One of the hardest parts of running a small business is staying motivated. This is particularly true if you work on your own or spend a lot of time locked in your office away from the other staff.
You may not like to admit it but how often do you find yourself feeling distracted, lack lustre or just plain lazy, despite there being a "to do" list as long as your arm?
Generating the motivational energy to get the job done when you have these unproductive days is tough. When you don't have a boss to be accountable to, who holds the threat of dismissal over you if you don't perform as expected, means that it's easy to become unproductive.
"Often, good people, who have had successful careers in employment,
struggle to find motivation when they go it alone"
Over the years I've seen this symptom many, many times, particularly with people who start their own business for the first time. Often, good people, who have had successful careers in employment, struggle to find motivation when they go it alone. Without the routine and the structure of employment, and the threat of not being paid if tasks aren't completed, performance can be well below what they are capable of achieving.
So how can we find the motivation that will help us achieve success, even when our mojo is low? I've put together this list which has helped me stay motivated over the years, and has helped many business owners who I've mentored.
1. Goals.
Defining financial goals for the business year, then three years in advance that are achievable and within reach is a great way of staying motivated (if your goals are too ambitious they can have a demotivating effect).
2. Vision board.
Keep a vision board close to your work space and other prominent places (I keep mine as a screen saver on my phone). Seeing your dreams help remind you why you need to work so hard.
3. Weekly targets.
Diarise and record weekly targets for all of your work behaviour that you know will get results-we call this a cook-book. All BLAM Partners have access to a cook-book in our resource centre.
4. Reward yourself.
Give yourself a reward when you achieve certain targeted tasks. This could be as simple as a night out, family time or or maybe a short break if it's an important achievement.
5. Accountability partner.
Find a person who will check that you are undertaking your weekly tasks. The fact that somebody is going to check that you are doing what you committed to is a big motivation. Sending your cook-book to them at the end of each week motivates us to make sure our tasks are completed.
6. Join a mastermind group.
A group of like minded business people who meet at least once a month to discuss their business issues. They motivate, inspire and help each other stick to their goals. You can organise this yourself or join an existing group.
7. Get a mentor.
Finding another business person who you respect and has a history of business experience can help you navigate the road to success by learning from their experience. Be bold and ask, you'll find that other business owners are keen to share their experience.
Most importantly, remember that we all have moments of self doubt when we struggle to find motivation. In these moments I always remind myself that being in business is the road less travelled and if it was easy, everyone would do it.
