The first week of a new year means a clean slate to make as much money as one possibly can.
But who is kidding who? After about eight weeks into the new year, motivation can be a challenge to come by. As a small business owner, I also know about the long hours, taxes, lack of good help, and so on. That is the reason I wrote this blog post. I know first-hand what it takes to stay motivated to hit the grind hard, day after day, and win. For many small business owners, motivation can sometimes be a challenge to maintain. The pressure and stress of keeping a successful business running can wear you down and when your spirits go low, your motivation often goes lower. If you notice yours falling, here are some tips to get back on track and keep your motivation high.
Set Goals
Some would argue that the most important part of running a small business is setting and achieving goals. I agree that while goal setting and achieving are important, it is not “the most” important part of running a small business. Because it is an extremely important part of business ownership, and leadership, let’s drill down on goal setting. Long-term goals help keep your business going forward, while short-term goals are increments of long-term goals. To keep your motivation running high, write down your goals on a timeline and revisit them frequently. Make sure you are on track to achieve the set goals and revise them as necessary. Make sure you feel comfortable with the goals to ensure your business motivation does not take a dip.
Plan Rewards
What better way to maintain motivation than to reward yourself and your business partners for getting the job done. To do such, plan rewards for meeting goals, this will drive your motivation to meet goals and reap the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Plan frequent vacations, staycations, daycations, or laycations (comment for definitions) to prevent losing motivation due to stress. If your small business includes employees, make sure you keep motivation running high by creating rewards programs for all employees.
Network
Keep motivation high by networking with other small business owners and like-minded / like-character people. Your colleagues may have ideas for maximizing motivation. Sharing methods of motivation is a great idea to keep life fresh and profits flowing. Simply sharing business ideas with other small business owners can renew interests and keep the mojo flowing. Most towns have regular meetings for small business owners. I would recommend looking into (or joining) your local business network to find social networking events for small business owners in your area.
Recognize Your Inspiration
There is a reason you are a small business owner. You are either passionate about your service offering or product or passionate about owning a business and all that comes with it. Or perhaps you are passionate about all three! No matter your inspiration, remember your why, and your purpose for taking the dive into business ownership. If it was a seminar that sparked your interest, review your seminar literature, or perhaps even re-visit the seminar. If you were inspired by a particular person, meet him or her for a lunch date. Re-igniting that spark that started your career could fuel your passion to increase your motivation. The point is, sometimes we need to get back in touch with our original mojo.
Get Organized
Motivation can sometimes dwindle when your business and life become disorganized. A life, desk, or calendar in disarray can cause enough stress that you begin to feel overwhelmed and your motivation begins to slow. Find a way to organize your business and life that makes sense to you and your style, and you will find your motivation dramatically increase.
Motivational Aides
Depending on your style, you may be able to boost your motivation with a motivational book, video, or seminar. Though they are not for everyone, these tools are often useful as a quick jolt in the area of personal mojo. Even if you think they may be a bit much or overly dramatic, you may still take away enough encouragement to boost your motivation.
Do Not Break the Pattern
Maintaining a regular schedule and a positive mental attitude are keys to keeping your motivation level high. When you have a regular, organized schedule, motivation is easier to maintain because your lifestyle is easier to maintain. If things get too complicated, stress levels elevate, and motivation sinks. Therefore, reduce stress, keep an organized, regular schedule, and you will have no problem maintaining a high level of motivation.
