It was my own personal Incredible Hulk moment. Although my clothing stayed intact and I’m pretty sure I turned red instead of green, I had the overwhelming urge to throw furniture and generally kick ass.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but it was one of “those days.” Technology, people, etc… It seemed everyone and everything had conspired against me on the exact same day. Thoroughly pissed off, I didn’t know what to do.

At first, I tried to make the best of it. That didn’t work. Maybe meditation. Nope. Affirmations. No. (I think you can see where this is going.) My normal coping mechanisms were no match for this particular day.

The Last Straw

I was angry, hurt and frustrated. Trying to clear my mind, I checked email. And there it was, a notice of an automatic renewal to one of my fashion magazines. They’d charged my credit card for another year of service. Cue the dramatic music….this is where it got ugly!

I should first say, I’m not a fan of automatic renewal of ANYTHING and do my best to avoid these situations. (By making something “automatic,” I feel I give up too much power.) But occasionally, something slips through the cracks. And on this particular day, that one little email was my very last straw.

I immediately called the magazine’s customer service department. They canceled the renewal and refunded my credit card charge. While I had them on the phone, I had them pull up the other publications I received from that publisher. I canceled them too.

Next I hit my email’s inbox. One by one, I evaluated the newsletters I was receiving. If they no longer provided value, I unsubscribed.

On to my desk. In my Incredible Hulk mood, I was able to quickly weed through a stack of mail and miscellaneous papers that had sat there for weeks. It ended up being one of the most productive afternoons I’d had in months!

Getting back to Zen

Slowly I started to feel myself easing back into Bruce Banner mode. I felt calm, almost zen. But why? I soon realized it was because I’d reclaimed my power. I took control in the areas I could.

You see, I believe it all comes down to power. Think back in your own life, to days when nothing seemed to be working. Isn’t the worst part of it that feeling of being powerless? That’s my trigger. Those times I can’t seem to positively affect the situation. That’s my rock bottom.

Power and Entrepreneurship

We all have those days. But as entrepreneurs, we have more responsibilities than many. And wallowing in a bad day is not a luxury we can often afford. Next time you’re feeling helpless over a situation, take back your power wherever you can.

Use your frustration as fuel. Get productive, even in small ways. Not only will you knock a few tasks off the “to do” list, but you’ll strengthen yourself for the bigger challenges.

For me personally, coming back and facing my problems with a renewed sense of power was just what I needed. I felt strong and calm. Within a few days, everything was resolved. Turns out, embracing my inner Incredible Hulk was just what I needed.

So, what’s your sure-fire trick for handling a bad day?

{Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Jo Naylor. Click on photo for details.}

XO