As a small business owner, it is easy to become frustrated and start to lose some of that initial business motivation you had in the beginning. The drive towards success can put a lot of pressure on you, wearing you down to the point where you want to throw in the towel.
Keeping up your business motivation is important for keeping on your personal path to success. Here are seven ways that you can give your waning motivation a boost:
Set goals you can measure and keep track of progress.
If you want to run a winning business, you have to set clear goals and then work to achieve them. Keeping track of the progress you make along the way will help to ensure that you are staying on course. You need both long term and short term goals to keep moving forward.
Set up rewards for all of your achievements.
A rewards system is one of the best ways to keep up business motivation for yourself and your employees. For each goal that is met, have a special reward. This will keep everyone pushing forward to meet the next goals.
Set a timeline for your goals and keep revisiting them. Stay on top of your goals and what is being done to accomplish them. Make any adjustments as needed and stay focused on crossing each one from your list.
Find businesses to network with regularly.
Look for other small business owners in your area or online whose businesses complement yours. You can turn to each other for business motivation and share ideas and tips for running your companies. It’s a great way to keep your ideas fresh.
When you have someone else to talk to, who has been through the same struggles and issues, it can help keep you on your path.
Join with your local chamber of commerce or look online for small business groups, like on MeetUp.com. These are great for meeting new people and sharing ideas with fellow business owners.
Remind yourself why you started in the first place.
What was is that made you decide to start your own business? Reawaken the passion you had for your product or business that was such a strong motivator. Spend a day or two getting yourself back to the beginning. Maybe you started a landscaping business because you loved to design the layouts, but now you only handle the day-to-day office work. Choose to take on one of the new project designs yourself so you can remember what got you started in the first place.
Stay organized.
When you can stick to a clear daily routine, you will feel motivated to complete your tasks each day. A messy schedule and workspace can leave you frazzled and it is hard to concentrate on what needs to be done.
To avoid feeling overwhelmed, keep yourself organized and develop a routine that is easy to stick with from one day to the next.
Look for motivational aides.
Attend seminars, read business books or listen to recordings from motivational speakers. These are good at increasing your interest and getting you pumped up for tackling any obstacles and accomplishing your goals.
If those things don’t appeal to you, maybe just placing a motivational quote in a focal point of the office will help to get you motivated. When you create a positive atmosphere around you, you will maintain an upbeat attitude.
Form successful habits.
Develop habits that will lead to success. If a morning walk helps to clear your mind and prepare for the day, do it. Sit down at the start of every day and plan your schedule so that you know what to expect. Make time to send personal thank-you notes to clients.
Do things each day that are going to increase your motivation for the business and lead to success. Eliminate stress and keep things simple. The more complicated things get, the more stressed out you will be and stress can kill your motivation quickly.
What are some of your successful habits? How do you work to keep motivated for your business? Let us know!
Deb Lamb is a Ghostwriter and Copywriter who lives an amazing life in Granbury, Texas with her husband, two dogs and cat. She has a passion and desire to ignite and encourage others to successfully survive the hard times like divorce, abuse, single-parenting, homelessness and job loss. Deb has personally experienced these life-altering situations making her an authority and expert to motivate and inspire others. She has authored hundreds of articles on these topics and writes motivating and inspirational advice and strategies on how to overcome and enjoy a stunning life. Visit her blog for encouragement, direction and advice.