1.
Remind yourself of your desire to achieve.
A successful entrepreneur’s
number-one asset is perseverance. When I asked around to learn about what keeps
entrepreneurs motivated, ambition and perseverance are
two words that kept coming up. The need to achieve and succeed prevented them
from giving up after every failure and fueled their drive more than
any other factor.
If you find it challenging to
maintain your morale in the long run, look around you and identify the people
who make up your success team. Whether it’s an older mentor who keeps you in
line with your goals, or a younger entrepreneur who inspires you and fuels your
energy, surrounding yourself with business cheerleaders helps turn every
setback into a lesson, not a disappointment.
2.
Set realistic goals.
If you are running a startup and
your goal is to make a millions naira this year, then you might be setting
yourself up for disappointment. Instead, set several smaller, measurable
milestones so that you can track your progress.
Create a big-picture strategy for your company, and set realistic business
goals on how to achieve them. Everything from creating useful partnerships,
networking, marketing, ramping up your social media, or even hiring good
employees takes time. Establish a plan and be prepared to tackle it one day at
a time.When you achieve the smaller goals, pat yourself on the back.
Long after the thrill of starting a business is gone and you are immersed in the daily challenges of being an entrepreneur, it is easy to lose the motivation to keep going. Being a business owner has its indisputable benefits, but it is a grind and you constantly need to remind yourself why you decided to become an entrepreneur.
3. Take care of yourself.
Yes, having your own business means you’re invested 24/7, but invested and overworked are two different things. There is nothing more daunting than spending your day alone in your home office. Make time to take care of yourself.Business owner Sharon Middendorf says what keeps her motivated is "ambition, exercise and meditation. This inspires and guides me through the days."
Set regular times during the week to unplug, hang out with family and friends, sign up for a gym, take walks, read or watch TV. If possible, take a vacation! This gives your brain time to rest, re-calibrate and be ready to run a successful business.
