Being an entrepreneur presents its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. It can be difficult to stay motivated and on task with all of the distractions of daily life, particularly when you work largely or entirely on your own. There are numerous factors involved in creating a successful entrepreneurship, but one of the keys is self motivation. This article explores five of the key ingredients needed to be a self motivated entrepreneur.
1. Sense of Purpose
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” --Mark Twain
There is one major question all people wrestle with: "Why am I here?" Highly motivated people have a strong sense of purpose. If you are unsure of yours, ask yourself a few key questions: What are my interests? What do I enjoy doing? What lights me up and ignites my passion? What do I want to accomplish in life? What impact do I wish to make? How can I use my talents and skills to effect change in the world? Really think about these questions, and take your time answering them. Writing your answers down allows them to take root, and may also help clarify your vision for the future.
Begin with a set of tasks that motivate and inspire you. These will differ from person to person, so give yourself permission to experiment until you find what works for you. Here are some ideas to get you started: take a hot shower, listen to music that motivates you, stretch, go for a walk, exercise, light scented candles, set up your work space, etc.
Knowing what you are meant to do in the world shapes what you do each day. Stay motivated by writing your purpose and keeping it with you. You can even try creating your own personal vision or mission statement. It can help keep you on track as you plot the course to fulfilling your purpose.
2. Mental Preparation & Visualization
"The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck." --Tony Robbins
Sometimes your own vision for your future can be overwhelming. That is where preparedness comes into play. A critical aspect of self motivation is mental preparation, especially when aided by visualization. It is no secret that some of the most successful people, from professional athletes and entertainers to CEO's and entrepreneurs, visualize themselves achieving their goals. Before doing something, try imagining the outcome you want. Visualize it in as much detail as possible and think over it often.
Do not rely solely on self-discipline. A vital part of mental preparation is knowing your strengths, and probably more importantly, your weaknesses. Therefore, if you know you have a tendency to procrastinate on a certain type of task, make a commitment to it. Put it on your calendar, tell a colleague, even mention it on social media, and commit to completing it. It is always a good idea to finish what you feel resistant to first. Just get it out of the way, and move on to more pleasant and enjoyable tasks. Give meaning to your tasks by remembering why you are doing them. Staying motivated can be difficult if don't you find what you are doing meaningful, so remind yourself why it is significant.
Remember that productivity is a personal and cyclical process. It cannot simply be tapped into whenever necessary, unfortunately. Learn what makes you feel most productive throughout your day and do more of it. Establish daily habits that foster your productivity, and be sure to do the important, labor intensive tasks at the times of day when you feel most productive.
3. Goals & Plans
"A goal without a plan is just a wish." --Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Goals and plans are integral to self motivation. Consequently, it is impossible to stay motivated without them. When you set goals, you invest yourself in them and begin to lay the foundation of the path you will follow to achieve them. Those who set big goals, accomplish great things, so don't be afraid of your ambition.
Let your long-term goals help determine your daily objectives. Once you have written them down, go about breaking them into smaller, more specific, short-term goals. This will be expressly helpful when you start feeling overwhelmed, as it will give you smaller, more actionable steps to focus on.
It is not enough to simply set goals, however. Every goal needs a plan to bring it to fruition. After a goal has been set, think about the action steps necessary to reach it. Set reminders to help you remember to do the important tasks that will lead to achieving your goals. If you run into obstacles that are in the way of your plans, simply do as Confucius suggests: "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, and adjust the action steps."
4. Creative Problem Solving
“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” --Abraham H. Maslow
Sometimes it takes a little creativity to stay motivated, along with some creative problem solving. Figure out what works for you, and feel free to play by your own rules. Shake it up a bit, and tune out external influences that tell you how you "should" be doing something. Perhaps you enjoy variety and would benefit from diversifying your work space. Maybe you could have different environments to encourage the different aspects of your work. There is not one way to motivate a person, which is why self motivation is so important. No one knows how to motivate you better than you, so dive in and find your motivation.
Set standards for yourself that are high, but not unrealistic. Make sure they are challenging to bolster your motivation, but attainable to avoid becoming discouraged. If you find yourself feeling discouraged, take a step back and critically evaluate your plan. If some of the steps are out of reach at the moment, simply adjust them or add action steps that help bridge the gap between you and your loftier goals.
5. Self Care
"Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” --Deborah Day
Taking care of yourself is also crucial to maintaining your self motivation. It's hard to be motivated when you are feeling overwhelmed and frazzled. Just as you do not want to be taken for granted by others, make sure you show yourself the appreciation you deserve. Be sure to set aside time for yourself. Do things you enjoy that also allow you to recharge your battery. Reward yourself. It's a great idea to celebrate reaching goals and milestones, not matter how small, to help motivate you to keep going.
Talk to yourself. Doing so creates new neural pathways in your brain. Repeat a few positive, loving affirmations that make you feel good about who you are and the path you are on. Along with your affirmations, write down inspirational quotes that speak to you, and be sure to participate in activities that inspire you. Inspiration and motivation go hand-in-hand, and they encourage you to stay positive. You know what makes you feel good, so do more of it.
Additionally, take multiple breaks when the task at hand allows for it. This may seem counterintuitive, but giving yourself a number of opportunities to recharge throughout the workday is paramount to staying motivated. Great success is often found in the Pomodoro Technique, which advocates taking many small breaks. The basic idea is to decide on a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, work until the timer goes off, and take a 5 minute break. You may want to take a 15 or 20 minute break about every fourth time. This method won't always work, but can be a refreshing way to work through certain types of tasks.
To Conclude
Staying motivated is key to the success of any entrepreneur, but is not always easy to maintain. A sense of purpose helps spark your motivation, and mental preparation helps keep you motivated. Set goals and make actionable plans to help you achieve them. Be creative in your pursuit of your goals, and give yourself permission to do things the way that works the best for you. Furthermore, take good care of yourself. You are of no use to anyone if you are drained, and especially if you are unhealthy. Make time to rest, rejuvenate, and participate in activities that inspire you. Being an entrepreneur is a lot of hard work. Remember to be kind to yourself.
Danielle Dandridge is a web designer, front end web developer, photographer, and freelance writer in the southeastern United States. She primarily specializes in areas related to her fields including social media, organic SEO, and photo editing, as well as topics like motivation, inspiration, entrepreneurship, and more. Please visit her diverse portfolio at elle.d6collab.com to see what she can do for you, and feel free to get in touch with her at danielle@d6collab.com.
1. Sense of Purpose
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” --Mark Twain
There is one major question all people wrestle with: "Why am I here?" Highly motivated people have a strong sense of purpose. If you are unsure of yours, ask yourself a few key questions: What are my interests? What do I enjoy doing? What lights me up and ignites my passion? What do I want to accomplish in life? What impact do I wish to make? How can I use my talents and skills to effect change in the world? Really think about these questions, and take your time answering them. Writing your answers down allows them to take root, and may also help clarify your vision for the future.
Begin with a set of tasks that motivate and inspire you. These will differ from person to person, so give yourself permission to experiment until you find what works for you. Here are some ideas to get you started: take a hot shower, listen to music that motivates you, stretch, go for a walk, exercise, light scented candles, set up your work space, etc.
Knowing what you are meant to do in the world shapes what you do each day. Stay motivated by writing your purpose and keeping it with you. You can even try creating your own personal vision or mission statement. It can help keep you on track as you plot the course to fulfilling your purpose.
2. Mental Preparation & Visualization
"The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck." --Tony Robbins
Sometimes your own vision for your future can be overwhelming. That is where preparedness comes into play. A critical aspect of self motivation is mental preparation, especially when aided by visualization. It is no secret that some of the most successful people, from professional athletes and entertainers to CEO's and entrepreneurs, visualize themselves achieving their goals. Before doing something, try imagining the outcome you want. Visualize it in as much detail as possible and think over it often.
Do not rely solely on self-discipline. A vital part of mental preparation is knowing your strengths, and probably more importantly, your weaknesses. Therefore, if you know you have a tendency to procrastinate on a certain type of task, make a commitment to it. Put it on your calendar, tell a colleague, even mention it on social media, and commit to completing it. It is always a good idea to finish what you feel resistant to first. Just get it out of the way, and move on to more pleasant and enjoyable tasks. Give meaning to your tasks by remembering why you are doing them. Staying motivated can be difficult if don't you find what you are doing meaningful, so remind yourself why it is significant.
Remember that productivity is a personal and cyclical process. It cannot simply be tapped into whenever necessary, unfortunately. Learn what makes you feel most productive throughout your day and do more of it. Establish daily habits that foster your productivity, and be sure to do the important, labor intensive tasks at the times of day when you feel most productive.
3. Goals & Plans
"A goal without a plan is just a wish." --Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Goals and plans are integral to self motivation. Consequently, it is impossible to stay motivated without them. When you set goals, you invest yourself in them and begin to lay the foundation of the path you will follow to achieve them. Those who set big goals, accomplish great things, so don't be afraid of your ambition.
Let your long-term goals help determine your daily objectives. Once you have written them down, go about breaking them into smaller, more specific, short-term goals. This will be expressly helpful when you start feeling overwhelmed, as it will give you smaller, more actionable steps to focus on.
It is not enough to simply set goals, however. Every goal needs a plan to bring it to fruition. After a goal has been set, think about the action steps necessary to reach it. Set reminders to help you remember to do the important tasks that will lead to achieving your goals. If you run into obstacles that are in the way of your plans, simply do as Confucius suggests: "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, and adjust the action steps."
4. Creative Problem Solving
“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” --Abraham H. Maslow
Sometimes it takes a little creativity to stay motivated, along with some creative problem solving. Figure out what works for you, and feel free to play by your own rules. Shake it up a bit, and tune out external influences that tell you how you "should" be doing something. Perhaps you enjoy variety and would benefit from diversifying your work space. Maybe you could have different environments to encourage the different aspects of your work. There is not one way to motivate a person, which is why self motivation is so important. No one knows how to motivate you better than you, so dive in and find your motivation.
Set standards for yourself that are high, but not unrealistic. Make sure they are challenging to bolster your motivation, but attainable to avoid becoming discouraged. If you find yourself feeling discouraged, take a step back and critically evaluate your plan. If some of the steps are out of reach at the moment, simply adjust them or add action steps that help bridge the gap between you and your loftier goals.
5. Self Care
"Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” --Deborah Day
Taking care of yourself is also crucial to maintaining your self motivation. It's hard to be motivated when you are feeling overwhelmed and frazzled. Just as you do not want to be taken for granted by others, make sure you show yourself the appreciation you deserve. Be sure to set aside time for yourself. Do things you enjoy that also allow you to recharge your battery. Reward yourself. It's a great idea to celebrate reaching goals and milestones, not matter how small, to help motivate you to keep going.
Talk to yourself. Doing so creates new neural pathways in your brain. Repeat a few positive, loving affirmations that make you feel good about who you are and the path you are on. Along with your affirmations, write down inspirational quotes that speak to you, and be sure to participate in activities that inspire you. Inspiration and motivation go hand-in-hand, and they encourage you to stay positive. You know what makes you feel good, so do more of it.
Additionally, take multiple breaks when the task at hand allows for it. This may seem counterintuitive, but giving yourself a number of opportunities to recharge throughout the workday is paramount to staying motivated. Great success is often found in the Pomodoro Technique, which advocates taking many small breaks. The basic idea is to decide on a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, work until the timer goes off, and take a 5 minute break. You may want to take a 15 or 20 minute break about every fourth time. This method won't always work, but can be a refreshing way to work through certain types of tasks.
To Conclude
Staying motivated is key to the success of any entrepreneur, but is not always easy to maintain. A sense of purpose helps spark your motivation, and mental preparation helps keep you motivated. Set goals and make actionable plans to help you achieve them. Be creative in your pursuit of your goals, and give yourself permission to do things the way that works the best for you. Furthermore, take good care of yourself. You are of no use to anyone if you are drained, and especially if you are unhealthy. Make time to rest, rejuvenate, and participate in activities that inspire you. Being an entrepreneur is a lot of hard work. Remember to be kind to yourself.
Danielle Dandridge is a web designer, front end web developer, photographer, and freelance writer in the southeastern United States. She primarily specializes in areas related to her fields including social media, organic SEO, and photo editing, as well as topics like motivation, inspiration, entrepreneurship, and more. Please visit her diverse portfolio at elle.d6collab.com to see what she can do for you, and feel free to get in touch with her at danielle@d6collab.com.
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