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Were you like me when you started your journey as an entrepreneur? They arrived around mid-November and were frustrated because all momentum seemed to have died down. Your suppliers take longer to deliver. Your customers don’t respond to your calls or emails for weeks, and there’s a feeling in the air that nothing is going on (except gift-buying, of course).
The Christmas season slowdown has begun!
This infuriated me as a young man trying to break into the business world. Why does everyone just put down their tools and give up for the year?!
There is a general feeling that December is a write-off as people slow down and look to the new year. But what is it about? Why do we have this collective agreement and what can we as frustrated “daredevils” do about it?
The first thing to realize is that it’s a collective bargaining agreement – even Christmas is that. We see it as that time of year when we give ourselves a break during the cold. Ultimately, the reason we’re all engaging in traditional behaviors at this time is simply because we’ve all agreed on it.
Also see: 6 ways to keep employees busy during the holiday season
collective agreements
In our society everything really is a collective agreement. Most of us agree:
- work
- Pay our taxes
- The Rule of the Law
- Stick to the results of the elections (most of time!)
- Participate in traditions and society’s conventions
There are clear reasons why we agree to these things. For example, we understand that breaking the law will have consequences, but it’s still just an agreement.
We are all free agents within our empire. If you want to go home, strip down and cover yourself in hot sauce… you can. I wouldn’t advise it, but you can.
But in this (admittedly ridiculous) example, by not doing it you are still complying with the collective bargaining agreement that your family would likely consider you a danger to you and others, and that it would also be physically uncomfortable.
Our business practices are the same. We generally agree that there are certain behaviors, like onboarding a new client or conducting meetings. Contractual obligations are another very literal agreement that we enter into with an understanding of the consequences if either party fails to meet their obligations.
So why should it be any different during the Christmas season?
It appears to be something that people assume is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Like rock formations or Aurora Borealis. “Well, we’re all getting into the Christmas break at work now. It’s just what happens, isn’t it?”
But it is not! It’s just a thing because we think it is.
The truth is, you don’t have to comply if you don’t want to. It’s a relatively harmless arrangement, after all. However, instead of feeling frustrated like I used to be, consider how you can mitigate the impact on your business by changing the way you work.
See also: How to create trust and keep motivation high in your company
Use December to complete all those tasks that are being postponed to the rest of the year. Work on your preparation for the coming year, for example by approaching customers and asking for feedback. Or you could make those updates to the site you’ve been grumbling about since 2020.
But more than just household chores, you can also use the time to work on yourself!
If you find that the stress of running a business is getting to you, now is the time to question it and find out what you can do about it. Start incorporating mindfulness practices into your everyday life. Learn to listen to what your mind and body are telling you.
Read more: 5 texting tips for businesses to thrive in 2023
If you’re in that precarious phase of business ownership where you’re trying to focus on growth but also need to get the work done, now is the time to sit down and determine how to put this right. Put together a roadmap for the next year that you can (and most importantly: will) follow.
It’s easy to see the Christmas holidays as a downwind towards a final destination, but there’s something on the other side! And it would be best if you prepared for it. Come swinging out of the “New Year’s Gate” and you’ll be one step ahead of your competition. In addition, your existing and potential customers will see this energy and what a part of it!
The ultimate truth about the holiday season slowing down is that you don’t have to attend. Others can join this collective bargaining agreement if they wish, but you can use it to your advantage simply by rearranging the situation.
Happy Holidays everyone.
