand Out

Your uniqueness is your superpower. Too many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of trying to blend in, copying the strategies and styles of others. But your champion self reminds you that standing out and embracing what makes you different is what will attract the right audience to your business.

Tips for Standing Out in the Marketplace

Develop a Unique Brand Identity

• Actionable Tip: Clearly define what makes your brand different from competitors. Focus on your values, mission, and the unique story behind your business. Use consistent branding across all platforms—logo, colors, voice, and style—to create a recognizable and memorable identity.
• Why It Works: A strong brand identity not only differentiates you but also builds trust and loyalty with your target audience.

Provide Exceptional Customer Service

• Actionable Tip: Go above and beyond by delivering personalized customer experiences. Respond quickly to inquiries, offer tailored recommendations, and follow up with customers after their purchase. Small gestures like handwritten thank-you notes or unexpected bonuses can make a lasting impact.
• Why It Works: Excellent customer service creates raving fans, and word-of-mouth referrals are one of the most powerful ways to stand out in a crowded market.

Create High-Value, Original Content

• Actionable Tip: Regularly share valuable, high-quality content that educates, inspires, or entertains your audience. This could be in the form of blog posts, videos, webinars, or podcasts. Focus on topics that address your audience’s pain points and position you as a thought leader in your niche.
• Why It Works: Providing value for free builds authority and trust, making your brand the go-to resource in your industry.

Niche Down and Specialize

• Actionable Tip: Rather than trying to appeal to everyone, narrow your focus to a specific niche. Specializing allows you to become an expert in one area and serve your target market with precision. Make it clear who your ideal customer is and tailor your messaging directly to them.
• Why It Works: Niching down helps you stand out because you offer a specialized solution, making it easier for customers to choose you over generalized competitors.

Build a Strong Online Presence

• Actionable Tip: Optimize your website and social media platforms to showcase your expertise and connect with your audience. Regularly update your platforms with fresh content, engage with followers, and use targeted SEO strategies to improve visibility. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube, depending on where your audience is most active.
• Why It Works: A strong online presence ensures that your brand is visible, accessible, and top of mind when potential clients are looking for solutions.

Final Thoughts on The Impact of Relationships on Your Entrepreneurial Journey

I hear people say that investing in your personal life makes your entrepreneurial life easier. But that’s not what we’re really after—it’s not about making the entrepreneurial life easier. Investing in your personal life is essential for your entrepreneurial success. When you build strong relationships and take care of your emotional well-being, you create a foundation that supports your business growth.

I encourage you to download my free success guide for additional journal prompts and exercises that will help you cultivate a loving relationship with both yourself and your loved ones. These practices will not only improve your relationships but also positively impact your business.

Remember, you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child—so take the time to nurture that inner child and watch how it positively impacts your business and personal success.

Listen to the Podcast Episode: How Your Relationships Will Impact Your Entrepreneurship (AND BUSINESS!)