When the going gets rough in business, you’ll need the motivation to keep moving. Motivating yourself can be hard but practicing consistent habits such as reminding yourself of why you started can be a major boost. A network of friends and partners can also serve as a great assurance and reminder that you’re not walking.
Here are the various ways entrepreneurs and business owners stay motivated in business.
#1- Clients who express gratitude
We've all had tires kickers that waste our time as business owners. Our goal is to find clients and consumers who are in desperate need of our services and are willing to pay for them. When things are slow and you're starting to wonder if you're doing the right thing, a client will come along who will be appreciative for your help. Receiving comments from clients who express gratitude for how you have improved their lives keeps me motivated and going.
Thanks to Alejandro Uriarte, 1-800 Injured!
#2- Consistency and celebrating the small wins
I force myself to stay in the same routine as much as possible so that I can stay focused on my day and the work I have ahead of me. I get my workout done in the morning, play with my dogs a little bit, and then get to work. It's like being on autopilot and it keeps me from being lazy in the mornings. Then, as my day goes on, I make sure to celebrate the small wins so not only my team, but I continuously feel motivated and stay aware of the things being accomplished throughout the day.
Thanks to Andrew Maff, BlueTuskr!
#3- Pursuit of success
I stay motivated because I want my business to be successful and I want my family to be proud of what I've built. I want to be able to give my kids a bit of a headstart in life and be able to pass down the knowledge that I've learned and isn't taught to them in school. Each month I set small goals that will move the needle in my business. And with every small success I make, I always want to find a way to replicate it because success feels good. It's almost like a drug that you can't get enough of. Sure, there are times when I'm not motivated. And that's the most important time to just do something that will move the business toward completing another small goal.
Thanks to Bryan Ray, The Biking Apex!
#4-Stimulating clients
Working with fascinating and engaging clients keeps me motivated and engaged as a solopreneur, as does learning new strategies to expand both their and my business. There's nothing more satisfying or inspiring than knowing you're helping someone else's business development while also helping your own. And uncovering new talents and methods that help me to better deliver on my commitment to offering value to my clients keeps me
driven.
Thanks to Gerrid Smith, Joy Organics!
#5- Two ways
I stay motived by always trying to improve, even if we have a very satisfied client. At the end of the construction build or remodel, we meet with clients for a closing recap and I want to know what we can do to improve our service. Another motivator is sharing my experience with consumers. I greatly appreciate the non-paid for opportunities where I can educate and inform consumers about design, construction and home improvement. My goal is to help consumers without a sales pitch.
Thanks to Gregg Cantor, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel!
#6- Adjusting the sails
As the times constantly change for entrepreneurs I have learned over the 30 years of running a successful law practice and founder of other companies that you can succeed in business if you learn to adjust your sails. I have always said that it does not matter what administration is in office, if you liken yourself unto a sailboat on the ocean, you simply determine where the wind is coming from and adjust your sails accordingly. Thus, whether Obama, Bush, Trump or Biden is in office learn to adjust your sails and you will stay motivated to take your business in the direction that the political climate dictates.
Thanks to Frederick W. Penney Esq., Penney and Associates!
#7- Staying plugged in
My way to be plugged in is to listen to business audiobooks, watch interesting interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs, scientists and thought leaders. I also listen to my favorite business podcasts. That way, I get to stay inspired by people who've seen great success but also learn.
Thanks to Kalina Cardoso
#8- Surrounding myself with positivity
To stay motivated every day, I surround myself with positive go-getters and I consistently read success books. If I am working from home, I check in with entrepreneurs and small business owner groups on Facebook and other networking websites. When I meet up with friends, I choose to spend time with positive people that build each other up. Because being self-motivated is a part of the entrepreneur job description, positivity and big thinkers are integral components to keeping the motivation strong on a daily basis.
Thanks to Blaire Brown
#9- Practicing self-care
The key to staying motivated is to make sure that you give yourself time away from work to recharge. For me, this looks like getting outside and being active, or spending time with my family. A change of scenery is essential to help me refocus. When I start feeling burnt out, I know that it’s time to step away. Practicing self-care is essential, and when you give your mind and body that space to rest, I guarantee you’ll return to work with renewed motivation and a clear head.
Thanks to Monica Eaton-Cardone, Chargebacks911!
#10- Creating a mission statement
Entrepreneurship is full of challenges, risks, and failures. Stress and frustration is constant here, which makes it quite tough to stay motivated. However, I know the importance of staying determined and motivated in entrepreneurship, and so I have created a mission statement which keeps me motivated. This mission statement includes my personal set of goals, and reminds me why I started my entrepreneurship in the first place. I have
always focused on being an industry leader, and I can never settle down with anything less than that! Whenever I remember my mission of reaching the top, I automatically feel more focused and motivated towards my work and responsibilities.
Thanks to Dawn Templeton, Templeton Real Estate Group!
#11- Through yoga and meditation
I believe one of the major barriers to growth and stability is stress and mental friction. With yoga and meditation, I’m able to induce a sense of calm and keep my mind stable. This helps me unwind with ease and I’m able to channel a better flow of thoughts. When my mind is free from useless thoughts and distractions, I’m able to operate better and keep myself motivated. In other words, it keeps me equipped to handle pressure and breeze past trying situations in life.
Thanks to Scott Spivack, United Medical Credit!
#12- Focusing more on my employees
For any entrepreneur, staying motivated is difficult. However, one way in which I consistently remain enthused and focused on my work is to focus less on the work, and more on my employees. Indeed, employees are entrusting you to not simply be a catalyst for success, but also maintain their livelihood and well-being. Therefore, when my motivation runs thin, I choose to focus on ensuring my employees — my chosen family — have the best and brightest future imaginable.
Thanks to Jordan Duran, 6 Ice!
#13- Maintaining mind and body wellbeing
One of the best ways to always stay motivated is to be healthy first. One must maintain a good routine. Physical wellness has a huge impact on mental wellness. Maintain a healthy diet and a good exercise routine to keep yourself pumped. Maintain a healthy sleeping routine too. Save time for relaxing too. Taking a short break can help you keep up with the work.
Thanks to Hilda Wong, Content Dog!
#14- Developing healthy habits
Instead of just creating business goals, also create personal goals. Jot down what you want out of this. Whenever you lose motivation, look at these personal goals. For example, your personal goal was to be your boss, well you are an entrepreneur, you are your boss. There are thousands of entrepreneurs who have changed the world that we live in today, look at their stories, their personal lives. This will be a great source of motivation.
Thanks to Zarina Bahadur, 123 Baby Box!
#15- Remembering the Joy
It's hard to stay motivated through slow cycles, or general burnout, but I find focusing on what I love about my work it helps me move forward. Part of that is taking a hard look list at your to do list. I find there's a lot of stuff that I keep pushing to the bottom of my list because I just don't want to do them. These are often things I can do, so I feel like I should do it to save money, but really they just become a drag on your energy. The whole point of having a team is to be able to delegate so that you can focus on the things you're best at.
Thanks to Nicole Krug, Social Light!
#16- Coming up with new ideas
The best way for me to stay motivated as an entrepreneur is to continually come up with new ideas. An entrepreneurial spirit is rooted in creativity and innovation. It’s easy my me to feel stagnant as an entrepreneur when I have created a business that seems to be running smoothly. It’s essential for me to motivate myself by continually thinking about what I could do next, what new programs could be introduced, or how certain systems could be improved. If I keep learning and trying new things I have no trouble staying motivated.
Thanks to Ouriel Lemmel, WinIt!
#17- Leveraging the team
Being an entrepreneur usually means loving your work, or at least the outcome you're providing to your customer – that's where the intrinsic motivation comes from. When things get tough, I look to my co-founders and peers to help me through. Talking to them about what excites them, where they see the company going, and what's driving them right now helps me to discard my anxiety and refocus my attention. Sometimes not letting down your team is just as powerful motivation as making your customers happy.
Thanks to Scott Knowles, Hirebook!
#18- Fear
Attaining motivation is always easy but in order to maintain it, you have to go through a great ordeal. Many people have different motivating factors but mine is very different. The fear of failing to provide for my family and making them suffer makes me writhe and reminds me why I started. Channeling and associating success with fear is a major skill that is in the background of so many successful people. When you know you have no
option but to make it work, you eventually will; with discipline and determination.
Thanks to Elizabeth Hicks, Parenting Nerd!
#19- I stay on top of my numbers at all time
If my accounts are up-to-date and there is cash in the bank there's no need for my head to go down if I'm not making sales. When my lead indicators are firing (starting 70 conversations every month and sitting ten consultations per month) again I know the sales are going to come and the business will continue to grow. And finally if my pricing is solid and profitable again when I close a sale I make good profit and don't have to worry about paying my team and putting money aside for me and the business. When scarcity creeps in that's closely followed by fear and panic starts to set in which all impacts motivation. If I've done the work everything else will fall into place. Failing that I love to get out on my bike and ride 50 miles or take the dog for a walk to get the headspace to rationalize everything.
Thanks to Robin Waite
#20- Defining my goals and plan
There are some other ways to stay motivated. I always try to define my goals and plan accordingly. I have a clear vision of my goals which can help me to realize the correct way of being a success. To stay motivated it is also very important to visualize a broader picture. My positive thinking and well-organized approach help me a lot to stay motivated.
Thanks to Kevin Maberly, Tiger Medical!
#21- Visualizing success
The most effective way to stay motivated when I am faced with obstacles and challenges is to visualize the success I desire. Visualization is a popular method used by many successful people, and it’s supported by substantial scientific evidence. When we visualize what we what to achieve, we begin to understand that it’s possible to achieve it, which helps us stay motivated to complete the necessary steps to achieve our goals. Although visualization doesn’t replace hard work, it helps me stay motivated to pursue my dreams and create the life I desire.
Thanks to Charles Cridland, YourParkingSpace!
#22- Being positive-minded
When things go wrong, and situations seem impossible to navigate around, I try to focus on the positive. I remember that I’m living my entrepreneurial dream and doing what I enjoy, and not everyone can do what they love for a career. Negative thinking makes us feel bad about our abilities and discourage us from pursuing our goals. But positive thoughts lead to positive actions and inspire us not to give up. Positive self-talk and self-affirming statements can help us achieve our best.
Thanks to Tom Myers, Your Trusted Home Buyer!
#23- Seeking clarity
Psychologically, it is hard to stay motivated all the time because motivation or inspiration of any kind could be short-lived, no matter it is triggered by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. The significance of those factors may change over time. In my experience, I found is that we should seek clarity. When I seek clarity, it’s like GPS in a car which lets me reach my destination faster without getting lost. First, I try my best to be crystal clear about my purpose, like what I really want. Then I strive to gain absolute clarity on two things: first, WHY I do what I do, and second, HOW I do it. Then comes more contextual clarity, like when and where. That’s how I get all the sustainable fuel that will propel me forward at a much faster rate. Clarity lets you produce exceptional results in a shorter time. The lack of clarity is the critical factor that slows down success and progress in the professional world. When you have clarity, you get a head start, which no one can easily beat. The clarity is the new superpower that keeps us motivated in the VUCA world, where things are volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous most of the time.
Thanks to Dr. Raman K Attri, Speed To Proficiency!
#24- Shared success
One of the things that keeps me motivated as an entrepreneur is the notion of shared success. It's very easy to be consumed by the shiny promises of success and how it will impact you as an individual, but our business model is based on shared success. What that success means to me is that everyone gets to eat at the table: every involved party is supported, has a positive experience, and can achieve their desired results. This goes for our talent, our clients, our stakeholders and board members, our vendors, and of course, our employees. Having a successful, viable business that can stand the test of time means that each of your players needs to be successful in their unique roles.
Thanks to David Ciccarelli, Voices!
#25- Discipline
Motivation for me is discipline. I firmly believe that integrating motivation with discipline yields way better results than just striving for motivation. I follow a work schedule, and I allow myself to have short breaks. When I feel extremely unmotivated, I remind myself having discipline is more important than having motivation. There has been not a single time that I have regretted working even when I felt unmotivated as at the end of the day when I complete the work, and I see results, it is like a reminder to keep on going and doing better. There’s no better motivation than feeling accomplished at the end of the day, and having discipline makes you have that every single day without fail. So, to stay motivated, I stay disciplined.
Thanks to Nathan Hughes, Diggity Marketing!
#26- Learning new things
One of the ways that I stay motivated is to be constantly learning new things. I find that when I have new theories practices or ideas to test out I am more motivated and focused on trying these out. I recommend that if you aren't motivated to learn something new and test it out for yourself!
Thanks to Loren Howard, Prime Plus Mortgages!
#27- I remember where I came from and know where I am going
I’ve had numerous falls/failures in my business life, but the one thing that kept me going, the one thing that kept me motivated was the fire inside of me. That fire for me comes from knowing where I started, with nothing, and the confidence to believe in myself to keep pushing against all odds. Success involves having the mental fortitude to keep going despite numerous falls to the ground. An entrepreneur must learn to gain wisdom from past mistakes and have the confidence to keep on pushing forward armed with the lessons learned. If along the way you start to lose your motivation, just remember where you came from and what direction you're going.
Thanks to Alfredo Cernuda, Sir Hemp Co.!