Business/Career drying up. 20.1.2.6 > 60

[sweetdisposition]

My business has gone quiet at the moment and as a result, i feel anxious and inadequate. I'm meant to be moving into my own place next year but am not making enough to stand on my own two feet at the moment. I love my job, had a brilliant summer regarding income and have tried lots to get business this month but it just doesn't seem to be happening for me. I'm thrilled that summer went well but obviously am focusing on a long term, all year round business, inconsistency threatens my security. Perhaps I should consider getting a second job...

I asked for advice regarding my business and received 20.1.2.6 > 60

This doesn't seem like a brilliant casting, is the I ching saying the problem lies in how I come across to others? I'm not the most confident of people and have struggled most of my life consequently haven't tried EVERYTHING to get busier but have tried a lot of things I feel comfortable doing. Any help would be great, thanks for your thoughts...

Another one I asked - I'm worried about business, what lies ahead?

9.1.2.4.6 >31 this doesn't make much sense to me...

I then asked if i should continue with the business and got

57.6 > 48

It seems I need to work on myself to make the business a success but maybe I'm completely wrong..

 

[1eleven]

What kind of business?

Jon

 

[sweetdisposition]

Beauty, holistic and massage therapy, Jon . So, I'm not short of services to provide. I do care about my clients and try to make them feel really special, the only problem is I can be anxious and doubt myself at times which makes me feel inferior and perhaps this is whats getting in the way? Countless people have praised me for my talents and have helped lots of people over the years, but I'm not generating new business and find the few newbies that have come, unfortunately just had one treatment and didn't want a follow up appointment. I know some people just come for a one off to de-stress but am wondering if there's a deeper cause. Feeling stuck, like I want to be successful but am limited... This is the first year of my own business and seems to be going down the pan so it's hard to have an optimistic view :-/ don't want to be failure at something i love doing and at the moment I have a very negative view of myself, because it's not working...

 

[goddessliss]

The answers sound to me like you may need another resource to attract and keep your clientèle. It's not about the business folding or anything, it's just about not persisting in the same way but looking for other avenues within the business.
Speaking from experience I've had to do the same thing on occasion and it's amazing what skills or ideas you have that you've either forgotten about or didn't think they could compliment the business - for some reason serving a cuppa keeps coming into my mind as I'm typing - not sure if that's relevant to you. - Liss

 

[1eleven]

You're in a very intimate business, like I am. It's not enough to simply offer more and more services. You need to astonish people - blow them away with your work and your COMMITMENT. Your commitment not only to them but to yourself. If you show how committed you are to your work, how do you think that will come across to everyone else?

It takes time to connect and more importantly to build relationships. I see that you care and that you try to make them feel really special but think, is that really what they're there for? What's behind that? What are they really coming to you for? You can't want it more than they do - "needy is creepy." To me, 20 is telling you to take a broader look, a different perspective and 60 in this instance is about creating better agreements. Drop expectations and focus on creating agreements. You'll never be disappointed and neither will they. What do you agree to? What do they agree to... all from day 1.

Connect. Agree. Commit. Astonish. Or, something like that

All the best

Jon

 

[Tohpol]

My sister is an aromatherapist and a very good one. She combines it with hypnotherapy, counselling, and strong massage with essential plant oils which as you know, is extraordinary for releasing deep tension and pain locked into our very cells over many years. So, your kind of work can be very useful indeed. (Self-employment is very much an ebb-flow deal isn’t it? Been there so many times….Sympathies.)

However, when you mention anxiety it maybe also that you are not sufficiently grounded which is vital for this work. Being a sensitive individual as I suspect you are, this is always a danger that you can absorb emotional "toxins" arising from the clients which creates a negative cycle. It used to happen to me in the past when I did counselling until I learned a bit more about subtle energy and grounding techniques. We can literally take on a person's unresolved issues temporarily which can then cause our daily life to be somewhat "off centre." This may also be partly related to your concerns about your business.

With that in mind:

I asked for advice regarding my business and received

20.1.2.6 > 60

H.20 Contemplation. Line 1 is a mild admonition. It suggests thinking it through carefully. Pause. Take a breath and centre yourself. You must continue to take responsibility for your business but most importantly - don’t panic!

Line 2: This follows on from line 1 in that something in your perception is too narrow. Take a wider view, a bird’s eye view and see all the possibilities whilst keeping it firmly in line with reality and your capabilities.

Line 6: is suggesting to cultivate more detachment and decentralise your concerns. More bird’s eye view regarding the ebb and flow of life and business. From the positive work of summer there will usually be a downturn thereafter. Not easy for sure, but the nature of your reaction to this might play a big part in how you move forward. Try not to identify too much to the point worries about the future eclipse the benefits of the present and what you can undoubtedly offer.

I'm worried about business, what lies ahead?

9.1.2.4.6 >31 this doesn't make much sense to me...

Line 1 is showing that you have doubts and need to trust yourself more. (See how this is relating to groundedness and centering?) Go back to your path, who you are. What you have is good.

Line 2: Again, return to the centre and harmony. No contention is necessary and don’t run around looking for fixes. A bit of networking with like-minded souls might also be in order – those in the similar businesses to your own so that you can gain some hints and tips.

I then asked if i should continue with the business and got

57.6 > 48

H.57 is Gentle Penetration. = gentle influence on the matter at hand, which can mean both the negative influences as well as bringing some positive control on how you perceive yourself in this context. Once again 57’s image of the roots of a tree (GROUNDING) come to mind. The tree bends with the winds that buffet, and its roots allow it weather the storm. Perhaps this is what you need to cultivate as you go forward from this dry period.

Line 6: reiterates this point. You are plunging too deeply into the matter and coming to erroneous conclusions, dissipating energy and increasing anxiety. Put down your roots deeply into the earth so that your presence returns and thus faith in your business. The background H.48 The Well means that with these firm roots you can draw new vibrant water (emotional energy) up from the waiting spring.

So in summary, don’t panic, stay pragmatically in the present as far as is possible, centre and trust yourself, develop strong roots /groundedness.

I wish you great good luck.

 

[sweetdisposition]

Hi, Liss.

I've tried the internet, have two websites which are easy enough to discover and also tried leaflet dropping. I don't feel comfortable talking in front of lots of people otherwise I would host an open evening but that is out of the question lol. Meh :-/

I will have a long hard think about other avenues though as am desperate to make it work. I do offer clients a glass of water and/or a hot drink, it's either down to not being comfortable in my own skin or poor recognition i guess...

Thank you very much for your insight x

 

[goddessliss]

I think what Jon's saying is relevant to what I meant by a cuppa perhaps! Try to 'connect' with them in a special way for them.
Also if you work on the Sacral Chakra that is about creativity (ideas) and the Solar Plexus Chakra is about self esteem and doing what's right for you - I call it Standing In Your Own Sunshine

 

[heylise]

Beauty, holistic and massage therapy, ... the only problem is I can be anxious and doubt myself at times which makes me feel inferior and perhaps this is whats getting in the way? .... Feeling stuck, like I want to be successful but am limited... ...at the moment I have a very negative view of myself, because it's not working...

The relating hexagram often shows the situation. As it is, but also the way it might become in its most positive way. Right now I recognize it in what you say. Literally: limited. Your way of working does need limits, but like music becomes a symphony by its limits, a book by its chapters, a time by its festivities or holidays. Without this rhythm of limits, things cannot get a face of their own.

But there are also negative limits, and the most tenacious one is always consciousness of self. Seeing yourself, judging yourself. Very close by where I live is a good friend, who does exactly the same thing you do: beauty, massage, and she is great at it. But a year ago she wasn't, because she had too little selfconfidence and inner freedom. Back then I simply did not like her, she talked too much and asked too much attention. Now she found an inner balance and it is a joy to be there. She doesn't 'think' anymore, we just enjoy each others company and we talk like good friends. Nothing feels like business, rather like a nice meeting. 20.6 is about right that: don't see yourself (and worry), but see your actions in the other person. Then you are only concerned with her well-being and you don't have time to worry.

A little trick: every evening, just before you turn off the light to go to sleep, write down what you want to achieve and when (a date, best is something like Chrismas or birthday or so) with your business or with yourself. Make it short and very clear. Write it while saying it loud. Keep your mouth in a smiling position (corners up). And then go to sleep.