Why do you make the tough decisions? Simply put, you love what you do. The love of money will be given serious second thoughts when sales fall like rain. How about that first grouchy unsatisfied customer? He or she will be a test of wills for anyone.

Part of going into business for yourself is to make a difference – in your life, in the world and in your family. All of these dynamics play into your attitude towards your business when things are not going so well. Is it time to pull up stakes or dig in your heels?

With the right frame of mind and a positive attitude, you will choose the latter. Tough times mean reevaluating your priorities. If you still believe in your product or service, you will do what you need to do so it doesn’t disappear.

Love is infectious, even in business. Your winning attitude will motivate you, staff and family to pitch in wherever they can. It might be making dinner so you can work longer hours through the week on business tasks. The trade off can be more family time on the weekends.

Staff will do what you need them to do when their efforts are appreciated. Employees who feel valued work harder and more effectively to get the job done. When you win, so do they. Keep in mind being appreciated doesn’t ALWAYS mean giving them more money either. Things like an email telling them what a good job they are doing, rewarding them with time off, and even giving them an opportunity to learn more are all great ways to show your staff you value them.

Loving what you do means that you won’t just sacrifice the business for quick fixes to problems. To remain successful, only solutions with the future in mind will do. The tough decision here could be passing up a deal that would hurt you down the road even if it temporarily increased business revenue right now.

A positive approach doesn’t make everything rosy, but it does help to make things bearable for the moment. You’ll be able to see the big picture when you open your mind. Any challenges and demands can then be met with grace and fortitude. Loving what you do plays a major role in business success and longevity.

Networking is important in business. Making connections with others in the online world increases your visibility which matters when you want to get noticed. Who do you rub elbows with? Begin with someone with influence in your business area like a guru of sorts. Get to know them by hanging out where they hang out – on their blog, in their social networking groups and by attending events they host or are speaking at.

Networking mutually benefits both parties. While you are getting to know them, don’t forget to let them know who you are. When you comment on blogs, link those comments to your own blog and/or website. If you host a podcast, invite them to be a guest.

Other Ways to Network

Blogs and forums are not the only way that you can make a useful business connection to promote your expert business status. Join local and online business associations. This is not in name only. Do our part and get involved so that others see your face, hear your voice and notice your work.

Your involvement in these professional organizations is a two-way street. Use the time to give but also get. Ask questions when you need to. Sharing business tips, tricks and secrets is a part of the perks.

Don’t neglect the social networking communities. Facebook and MySpace are a lot of fun for connecting with old friends, but they are also big forums for sharing business information. You can post new happenings on your website and links. You’ll be surprised who sees and takes advantage of the news. Invite all of your fellow organizational members as well as clients and other business associates to be your friends so they can view posts to your Wall.

Networking can be intimidating especially for business owners who are not good at self-promotion. But, once you begin, you’ll notice the benefits and get hooked.

Do you need networking ideas? Check out this article: Creative Networking for the Entrepreneur

A select few business accounts received invites to test the new Twitter Business Center. This is an opportunity for serious Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. Here are some of the features:

*Customized business profile page

*Verified account badge on Twitter page

*Add contributors to your accounts

*Additional options for reaching your target audience

Even though a few businesses were chosen, this feature will be available to the public.

Promoted Tweets

Want to advertise your business on Twitter? In the coming months, Twitter will allow businesses to display ads on their website, their search engine (search.twitter.com) and select third party services. Twitter is generating around 50 million tweets per day, so the CEO, Dick Costolo recognized the advertising opportunity this creates. The first set of ads will be released to gauge user reaction. After the initial phase, companies can bid on keywords that relate to their business. In the near future, Twitter will offer metrics and stats to measure ad popularity, number of clicks, and number of retweets.

Twitter promotion is based on keywords. Do you realize the effect keywords have on your website and promotions?

Check out my latest article, keyword power, to get tips on how to enhance your website and advertising efforts.

What is a positive attitude all about? It is not just seeing the silver lining in every dark cloud, but also being able to see the possibilities in each situation. These possibilities may not always be to your liking but they could be in the best interest of the business. You don’t relish building a profile on every social networking site, but you know doing so can increase business contacts and maybe even sales.

Why do you make the tough decisions? Simply put, you love what you do. The love of money will be given serious second thoughts when sales fall like rain. How about that first grouchy unsatisfied customer? He or she will be a test of wills for anyone.

Part of going into business for yourself is to make a difference – in your life, in the world and in your family. All of these dynamics play into your attitude towards your business when things are not going so well. Is it time to pull up stakes or dig in your heels?

It seems that business and stress go hand in hand. Many entrepreneurs expect some level of stress before they even get started. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case. Learn to be stress free as you achieve your success.

It is not a big secret that no one has discovered yet. Some people just don’t pay much attention to the mind-body connection. Trust me, there is one. How do you think those monks in the mountains achieve such a high state of consciousness? The only secret is that it takes practice to get good at it.

Your mind may be looking forward to working the business, but your body may not. It takes a lot of stamina to run a business and a home. Learning to balance the two isn’t easy but plenty of successful entrepreneurs are happy in a business that they love with a family that loves and supports them.

Get Moving

A healthy body equals a healthy mind and attitude. When you exercise, endorphins are released into the bloodstream. These are “feel good” chemicals that lighten your mood, improve your focus and lead to a more positive attitude about life. If they could bottle it there would be none left on the shelves.

You don’t have to hit the gym everyday to get this benefit. Try an exercise like yoga or taking walks with the family. Getting outdoors (especially for home business owners) also provides a healthy dose of vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption in the body for strong bones.

A body, that feels good and moves well, increases your confidence level. A confident person is better able to handle challenging situations within their business. Creative solutions to problems come more readily.

Get Support

The second way to relieve stress is to have a healthy support system. You may run the business, but you couldn’t do it without the family in your corner. It takes a lot of time and effort to grow a new enterprise into a successful one. That is time away from your family.

But, if you love what you do and who you do it for, you will be more likely to strike a balance that is agreeable to everyone. Good communication is the key to dealing with business and family issues.

Schedule Your Time Wisely

Set up a schedule for business and family. Refuse to sacrifice one for the other unless absolutely necessary. Remember, you are the boss and you can set up your business to suit your needs. What doesn’t get done today will still be there tomorrow.

A healthy boss makes for a healthy business. You can focus on your success in business better if you are already enjoying success in life. No matter what, remember that YOU have control.