Help I'm in burn out and don't know if I can carry on

[Loudloopy]

I currently have a health and beauty business, I'm busy, and so is one other member of staff is also busy, I'm lucky.

Doing the physical work and client relationship is easy and enjoyable,

The rest of it is stress after stress to the point it's effecting me physically and emotionally,

My once ambitious side disappeared in Covid, I set up my business 6 months before Covid,

In these 4 years going through three lockdowns opening and shutting uncertainty after uncertainty the final lockdown was where my motivation really declined,

Catching up every time working every hour god sends along side being a mum to two children who are currently 6 & 4

Straight after the last lockdown being faced with gas and electric crisis whilst still trying to catch up from Covid, then straight into a cost of living crisis that is impacting stock prices that my price increases can't keep up with there is so many times you can increase prices; after all clients too are facing difficulty's,

I'm at a cross roads,

I don't know if I can carry on, I feel guilty and shame on my self, where has that once ambitious girl gone ? I've been waiting for it to return but it's just not coming back and my thoughts 24/7 at the moment are " what am I doing? At what cost ? My mental and physical health ?

I'm running on empty, anyone else that's been here.? Offer any advice ?

Didn’t want to leave you here alone.

I’ve built 3 businesses as founder and CEO; one I shut down, one I built and sold my shares, and one is doing well and I remain a shareholder.

What you feel is very common, especially in years 3-4. The ambitious excitement is replaced with daily grind.

A beauty business is a competitive low-margin business, so if you are making a profit, have an employee and can see a way to grow it, kudos to you. I’d keep at it. But, make some changes.

It sounds like you’ve done the common thing of turning something you like and are good at into a job. Doing the work and running a business are two different skill sets and it might be time to think more about what you want from the business. What aspect(s) is/are stressing you out?

My hunch, without knowing the details of the business, would be that you should spend some time and money with a fractional CFO (i.e. hired part-time or project-based). A good CFO can help you get your ducks in a row, and look at operational costs, revenue, business model, pricing strategy, renegotiate contracts etc. And, operationalise some elements of the business. Fundamentally, if you are busy with happy customers, you are solving a problem. If you can more than cover your costs, it might be an opportunity to run it more as a business and look at scaling. As an operational owner, the stress never disappears, but it can be reduced and the business set up in a way that gives you back time and ambition.