Can you recall the excitement and the fervor with which you started your business? You may have noticed that the initial excitement of starting your dream business fades with time. But, that is not the real issue.
Great businesses are not built solely on excitement. However, the success of your business depends on how well you can maintain motivation when the initial excitement fades away. Maintaining motivation levels through all the stages of growing your business is essential.
You must not be discouraged if the business hasn’t gained as much momentum as you wanted. Remember that there are many examples of successful companies that seemed to go nowhere at first. Colonel Harland David Sanders did not allow himself to be intimidated by failure and slow growth. Because of his motivated spirit and commitment, the world got KFC. His face remains the brand’s symbol even decades after he passed away.
Many factors affect motivation negatively. Your inspiration may not suffer because the business is not doing as well as you had hoped. Sometimes the business routine and technicalities work negatively on your motivation. You may have fantastic plans for growing your business, but methods won’t work unless and until you do. It would be best to stay motivated to work on the best strategies for your business.
Here is an interesting TED Talk that offers excellent insights on motivation.
While growing your business, your motivation needs to remain sufficiently high and constantly increase. Read on to find out more about how you can maintain motivation while growing your business.
Remind Yourself About Your Purpose
Your purpose has a significant influence on your motivation. While focused on your vision and mission, did you lose sight of your goal? This is a question you need to ask yourself. Sometimes, while busy with the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of business, one forgets the ‘why’ part. Why are you doing what you are doing? Remind yourself of the reasons. Keep revisiting your purpose. Make some changes if you so wish. It is your purpose that will help you spur onwards. It might be that while looking into your goal, you will rediscover your passion.
From time to time, you should also remind yourself of the benefits of entrepreneurship. Remember that having your own business offers you much freedom. You can develop your strategies and learn from your mistakes. Your values matter in your business. You can make changes as and when required. Having your own business enables you to spend quality time with your family. You will see your motivation return when you remind yourself of these reasons and benefits.
Be Realistic About Your Goals
Make sure your goals are high but achievable. If you set extremely high goals, you risk demotivating yourself in case of failure in achieving those goals. Initially, you might not have had the knowledge and experience that you do now. Your goals may have been based on zeal and excitement rather than on helpful information and reason. It is an issue that can be solved. If your present goals have become your demotivating factor, it is time to change them. Your goals need to be realistic, reasonable and based on accurate information. That is when they drive your motivation for growing your business.
You could break down your larger goals into smaller, more achievable ones. Celebrate when you achieve these goals. Bask in the satisfaction of achieving each goal, no matter how small. These small wins will help you maintain your zealous tenacity. Constantly moving forward without celebrating the achievement of small pursuits can result in burnout. Achieving small goals and celebrating each achievement will motivate you towards higher goals.
Wield the Power of Positive Thoughts
Many successful entrepreneurs and motivation coaches stress the importance of positive thoughts. You must not underestimate the power of positive thoughts. You can and will manifest what you want to achieve with positive thoughts. Positive thoughts will lead to positive speech, better motivation, impactful decisions, and dynamic actions.
There are times when one thinks unfair and negative thoughts about oneself. You need to learn to recognize these times and these thoughts. Imagine someone else telling you those very things that you think about yourself. For instance, you think you cannot grow your business anymore and are a failure. Imagine someone else telling you that you are a failure and won’t be able to grow your business. You certainly would have some strong reactions! How, then, can you think such thoughts and demotivate yourself?
Negative thoughts lead to the production of cortisol in your body, which can, over time, lead to depression. Your motivation level can dip significantly because of it. Train yourself to have optimistic thoughts. It is possible to rewire your brain this way. Remain vigilant in replacing each negative review with a positive one, and watch this tactic work wonders for your motivation.
Recharge Regularly
When you run your own business, it is easy to get so caught up in the company’s day-to-day affairs that you forget to take breaks. You may not take breaks because you don’t want to slow down. Maybe a break feels like a waste of precious time to you. You wish to achieve your business goals in the best time possible. Consider the following case: What happens if you keep driving a car at optimum speed but never stop? The vehicle will run out of gas and will be forced to stop. This stop will waste more time. You can avoid this scenario if you take breaks regularly to refuel the car. Running a business is similar. You need to take a rejuvenating break now and then.
Taking breaks helps to renew your zeal and amp up your motivation. What you do during these breaks matters as well. While on vacation, do not keep turning over business matters in your mind. You could use the timeout for meditation, light stretching, or brisk walks. Remember to fuel your body with nutritious meals too. When you achieve a significantly larger goal, take a big break and take a short vacation. Your business might be online, but you must unplug it for some time. Your breaks will help you recharge and come back even stronger.
Whenever your business is slow, utilize the time to improve your strategies and determine ways to increase your productivity. Do not let the slowdown of business pull you down. Your motivation can bring out your business from the deepest ruts. Even when your business is steady, consciously keep your motivation high. Your motivation will create the disposition necessary for overcoming business challenges. Work on maintaining your motivation to help your business flourish over the long run.