ess Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out fo

A little over seven months ago my life started changing in a really radical way. In the beginning I thought it had nothing to do with my business and that I’d be able to keep my personal problems out of the business. Soon I realized that because I’d started my business with the intent of integrating my life and my work, that some of my work was going to change for a while.

As my marriage waned and ended, I bought and moved into a new home. The transition has taken more energy than I’d imagined. There were days when I just “didn’t have it in me” to do more than the very basics. However, I had to keep my business running so income would continue during the transition.

While I’m hoping you don’t have to go through a major life change like mine, the odds are good that at some point in your entrepreneurial career the Universe is going to throw you a curve ball. Whether it’s a messy marriage, an ailing relative, or a new baby, you’re life is going to change. Here are six tips to help you ensure that your business doesn’t have to suffer as you adapt.

1. Be prepared. I know, it’s a clich?, but during the past 7 months the fact that I had spent so much time preparing my business to essentially run without me was a lifesaver! Every day ask yourself what would happen if you weren’t at the helm of your business. Keep track of tasks that you can outsource and things you can do to prepare others to help you out. Do one thing every day to ensure you’re prepared.

2. Work on your business, not in it. I’m not sure I’d still be in business if I were the only person working in it. During the months that I was preparing to move, moving and adjusting to my new life, I was simply going through the motions in many areas of my life. When life throws you curveballs, you do the best you can to adapt. But I am so thankful that my mentors and coaches helped me get out of the trenches years ago. When I needed to be away, my unbelievably talented team was keeping things going. Sure, I was checking in, but because I had built a team of trustworthy, talented and professional people, I could concentrate on the life issues that needed my attention and not worry about the company going out of business.

3. Work your systems. Two years ago my marketing coach helped me create on-going marketing systems to keep clients flocking to me. They are more or less on “auto pilot” these days, and that’s what kept me afloat. Some of the systems I depend on include regularly speaking to groups, teaching classes, attending structured networking meetings and outsourcing work. While I was on my mini-sabbatical, I could attend to each of these because they were easy for me. There are a couple of classes that I teach regularly that were on my schedule and I didn’t have to do anything new to make them happen. The same with my speaking topics. My Business Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out for

go through a major life change like mine, the odds are good that at some point in your entrepreneurial career the Universe is going to throw you a curve ball. Whether it’s a messy marriage, an ailing relative, or a new baby, you’re life is going to change. Here are six tips to help you ensure that your business doesn’t have to suffer as you adapt.

1. Be prepared. I know, it’s a clich?, but during the past 7 months the fact that I had spent so much time preparing my business to essentially run without me was a lifesaver! Every day ask yourself what would happen if you weren’t at the helm of your business. Keep track of tasks that you can outsource and things you can do to prepare others to help you out. Do one thing every day to ensure you’re prepared.

2. Work on your business, not in it. I’m not sure I’d still be in business if I were the only person working in it. During the months that I was preparing to move, moving and adjusting to my new life, I was simply going through the motions in many areas of my life. When life throws you curveballs, you do the best you can to adapt. But I am so thankful that my mentors and coaches helped me get out of the trenches years ago. When I needed to be away, my unbelievably talented team was keeping things going. Sure, I was checking in, but because I had built a team of trustworthy, talented and professional people, I could concentrate on the life issues that needed my attention and not worry about the company going out of business.

3. Work your systems. Two years ago my marketing coach helped me create on-going marketing systems to keep clients flocking to me. They are more or less on “auto pilot” these days, and that’s what kept me afloat. Some of the systems I depend on include regularly speaking to groups, teaching classes, attending structured networking meetings and outsourcing work. While I was on my mini-sabbatical, I could attend to each of these because they were easy for me. There are a couple of classes that I teach regularly that were on my schedule and I didn’t have to do anything new to make them happen. The same with my speaking topics. My Business Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out fo

Do one thing every day to ensure you’re prepared.

2. Work on your business, not in it. I’m not sure I’d still be in business if I were the only person working in it. During the months that I was preparing to move, moving and adjusting to my new life, I was simply going through the motions in many areas of my life. When life throws you curveballs, you do the best you can to adapt. But I am so thankful that my mentors and coaches helped me get out of the trenches years ago. When I needed to be away, my unbelievably talented team was keeping things going. Sure, I was checking in, but because I had built a team of trustworthy, talented and professional people, I could concentrate on the life issues that needed my attention and not worry about the company going out of business.

3. Work your systems. Two years ago my marketing coach helped me create on-going marketing systems to keep clients flocking to me. They are more or less on “auto pilot” these days, and that’s what kept me afloat. Some of the systems I depend on include regularly speaking to groups, teaching classes, attending structured networking meetings and outsourcing work. While I was on my mini-sabbatical, I could attend to each of these because they were easy for me. There are a couple of classes that I teach regularly that were on my schedule and I didn’t have to do anything new to make them happen. The same with my speaking topics. My Business Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out fo

ded my attention and not worry about the company going out of business.

3. Work your systems. Two years ago my marketing coach helped me create on-going marketing systems to keep clients flocking to me. They are more or less on “auto pilot” these days, and that’s what kept me afloat. Some of the systems I depend on include regularly speaking to groups, teaching classes, attending structured networking meetings and outsourcing work. While I was on my mini-sabbatical, I could attend to each of these because they were easy for me. There are a couple of classes that I teach regularly that were on my schedule and I didn’t have to do anything new to make them happen. The same with my speaking topics. My Business Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out fo

ess Networking International (http://www.alexandriathegreat.biz) Group meets every Thursday and it’s a structure I’m not only familiar with, but one that I really enjoy in my role as the group’s Vice President. I didn’t have to do anything new to keep up that commitment. By having these and other events that were familiar, easy and effective on my calendar I continued to bring in clients as well as keep some level of “order” in my chaotic life.

4. Reach out. Beyond the business, I found that reaching out and letting others know when I needed help was useful. Admittedly, this is the single hardest thing for me to do in any area of my life. (Somehow, when I hire people, I don’t consider it “reaching out for help,” but when I ask someone to help me build a piece of furniture I do.) I’m learning that by asking for and graciously accepting help my life is more fun and I have more energy for people, animals and activities that are important to me.

5. Learn from your failures. I’d say ending a marriage does feel like a failure. The self-doubt and self-incriminations can be paralyzing. What I’ve learned from the entire experience is that forgiving yourself for mistakes is important. But it’s equally important to assess what went wrong, what you’d like to change and what you’ll do moving forward. I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned through this process. The same is true in business. Sometimes an idea, a project or a product fails. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It means you’ve got some things to learn. It’s humbling, but it’s true.

6. Give yourself time to mourn. Whether it’s a program that didn’t “take off,” a speech that went flat, or a favorite client who left, it’s okay to mourn the loss. Mourning is very different than self-pity or self-flagellation. It’s understanding that something important didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to. And when the mourning is done you can find out how to rebuild from the ashes something new and exciting and valuable.

Start working on your systems now and rethinking how you look at “failure” and you’ll be prepared for just about anything no matter what your personal life throws at you while you’re trying to run your business!