Keeping yourself motivated when it comes to your business can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re the sole founder or owner of your business and you have no one to bounce ideas off of or show you what’s working and what isn’t. However, there are plenty of things you can do to help yourself stay on track and keep your motivation high when it comes to your business. These ten tips will help you stay motivated in your business and get the most out of everything you put into it.
1) Have a strong why
Motivation is a tricky thing. You can try to fake it, but it's hard to keep up the act for very long. But why bother? Why not just be motivated by your own personal reasons for starting the business in the first place? These are some ideas for staying motivated when you need that extra push:
- Remember how your business came about. This could be a moment of desperation or an idea that you've been mulling over for years. Either way, remember how excited and passionate you were at the time and use this as fuel when things get tough.
- Be grateful every day for what you do have instead of focusing on what you don't have or want.
2) Break it down into small steps
- Set goals - You need a tangible goal and plan of action for your business if you want to stay motivated. A goal should be clear and achievable, but also challenging enough so you're never bored. - Invest in people - Surround yourself with people who are motivated and passionate about what they do, whether it's friends, family members, or colleagues at work.
- Write down your motivations - Writing down what keeps you going is an excellent way to remind yourself of all the reasons why you started your business in the first place.
- Keep things simple - No matter what industry you're working in, one thing that seems to help keep people motivated is keeping things simple by focusing on one task at a time without distractions from other obligations or worries outside of work.
3) Remind yourself why you’re doing this
There are so many reasons why you’re doing this. You started a business because you have a passion for what it is you’re doing, whether that be entrepreneurship, real estate, or whatever it may be. You’re doing this because you want to build something of your own that will leave a lasting impression on the world. And finally, you’re doing this because if anyone can do it, then it must be possible for anyone else too. Don't let those thoughts get away from you and don't let yourself get away from those thoughts either.
4) Take action every day
- Write down your goals.
- Use mantras to stay positive. I will not give up. I'm unstoppable. Today is the day I make my fantasies work out as expected.
- Take care of yourself by eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, and managing your stress level.
- Make a momentary activity plan for what you can do today that will draw you nearer to your objective and separate it into little advances if necessary so it doesn't appear to be overpowering.
5) Make time for mistakes
Mistakes are an inevitable part of learning. They should not be seen as bad, but rather as a natural part of the process. - James Clear
The best way to stay motivated is to realize that mistakes happen and that they're nothing you can't fix. Don't get discouraged when something doesn't work out, just take what you learned from it and move forward.
6) Be kind to yourself
Once in a while, we as a whole need a little support. The truth is that business ownership is hard work and can be exhausting, so it's important to take care of yourself. Create a plan for self-care where you prioritize your needs and do things that help you feel refreshed--find time for exercise, spend quality time with loved ones, or just take a break from the day-to-day grind.
7) Surround yourself with supportive people
You need people who will tell you when you're doing a good job, not just when you've messed up. These are the people who will encourage you, support your ideas, and give constructive criticism when needed. They may be family members or friends, but these people should be there for you as much as possible.
8) Focus on the present moment
- Write your goals down and hang them where you can see them often.
- Make a rundown of things you're thankful for each day.
- Find a mentor to help you navigate the start-up process.
- Set achievable goals that are at least one step ahead of where you're currently at, but not so far out of reach that they seem unattainable or too intimidating to take on now.
- Keep track of your progress so you can see how far you've come and how much farther there is still left for you to go
9) Believe in yourself
Believe that you can do it. Trust that it's the correct thing to do. And if you're not sure, stick with your gut and try something. You'll never know until you try! Don't stop: It doesn't matter what day of the week it is or how many setbacks you've had - tomorrow is a new day and time for you to start again. Center around each objective in turn: Slowly but surely. You don't need to have every aspect of your business set up before you start- just focus on what needs to be done today. If things don't work out this time around, then that's okay- take a breather, find another strategy, and move forward from there.
10) Keep going!
- Write down a list of 10 reasons why you are doing what you are doing.
- Spend time with people who share your passion and excitement for your business.
- Get on social media and start building up a following of people who share your enthusiasm for the business
- Create an inspiring vision board that includes pictures of what success looks like
