How to decide if you are running the right small business

You may have been simply overcome with excitement when you were building your small business but as time passed you may have begun to wonder if you are in the right business after all. This is not an uncommon problem. Many small business owners find that after they get their business up and running they are dissatisfied with certain aspects of running their business. The good news is that by taking the time to closely look at the situation with your present small business you can determine if you are in the right business and if you aren't what you can do about it. Keep in mind that there are always ways to make your present situation work better for you. Here is what you need to know about how to decide if you are running the right small business-

- Are you excited to go to work everyday? People who are doing what they have always dreamed of feel excited to get to work most days. If you get up in the morning and can't wait to get to work that is a very good sign that you are running the right small business. However, if you wake each morning not wanting to head to work you may need to reevaluate what you are doing. As mentioned above it can be easy to become passionate about starting a business and then realize that you don't enjoy the day to day demands of running it. If you find yourself in this situation you may want to begin by reevaluating what lead you to start this type of small business. You may find that you can reconnect with the passion that fueled you in the beginning.
- Do you have the personality necessary to run a small business? Dreaming of starting your small business can be quite a bit different from the reality. You may find that your strength lies in the creating of your small business rather then the actual running of it. Small business owners tend to be risk takers, problem solvers, and enjoy meeting challenges on an almost constant daily basis. If you find that any of these functions of running a business disturb you then running a small business may not be for you. While you may not be able to immediately exit your small business if you find that you are not comfortable in what you are doing you may want to begin putting together an exit strategy.
- Does your personal life and your business life connect in a positive way? While there is no denying that you will most likely have to make personal sacrifices in the running of your own small business over time this should get better. However, if you went into starting a small business thinking that you would have more time right away and now you are unhappy you may need to rethink how you are running your business. Do you need hire someone to help you? Could you use an employee or two or do you need to outsource some work? It is important to determine if you can bring your personal and business life into alignment before you allow your unhappiness with the situation to get overwhelming.
- Do you have the right skill set to run your small business? Often time's small business owners start a business that sounds like it would be fun and exciting without having all of the skills that they need. The good news is that whether you are lacking industry specific skills or general business management skills you can obtain them through getting some education. Many times small business owners that have been unsatisfied with their business choice find that by seeking out additional education they can bring up their satisfaction level and run their small business that much more effectively.