[A. Nonymouse]

As you may have gathered I am posting under a pseudonym.

I feel sick to the bottom of my stomach, I feel like I am in the bottom of a hole and I can't get out. This is not what I am normally like, I am normally so positive but I feel like I am up against a brick wall.

I have just been presented with a great opportunity but I don't have any money, my sales have levelled off recently and there is no spare money. This opportunity could set me flying but at the moment as I lie in bed I want the mattress to swallow me up.

I feel like I have been so stupid and sweet talked by people into parting with money for things that had no return and now I am stuck, I cannot afford to pay my creditors and my landlord has put the rent up! Arrrrgggghhhhh!!! Thanks for listening.

[Hayles]

Hi Mr/Mrs ....Mouse

Come on... it's not the end of the world. You're obviously on a downer this morning and if you're really not able to get out of this mood today then don't bother trying. Stay in bed and wallow.....BUT, set yourself a mental target that when you wake up tomorrow you're going to be optimistic and get on with sorting out the problems.

Loads of good advice available on here so how about putting some specific problems out for advice?

When I'm feeling hard done by I take time out to think about the thousands of people with real problems today....those who'll find out they're dying...those who have kids with terminal illnesses.... You get my drift!!!

Come on, buck up......you can do it!!

H

[Nicksyb]

Somedays it does feel like everything is against you and you just want to have a wallow.

But have that wallow then draw up a list (they work wonders for me) of how to increase your sales and improve your business.

As the saying goes out of every dark cloud comes a ray of sunshine (or I may have just made that up) and that everything happens for a reason.

[A. Nonymouse]

Thanks guys, I shall have a wallow then make that list. Sometimes it just feels as though the b*ggers are out to get you!

[openmind]

Believe me, from someone who got divorced last year, wallowing will get you nowhere. Not letting the buggers grind you down will get you everywhere

[Indizine]

well you are lying in your bed at 9am surfing the net and arrived at A1 - now Ive come across people feeling much worse!

If you have been presented with naff opportunities before, tell this one where to sling their hook. They all sound great when you have nothing. They 'sell the dream'. That's how it works when someone needs your money to make their business work.

I get presented with ideas and opportunities every month and of course the owner of the idea makes it sound wonderful, but it isnt practical nor realisic to follow most of them through. Only when you have a spare few grand or more to effectively take a punt, should you take on other people's business opportunities.

Find a good accountant or financial advisor who can help you sort your finances out. Learn from others (on here for example) what more you cna do to improve your current business situation.

[Dotwhack]

What sort of business do you run?
We might all be able to come up with some free (or very cheap) marketing ideas to kick start your incoming sales and bring the money flooding in.

Give us a chance!

[Louise]

Aw, I think you definitely need one of these

I know it's hard to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel when it feels like nothing's going your way. Personally, I firmly believe that allowing yourself to wallow every once in a while is a great cure-all for days like these. It's hard to be positive and optimistic all the time, and I often find a good old wallow is what it takes to help me realise it's not really as bad as it seems, or - even if it is - then there's absolutely nothing to be gained by my wasting the day feeling sorry for myself or angry at the world. Realising that the only person who's going to solve your problems is yourself (with lots of help, advice and support from friends and family and the lovely members here at A1 ) usually helps me gain some perspective and get out of bed with a Tigger-like bounce the next day.

Let's face it - most of us have been ripped off at some point, obviously to vastly different degrees, so not trying to undermine what you may have been through at all. But the trick is to focus your energy on making sure it never happens again (even if that's the only positive to come out of such a horrible situation).

And - meaning this in the kindest possible way - I think we all have opportunities come along which could set us flying into Peter Jones' territory if we only had the money to go for it. But the fact is, if you aint got it or can't get it, there's nothing to be gained by day-dreaming about the riches/success/adulation that could be yours if only you could get your hands on that pot of gold. As Scooby Doo told us every week, 'I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids...'

In all seriousness, focus on what you can achieve. What you can do to turn negatives into positives. What steps you can take to get you closer to your goals. I find if I turn my thinking on its head like that, problems don't seem quite so insurmountable, and a little bit of the mojo I've lost starts to return.

Hope you feel better soon. For what its worth, I understand why you've gone anon for the post, but there's absolutely nothing to be ashamed about having a tough time of it. We've all been there, and I for one wouldn't judge anyone because of it. I'm sure if you need help in getting things back on track, you'll find a wealth of advice and moral-support here.

Chin up, eh?

Louise

[Sam (Mr. Mu)]

Hi Mrs. Mouse,
I feel like you and I'm not here under a pseudonym I could be wrong, but my intuition says you're a regular here who can't face the 'shame' of being seen to be 'failing'...

Either way, you're struggling with your business. Well, you're not alone - so am I - and it's the hardest thing to say on any forum. There I said it.

I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes it seems as if everyone else in the world of business is getting along just fine... and I'm the only one who can't make something work. Of course, now, more than ever, that clearly isn't the case.

[Indizine]

I dont believe there is any shame on realising a business wont work out as you hoped for. Its just trial and error and ending it is actually a good business decision.

Stubborness is believing you can make it work when clearly it wont and not listening to others and the evidence before you. Drop it and move on - find something that you believe you can make work if it just isnt happening.

It matters not who you are; this is a forum to come and share your thoughts; we may kick your butt out of that bed, we may hug and kiss you, however we will always help you.