What Motivates You to Keep Going?
Waking up and going to work is challenging for many people. In some ways, it can be easier for an entrepreneur, since it’s your business designed by you where you get to do exactly what you love. In other ways, it can be harder.
Being an entrepreneur is no easy task and when the going gets tough you may have to dig deep to keep yourself going.
Do you know what motivates you? How to jump start yourself on those difficult days?
Let’s explore some ways to stock your toolbox with strategies to keep you going and in the game!
We’ve all been there. The alarm goes off and you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe you haven’t gotten much sleep and you could use an extra hour or two. Maybe you’re going through a breakup. Maybe you’ve been working and working and not getting results as fast as you’d like. Whatever the case, we all have those days.
When you work for yourself, it’s easy to lose scope, to make excuses… I can take a few extra hours, my “boss” will give me the time off, no one will notice anyway, I can do it later. All of this may be true and I do believe it’s important to be kind to yourself and take time off when you need it. I am not for working 24/7 by any means. I also believe integrity is how you show up when no one is looking.
So, how do you keep going when you just don’t feel like it?
Here are the 3 main strategies that I use to keep me going when the going gets tough…
1. Know Your Why
Most coaches will tell you to start with your why? Why? Because it is your reason for getting started in business in the first place. If you have really found your why, it will light you up, it will inspire you, it will help you to zoom out, get perspective and see the big picture.
Maybe your why is providing a great life for your children, maybe it’s traveling the world, maybe is proving to yourself and others that you can, maybe is supporting a cause or making an impact in the world. Dig deep and find your personal, inner driving force! This is a source of inspiration and motivation!
Building a business is not an overnight thing. It is a long-term commitment and it requires you to think long-term. Sometimes we get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of why we’re doing what we’re doing. Knowing your why and reminding yourself of it daily is one way to keep yourself inspired through the tough times and daily tasks.
2. Have Strategies for Shifting Your Mood and Mindset
This has 2 parts.
Part 1 – Shifting Your Mood and Mindset… in the Moment
I have lots of experience with learning about shifting mood and mindset. For me, this comes from years of dealing with depression, anxiety, and procrastination. There are countless times, I have had to trick myself into doing the things I knew had to get done that I had zero interest in doing.
So how do you make this shift?
You find something you are willing to do and start creating some momentum. Maybe you have 10, 20, or 100 things on your mind and on your to-do list and you’re feeling overwhelmed. But maybe there is 1 thing that’s not on your list that you do feel like doing. Maybe it’s taking a walk, going swimming, or dancing. Moving your body is a very powerful way to change your energy.
But it doesn’t have to be a physical activity. Maybe you feel like reading, talking with a friend, or meditating. Maybe it’s time for some creative expression through writing, painting, or cooking/baking. Those can all be great options as well.
Scan your brain for the one thing that you do feel like you have energy for and give yourself permission to go do it and (this part is key) … fully enjoy it!
You may find in stepping away you find a spark of inspiration or clarity or a new perspective that help you move through that to-do item that was holding you up.
You can also create a list of ideas and keep it handy for future occasions.
Part 2 – Shifting Your Mood and Mindset… Long Term
This strategy has to do with how you build and structure your business for sustainability.
For this strategy start by reflecting on and writing down:
- What are the things you love to do?
- What are the things you absolutely hate to do?
- What are the things that need to get done for your business?
Now, for anything you hate to do, ask yourself:
- Is this something that needs to be done for my business?
- If no, is it something you can eliminate from your business entirely?
- If yes, do you personally have to do it?
- If no, find a way to delegate as quickly as possible.
- If yes, can you schedule it or approach it in a different way to make it easier and more fun for you? Maybe there are systems or tools that can support you. Or you can do one crucial part and then hand it over to someone else.
Did that flow chart of questions make sense? I hope so! Anyway, moving on…
For your business to be sustainable, it has to take you into account. You have to take you into account. Remember, you don’t have to do it all on your own. Whether it’s your services, your marketing, or your daily operations, you will make it easier on yourself to stay in business if you are able to spend the majority of your time doing the things you love!
3. Know What Motivates You
This may seem obvious in terms of being able to answer the question, “What motivates you?”, but bear with me. For this strategy, look back on your life. What were big tasks or projects you did with fun, joy, and ease?
For me, I realized that I excelled when it came to fundraisers. Did you have those in your school growing up? I did. All through middle school, selling magazines, or chocolates, jumping rope, or some other fundraisers. There were lots!
I was always so excited and I usually did really well. I’m not sure whether it was because of the prize incentives (Anyone else have weeples? lol) or because I felt I was making a difference toward a worthwhile cause… whatever the underlying psychology, I do know it got me motivated!
So look over your life and find the times when you were unstoppable and motivation was effortless. What were the conditions that made that work so well for you?
Are you motivated by deadlines, accountability to others, prizes, something else? The possibilities, nuances and combinations are endless. Once you identify what works for you, explore: how can you build that into your business? Get creative!
In my example, I can set up my business so a percentage of what comes in goes toward a charity I care about. I can also set a target that once I’ve donated that amount of money, I get a gift for myself!
It’s your business, build it in a way that works for you and keeps you going!
So while these strategies may not make everyday smooth sailing, having these tools in your toolbox may make things just a little bit easier. Let me know how it goes!
If you are looking for more great tools, info and support to make your entrepreneur journey a success, I invite you to become a Badass Boss by joining the Badass Boss Business Maximizer Mastermind and Group Coaching Program.
Get started with a Badass Boss Breakthrough Session.
Author, Adelle King
Adelle King is a business coach working with female entrepreneurs to help them shine their light and turn their brilliance into a thriving, profitable business they love!
She has 10 years of experience working on the backend of online businesses. You name it, she’s probably done it! And 10 years of facilitating deep, transformational healing work, leading workshops in Access Consciousness®, personal growth, spiritual and intuitive development, and deep healing. She now integrates it all into her coaching. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and has been Certified as a Rapid Results Coach, Instant Miracle Master, Access Bars & Body Process Facilitator, CFMW, and more.
She loves guiding women to develop their vision of their dream life and then inspiring and empowering them to go make it their reality! Her guiding principle is, “Whatever you desire for your business and your life, whatever that looks like for you… you can have that!”
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