Beating The Entrepreneur Motivation Problem

Staying motivated when running your own business is one of the biggest challenges any business owner or entrepreneur can face. In your 9 - 5 job you were kept motivated by the fact that you had to keep your job. The motivator was earning a living and that then helped keep you focused on the tasks in front of you.

It's a little different when you're working for yourself. This doesn't really sink in until you start working for yourself however. The last aspect of your own business that you really worry about is motivation. Surely you'll be super motivated by the fact that you have your own part-time or full-time business at home? Right?

Wrong!

Everybody suffers from a lack of motivation at some stage in their lives. This is especially true of people working for themselves. What we forget is that our "support structure" which we had in work is no longer there. We're our own bosses and can call the shots whatever way we see fit. The lack of structure can mean we get distracted from our business and this then leads to the dreaded demotivation.

Once your motivation is suffering everything else tends to suffer with it. Your inspiration and creativity suffer. Small problems now seem huge and impossible to deal with. Heck it can get so bad that you almost consider going back to your crummy daytime job again.

So how you do get over this hurdle?

Personally I use 24 hour goals. What are they? When I feel demotivated or under pressure or even a bit lost I simply step outside my day-to-day work and narrow my focus. To help narrow my focus I pick one goal for my business that can and must be achieved within the next 24 hours. I write it down on a sheet of paper and keep it in front of me.

Now for the next 24 hours I make that one single thing my primary business task. It must happen no matter what. If it means missing out on a favourite show that's fine. If it means staying up late that's fine too.

The goal or task needs to be realistic and achieveable within 24 hours. Don't try to revamp your entire business or do 7 days work in one go. The idea is not to overwork yourself at all. The aim here is to pick something specific and get it done within 24 hours.

What will this 24 hour goal do for you? When you see that you've achieved your goal a few things will happen:

1. Your business is one step ahead of where it was 24 hours ago.

2. You'll feel a huge sense of satisfaction at setting yourself this goal and then achieving it.

3. You'll be remotivated to tackle bigger goals and projects and work at your full potential again.

So if you feel your motivation slipping even a little then stop what you're doing. Look at your business and find yourself a 24 hour goal and do it. You'll be surprised at just how good this can make you feel.