5 Common Problems In Life, Career, and Business, and How To Solve Them

If there’s one thing in life that is guaranteed at every turn (besides death and taxes), it’s problems. We all face them, and have to deal with them on one level or another everyday. Whether it’s the problem of figuring out how to get the word out about your dance classes, dance business, or dance company, or dealing with overbearing parents or customers, or simply the problem of earning more money. Problems are infinite!

But, I have some good news for you today….

SOLUTIONS ARE ABUNDANT!!

To every problem that exists, there is a solution. Period! In some cases, the solution may not be easy (simple and easy are not the same thing). In other cases, the solution may take you out of your comfort zone, or push you to grow in areas where you’re weak. Nonetheless, there is a solution to every problem.

Here Are 5 Common Problems, and Their Simple Solutions:

Problem #1 I don’t make enough money. I think that 99% of the population would agree with this one! Not making enough money is a bit complex though, because sometimes when people say this, what they really should be saying is, “I have too much stuff to maintain on a monthly basis, and I need to let some of it go, so that I will have more money”, or, “I am putting all my time and energy into work that is not fulfilling, and not helping me to create the lifestyle that I want to live”. So, sometimes, it’s not just about making more money, it’s about what you do with the money that you make, and also, how fulfilling the work is that you’re doing to earn your money. To make a ton of money doing something that is degrading or dishonest, doesn’t work. To make a ton of money, but then not have the time or energy to enjoy it, and spend time with the ones you love, doesn’t work either. So, you have to put things into perspective, and then you will be able to figure out how you can improve your quality of life financially, and otherwise. You can also read, “The Dancer’s Top 7 Secrets To Financial Freedom”, and check out our series, “How Dancers Can Build Wealth”.

Problem #2 I don’t have enough time. I was listening to a radio show on Personal Growth the other day, and I heard the radio show guest say that, “Time is an illusion “. It’s the first time that I ever heard someone describe it as such, but I can see what he meant. Time, like money, is valuable, and it is limited, so it is up to you to make time work to your advantage. Time is a matter of choices. You choose how you spend your time. I believe that you should budget your time, just like you budget your money, in order of priority. If your priorities are family, health/fitness, your career/business, and hobbies, then your time should be distributed as such, in order of importance. Trust me, this really works. What I’ve found is that, once you are clear about what your priorities are, and what your values are, related to your time, you begin to teach other people to respect and value your time as well. This includes, saying ‘no’, a lot! This also leads to people approaching you about various things, with the understanding that, you’re very busy, and may not be able to participate in the way that they would like, and that’s okay. Get on track with time management by prioritizing, saying ‘no’ to things that don’t line up with your priorities/values/goals, and by teaching others to respect and value your time.

Problem #3 I can’t deal with difficult personalities. Ahh yes, difficult people. They’re everywhere, aren’t they?

Well, I have a quote for you that speaks volumes, “Think about what you say before you say it. What you WANT to say is usually different than what you NEED to say.“ ~ Marshawn Evans

I was just having a conversation about this with someone on Twitter the other day. She was explaining how difficult some of her co-workers and supervisors are to work with, and how she struggles with holding her tongue a lot of the time. My response to her was, you can’t control what other people do, you can only control how you respond to it, and YOU are accountable for your actions, no matter what . It’s not easy to remain calm, and keep your composure when someone is lashing out at you, but if they’re already in a negative state of mind, joining them in that space won’t do either of you any good. When in doubt, listen to what they have to say, then step away, take a break, and let them know that you’ve heard what they had to say, and you will get back to them with a response shortly. Cool down, look beyond their emotions, and find the root of the problem, and then address that. There are so many reasons why people act the way that they do, sometimes, you remaining calm, and letting them know that you hear where they’re coming from, and understand their thoughts/feelings, is enough to help them cool down, and walk away with even more respect for you than they originally had.

Problem #4 I need to get more students, more supporters, more funding…

I have a 2-part answer for this problem, to get you started on the right foot.

– Build Relationships. Figure out who your target audience is. (And the answer “everybody, because dance is universal”, is not acceptable.) Get specific about who you’re targeting and why. Write out a description of the qualities/traits/demographic of your target customers. Then do some research to find out the best ways to connect with them. Do they love Twitter, but spend less time on Facebook, or vice versa? Are they all over Youtube? Are they involved in a certain dance membership organization? Find out where they are, and then make sure you’re there too, to add value to their lives in some way. Find out how what you have to offer might benefit them, and at the appropriate time, share it with them. But build genuine, mutually beneficial relationships first.

– Build A Tribe. Once you’ve cultivated some relationships through people liking you and what you’re about, and trusting you as a result, you will be able to build a community of people who all support and are interested in what you do. Now, you’re getting somewhere. Build your tribe through your e-mail subscriber list (most important), and through Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, so that you can have a consistent and organized way to stay connected with them. This way, you will be able to send them targeted messages that lead to the positive actions that you want them to take. Building your own tribe takes time, but it is the most important thing you can do for success in your marketing efforts.

Problem #5 “I need info and leads on great jobs, creative inspiration, and marketing strategies to help me succeed”!

We have heard your cry for help, and we are going to help you in the best way that we possibly can, for the long-term!

There is no short-term solution for the issue of getting info and leads on great jobs, creative inspiration, and marketing strategies to help you succeed. It’s an on-going need, with lots of new innovations, developments, and changes that happen along the way. You will need to be prepared for, and ready to adapt to these changes, in order to reach your goals, earn more money, and be more successful for the long-term!

Please share this post on Facebook and Twitter if you found it helpful, and feel free to leave a comment below..

Share on Tumblr

Post your comment here!

Tags:dance marketing, how to promote my dance business, Marshawn Evans, problem-solving techniques, solutions to common problems, time-management

About The Author

Ashani C Mfuko

Ashani Mfuko is a Social Media Strategist, Digital Marketing Specialist, Award-Winning Blogger, and Professional Dancer. Ashani works with small businesses, corporations, & non-profit organizations as a Social Media Strategist and Digital Marketing Specialist. She creates results-driven, innovative social media strategies that are proven to increase your revenue and catapult your brand to expert status in your niche! She has an extensive track record of creating and implementing successful social media strategies for her clients. She is also the Host and Executive Producer of the “Inside New York City Dance” television show on MNN, and is a proud wife and new mom. Ashani has been featured in Dance Magazine, as a “Media Maven”, as well as in Dance Mogul magazine, Inside Woman magazine, & Dance Studio Life magazine, in addition to various dance blogs online. She is the author and creator of the, “Finance Your Dance: How To Turn Your Passion Into Profit“ e-book and workshop, and her dance blog won the Reader’s Choice, “Top Dance Business Blog” of the year award, two years in a row. She is a leader in the field of social media and digital marketing, and is highly sought after as a dance performer and dance teacher in the New York City dance community. Ashani is on staff at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and teaches Advanced Jazz classes for their Jazz & Contemporary program & Ballet program.

5 Common Problems In Life, Career, and Business, and How To Solve Them

Related Posts

About The Author

Ashani C Mfuko

Add a Comment