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 alone.
Here are the various ways entrepreneurs and business owners stay motivated in business.
#1- Starving my distractions
In my experience, starving my distractions helps me stay motivated. If I want to achieve a goal, I make sure that I remove anything that could take away my focus. This means avoiding conversations or activities that don't contribute to the end result, eliminating clutter from my work environment and personal life, and deleting unnecessary notifications from my phone or laptop. I also do my best to keep away from things like social media or TV that can be a huge distraction and can sap away motivation. It takes a lot of discipline, but it works!
Thanks to Daniel Chabert, PurpleFire!
#2- Being surrounded with positive people
I'd like to say that surrounding myself with positive people and a supportive network, who can provide support and feedback, helps me stay motivated. Having someone to push me when I'm feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated gives me the strength and determination to persevere when times are tough. These people radiate positivity and energy, which I take on board in order to stay motivated. Business is a hard game, but having people to help you stay on track can make all the difference.
Thanks to Justin Thomas, Journey Engine!
#3- By following a healthy routine
Being an entrepreneur is a tough and exhausting job with almost 20 hours a day full of stress, excursion, meetings, handling, and guiding the employees. To keep my calm and stay focused, I try to follow a healthy routine that helps me not just physically, and mentally but as well as financially (regarding my business too). When I work out, I feel more focused and attentive, flexible, energetic, and positive which are exactly the qualities a businessman must possess in order to handle good and bad both days effectively and stay motivated.
Thanks to Jordon Scrinko, Precondo!
#4- Celebrating small wins
Passion for whatever you do is important, but there is no better incentive for hard work than a reward. That's what keeps me going on a personal level as well as business-wise. Set weekly and monthly targets for your business and celebrate them whenever you reach them. We started following that intuitively. There will be a time when everything is going well, but you are not progressing and going forward. You will feel like being caught in a slump. Setting your goals higher and higher as time goes by and rewarding yourself and your team each time you fulfill them is a path to continuous motivation.
Thanks to Nebojsa Savicic, Plainly!
#5- By keeping a positive outlook
Entrepreneurs are always working to find new ways to improve their businesses and their lives. One way to stay motivated is to have a plan and to keep a positive outlook. Many things can help you stay motivated, such as setting goals, recognizing accomplishments, and keeping a positive attitude. Being resilient is a way to keep yourself motivated and to make sure that the negative things happening around you don't have a deep impact on you. Instead, try to make the process healthier for you.
Thanks to Brandon Lee, Reptile Maniac!
#6- By setting clear and achievable goals
As an entrepreneur, I stay motivated by setting clear and achievable goals, surrounding myself with a supportive network, practicing self-care, celebrating small wins and failures, and always seeking new challenges and learning opportunities. Staying positive, keeping perspective, and having a strong why for my business can also help maintain motivation levels. Additionally, finding a balance between work and personal life and staying true to my passion and values can also drive entrepreneurship motivation.
Thanks to Eric Sornoso, Meal Fan!
#7- By setting rewards for myself
I believe that setting rewards for myself helps me stay motivated. Whenever I achieve something that previously seemed impossible or complete a challenging task, I reward myself with something small and manageable. This could be anything from a small treat or something more significant, depending on the task I've completed. This encourages me to stay motivated, and it's an amazing feeling of accomplishment! I also share this too to my loved ones, so they can celebrate with me.
Thanks to Bruce Kramer, Buttercup Venues!
#8- By staying active
I stay motivated by staying active. The time I spend working out, playing sports, and exerting physical energy provides me with energy that I can turn into motivation in my work. This time working on my body allows my brain to excel and actually feel refreshed when the workout is over and it’s time to get to work. A nice run, an hour at my local fitness center, or playing some sort of sport keeps me in shape, energized, and motivated to succeed in business as an entrepreneur!
Thanks to Eric Czerwonka, Buddy Punch!
#9- Trying to focus on positives
For me, it’s all about perspective. I try to focus on the positives even in moments when I’m exhausted and things aren’t going well. It’s not constructive to fall into a pit of anxiety and worry. I am always grateful that I get to successfully do what many others can’t. Another thing I like to do is create a mission statement. It helps summarize my goals and ambitions for why I started my business and where I want to take it. It’s essential to never forget your vision of why you became an entrepreneur.
Thanks to Nikola Baldikov, InBound Blogging!
#10- Prioritising self-care
Self-care is often the first thing to go when entrepreneurs are faced with a demanding workload and high levels of stress. However, it's crucial to make time for self-care to maintain motivation and avoid burnout. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep are important physical aspects of self-care. Taking breaks to disconnect and engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation can also improve overall well-being. By prioritizing self-care, entrepreneurs can build resilience and stay motivated in their pursuit of success.
Thanks to James Jennings, HomeGardenHQ!
#11- By using a gratitude journal
I stay motivated by using a gratitude journal to document all the things I am thankful for in the run of a day. I write down three things from the day that I felt grateful for which only takes a few minutes of my time. I find this helps to reframe my thoughts and I tend to stay motivated because I think more positively on a daily basis. When you think more negatively, you tend to feel demotivated because you aren’t in the right mindset. When you start to force yourself to see the good things in your day, you have that energy and spark to keep doing the hard and rewarding things.
Thanks to Shanna Nelson, The Artisan Rings!
#12- Sense of responsibility
For me, the first thing that keeps me motivated is the sense of responsibility towards my work and duties. Secondly, purpose plays a big role in my journey. Knowing why I am doing a certain thing keeps me motivated every day to complete my goals and aim to achieve bigger in life. Apart from that, to me, motivation is just one of the pieces of the puzzle in the journey of entrepreneurship, other things that keep you going are discipline and consistency. If someone is disciplined and consistent with it, nothing can stop him from growing and succeeding in life.
Thanks to Abdul Hannan, Tezeract!
#13- By being customer-centric
Whenever your motivation starts to drop, think of the customers who are relying on you to fulfill their needs. After all, that was likely why you started your business in the first place. Being customer-centric means you are constantly wanting to learn about the changing needs of your customers. This means conducting surveys, reading reviews, and doing market research. Even though the daily demands of running a business can feel overwhelming at times, you can rediscover your motivation and drive by listening to what your customers are asking you to do for them.
Thanks to Shawn Plummer, The Annuity Expert!
#14- Following inspiring successful leaders
One of the best ways for me to stay motivated is by following inspiring successful leaders on social media and gaining tips and lessons from their experiences. Seeing how they managed to be successful and gaining from their experiences, helps prevent mistakes from occurring, gives the boost of encouragement and motivation necessary at difficult times, and makes one believe in themselves that it is possible since someone else has managed to make it possible.
Thanks to Jenna Nye, On The Strip!
#15- Doing my favorite recreational activity
As a marketing manager, there is a lot to cater to. Staying motivated can sometimes become a task. Therefore, on my low days, I aim to go for my favorite recreational activity. Cycling is my go-to activity. The act of cycling helps me refresh and relive my demotivated days. Cycling gives me the enthusiasm to climb new heights. It directly reflects my profession. The adrenaline rush from cycling motivates me to perform better in my work life. Cycling increases the energy in my work cells.
Thanks to Cynthia Hamilton, Oglf!
#16- Setting detailed objectives
My best way to maintain motivation and drive toward success is to set clear and detailed objectives. For me, it’s beneficial to split big goals into smaller steps. Thus, by having small attainable goals, each time I reach one, I can get the motivation to achieve the next one on an increasing scale of responsibility and difficulty. I believe this is one of the strategies that can help entrepreneurs avoid getting lost in a path that can be tortuous and complex but have small steps to take to reach a larger and more elaborate project.
Thanks to Tomek Mlodzki, PhotoAiD!
#17- Perseverance and resilience
Whenever I feel like giving up, I will think of this as a small challenge in the journey to success. So long as I can overcome it, I can be different from the majority and be rewarded with what I dream of. Think of what successful entrepreneurs have faced in the past, and I will ask myself not to give up too early. Otherwise, what I have been working hard on is a waste. The journey of entrepreneurship is about perseverance and resilience. I can only see hope if I persist.
Thanks to Kassidy Li
#18- Connecting with other entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur isn't easy as it needs daily hustle which can make you lose vision of your future goals. That's why it's important to find ways to stay motivated. The way to stay motivated is to connect with other entrepreneurs. This can be done through networking events, online forums, or simply by reaching out to someone you admire and asking for advice. Hearing other entrepreneurs' stories can help you remember why you're pursuing your business venture and give you the motivation to keep going.
Thanks to Beth Rivera, Best Financial Planners!
#19- Spending time on personal life
I stay motivated by ensuring I am fresh every Monday morning. This is completed consistently by getting away from work and spending time on my personal life, which helps me keep my mind fresh and excited for new challenges. Work can be so busy and nonstop these days that most of us could probably work through the weekend and still not be caught up on things. Every weekend, I make sure I get away from work and spend time doing things I like so I can feel motivated each day.
Thanks to Rahul Jha, LEI Register India!
#20- Being a provider for my family
Motivation comes from internal drivers, most are developed from the early beginnings of how an individual was raised and their socioeconomic background. For me, my motivation to keep going is to provide a much better life and childhood for my children than I had. Being a provider for my family and knowing that key decisions in life are in my control, and not some corporate boss is a huge motivation point. The freedom of time to have freedom of impact is the underlying motivator when being an entrepreneur.
Thanks to Charles Chandler, My Tennessee Home Solution LLC!
#20- Having the desire to solve the unknown
My biggest motivator as an entrepreneur is the desire to solve the unknown. The fun part about being an entrepreneur of a startup is you’re tackling complex challenges that don’t have a defined solution. Getting to work with incredibly intelligent people to run tests, collect insights, and ultimately better our products for our customers is such an exciting prospect. I encourage other entrepreneurs to approach their businesses with the same curiosity and desire.
Thanks to Dan Gray, Vendry!
#21- Changing work environment frequently
My top hack to stay motivated is changing my work environment as frequently as possible, or at least whenever I feel unmotivated. Some days I decide to work at a new coffee shop, go to my co-working space, work from my home office, or even travel to a new city/country and get some work done there. Some people need routine and consistency to stay motivated, but I've found that I need the opposite to spark my motivation. If you find yourself uninspired by the same day-to-day work life and work remotely, I recommend switching things up.
Thanks to Laurice Wardini, ClothedUp!
#22- By vacationing to different destinations
I stay motivated and enjoy my path as a business owner by taking advantage of some of the benefits that my business provides. I regularly take time to relax by vacationing to different destinations, meeting new people, and learning about the societies and foods of the regions where their business takes them too. I also avoid negative space by reminding myself that I am living my dream and doing what I enjoy. I purposefully appreciate, both good and bad, keeping two objectives in mind: my ultimate objective and the reality that every step I take, brings MY dream closer to realization.
Thanks to James Anderson, Veritas Buyers!
#23- Reviewing goals and values
In my experience as an entrepreneur, I've learned that the best way to stay motivated is to keep going. It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running a company and forget what you're really trying to accomplish. You may feel like you're grinding away each day, but if you step back and look at your big picture, it can be hard to see how all of those small tasks add up. That's why it's important to take time and review your goals and values. This will allow you to make sure that every decision you make is helping you move toward where you want to go.
Thanks to Dinesh Pandian, Lenders.fi!
#24- Avoid comparing my success
As an entrepreneur, one of my key strategies for staying motivated is to resist the urge to compare my progress and success to others in the industry. This can be challenging, particularly with the prevalence of social media. However, by staying focused on my own goals and progress and taking the time to celebrate small wins, I can avoid the pitfalls of comparison. By celebrating small wins and embracing the individuality of my journey, I stay motivated and on track to achieving my success.
Thanks to Samantha Blake, Samantha Digital!
#25- Always seeking to be inspired
Try to look around you for inspiration. This little tip can definitely assist you in determining the best solutions to even the most difficult problems quite easily. Being a prosperous businessperson, I think reading books, articles, blogs, and newspapers is important. Not just because I always want to be on top of the most recent business trends and strategies. In fact, reading gives me energy and refreshment. Reading can help you find numerous reasons to get motivated if you want to build a solid reputation.
Thanks to Hannah Sanderson, Clever Canadian!
#26- Having a good night's sleep
Never undervalue the impact of a restful night's sleep on your motivation. After years of practice and self-experimentation, I have discovered that, with very few exceptions, no incomplete task or unmet objective is worth the suffering that comes from worrying about it at night. More importantly, these tasks and objectives are much simpler to complete the following day after a good night's sleep.
Thanks to Brian Jones, Best in Edmonton!
#27- Being surrounded by optimistic people
Motivation is a funny thing. It's not something that comes to you, it's not something you can control, and it's not something you can use to make yourself feel better. Motivation is a response, and it's usually a response to the environment around you. For me, as an entrepreneur, motivation comes from the people around me. If I'm surrounded by people who are optimistic and open-minded, I'm much more likely to be motivated. But if I'm surrounded by people who are pessimistic or closed-minded, I'll find myself feeling unmotivated.
Thanks to Daniel Nyquist, Crosslist!
#28- Believing that I am doing my best
One of the most important things to remember as an entrepreneur is that you're always going to be motivated by something. You can't just decide to be motivated, or it will never happen. The key is finding out what motivates you and using that as a constant source of fuel. For me, it's always been about making sure I'm doing what I love and helping other people do the same thing. If there's one thing in life that will keep you going through thick and thin through all kinds of ups and downs it's knowing that you're doing your best to make the world a better place.
Thanks to Robert O'Neill, Thatch Web Ltd!
#29- Having freedom and flexibility
While I chose to be self-employed for different reasons, it was immediately clear that the biggest benefit to me was actually having a work-life balance. I had always been so dedicated to my employers that I didn't appreciate how off-kilter my life was. Now that I am a mom, I can't imagine ever working for someone else! My motivation to continue along the path of my entrepreneurial journey is the freedom and flexibility I have which has improved my mental health, increased my productivity, and given me greater overall satisfaction with both my work and life as a whole.
Thanks to Kelley Brubaker, Profit Scale Thrive!
#30- By meditating
I'm a biz growth coach and I stay motivated by meditating to stay in alignment with my purpose/calling. Sure, there are ups and downs but I return to Me Why to inspire creativity in the founders and leadership teams coach. This keeps me motivated. Mindset is a big part of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Staying motivated toward desired outcomes, KPIs and go-to-market plans requires a strong mindset. Practicing meditation is the way to keep you on a path.
Thanks to Kevin Dooley, Kedoo.io!