Whether launching a 'traditional business' or an 'on-line business', the hours require to start a brand new business can be long, and the pay-off is uncertain. In the case of on-line entrepreneurs, profitability will only come after months of creating content and cultivating a loyal following. Perseverance and self confidence are personality traits common to all truly successful businesspeople.
I have long been fascinated by the human psyche, and in particular, why some people are seemingly destined for success at a young age while others are bound to be living hand-to-mouth their entire lives? The answer is surprisingly simple - it's attitude. It was Napoleon Hill who made famous the idea that you could Think and Grow Rich. When you are working on your business in a positive and authentic way, that vibe comes through to your customers. For truly successful people, failure is simply not an option. They have a burning desire to prove something to themselves, the self confidence to believe in themselves and a stubbornness to never, ever quit.
Having the ability to remain positive in the face of adversity is critical, or in the words of Napoleon Hill, Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. All entrepreneurs will find themselves, at some point, questioning whether they want to continue with their business " whether their efforts are meaningful. Ultimately, those who choose to remain positive will be successful. This is not always easy, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when your enthusiasm begins to wane. This list starts with the easy suggestions and becomes progressively more difficult.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
2. Create a Vision Board - I first heard about visualization from John Assaraf in the movie "The Secret" and was sceptical. The concept involves finding images that represent your dreams, goals and ambitions, then turning those images into a poster and keeping it somewhere where you will notice it several times each day. My wife tried it, and I noticed how it seemed to keep her on-track for a half marathon. I decided to give it a shot. My take on this was a little different - I put several PowerPoint slides together and saved them as images. These became my screen-saver and my computers wallpaper. I found the constant reminding was motivational, and eventually found that I was accomplishing each of the goals that I had initially set for myself. Check out the movie 'The Secret" if you need more help on visualization techniques.
3. Find quotes/movies/books that inspire you. Quotes have a way of cutting through the intellect and speaking straight to our soul. My favorite quote is, "Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary" from the 1989 movie "Dead Poets Society".
4. Adopt your own personal mantra. Words can be inspiring and hold incredible power, so choose your words carefully. Make sure that your personal mantra includes positive, affirming words that resonate with your ultimate goal. Some people prefer short, primal mantras ("Its go time!!!!") while others prefer more holistic statements ("I am powerful whole and complete within myself). Put this mantra in a place where you will see it throughout the day, like in your wallet or on your computer monitor.
5. Try meditation. Take 10 minutes out of your day and find a quiet place that has no distractions (no cell phone, email, twitter, etc). Sit still, close your eyes and focus only on breathing in and breathing out. If your mind wanders, consciously tell yourself to focus on your breath. In the beginning, 10 minutes feels like an eternity, but with practice you will improve. The mental clarity and ability to focus after meditating is fantastic. As well, taking a small mental break will provide you with a better ability to prioritize various tasks.
6. Go help somebody - online entrepreneurs can spend most of their time alone. Reconnecting with actual living human beings will lift your spirits, and helping somebody else will help you feel encouraged.
7. Don't check your AdSense account more often than you brush your teeth. This is really a weight-loss technique that I have adapted for this list. If you weigh yourself frequently when trying to lose weight, you will become unnecessarily discouraged every time the scale is not giving you positive reinforcement. Frequent checking of your AdSense account (or Chitika, or Kontera, or Amazon, or ... you get the idea) is both a waste of your time and provides you a small let-down if the balance has not moved. It is best to check the account no more than once a day.
Advanced Strategies
8. Cut the toxic people from your life and make sure the people you associate with are people who give you energy. There are two types of people in the world - those who pump you up and those who bring you down. Whether you recognize it or not, people tend to be a reflection of their peers. Make sure you associate with people who bring out the best in you.
9. Make sure your goals align with your 'true self'. Finding authenticity is easier said than done. Those who achieve high levels of success are totally comfortable in their own skin. Ensuring an alignment between your core values and your ultimate goal will give the best chance of fulfilling those goals. If your goals are at odds with your beliefs, doubts will continue to arise and undermine your planed success.
10. Stay balanced - if you let it, starting a business can consume all of your free time and attention. In the beginning, this is a necessary burst of creative energy as your plans start to take shape. It is very easy to spend all your time thinking about the business to the detriment of things like exercise and family. Don't burn yourself out and make sure to take the time to reconnect with the things that matter in your life. Make sure you are using your down time to reflect on how you spending your time in relation to achieving your original goal. Also realise that goals may shift over time. Shifting priorities are okay - the last thing you want to realize after having climbed the ladder is that you had it leaning against the wrong wall building.
I have long been fascinated by the human psyche, and in particular, why some people are seemingly destined for success at a young age while others are bound to be living hand-to-mouth their entire lives? The answer is surprisingly simple - it's attitude. It was Napoleon Hill who made famous the idea that you could Think and Grow Rich. When you are working on your business in a positive and authentic way, that vibe comes through to your customers. For truly successful people, failure is simply not an option. They have a burning desire to prove something to themselves, the self confidence to believe in themselves and a stubbornness to never, ever quit.
Having the ability to remain positive in the face of adversity is critical, or in the words of Napoleon Hill, Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. All entrepreneurs will find themselves, at some point, questioning whether they want to continue with their business " whether their efforts are meaningful. Ultimately, those who choose to remain positive will be successful. This is not always easy, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when your enthusiasm begins to wane. This list starts with the easy suggestions and becomes progressively more difficult.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
2. Create a Vision Board - I first heard about visualization from John Assaraf in the movie "The Secret" and was sceptical. The concept involves finding images that represent your dreams, goals and ambitions, then turning those images into a poster and keeping it somewhere where you will notice it several times each day. My wife tried it, and I noticed how it seemed to keep her on-track for a half marathon. I decided to give it a shot. My take on this was a little different - I put several PowerPoint slides together and saved them as images. These became my screen-saver and my computers wallpaper. I found the constant reminding was motivational, and eventually found that I was accomplishing each of the goals that I had initially set for myself. Check out the movie 'The Secret" if you need more help on visualization techniques.
3. Find quotes/movies/books that inspire you. Quotes have a way of cutting through the intellect and speaking straight to our soul. My favorite quote is, "Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary" from the 1989 movie "Dead Poets Society".
4. Adopt your own personal mantra. Words can be inspiring and hold incredible power, so choose your words carefully. Make sure that your personal mantra includes positive, affirming words that resonate with your ultimate goal. Some people prefer short, primal mantras ("Its go time!!!!") while others prefer more holistic statements ("I am powerful whole and complete within myself). Put this mantra in a place where you will see it throughout the day, like in your wallet or on your computer monitor.
5. Try meditation. Take 10 minutes out of your day and find a quiet place that has no distractions (no cell phone, email, twitter, etc). Sit still, close your eyes and focus only on breathing in and breathing out. If your mind wanders, consciously tell yourself to focus on your breath. In the beginning, 10 minutes feels like an eternity, but with practice you will improve. The mental clarity and ability to focus after meditating is fantastic. As well, taking a small mental break will provide you with a better ability to prioritize various tasks.
6. Go help somebody - online entrepreneurs can spend most of their time alone. Reconnecting with actual living human beings will lift your spirits, and helping somebody else will help you feel encouraged.
7. Don't check your AdSense account more often than you brush your teeth. This is really a weight-loss technique that I have adapted for this list. If you weigh yourself frequently when trying to lose weight, you will become unnecessarily discouraged every time the scale is not giving you positive reinforcement. Frequent checking of your AdSense account (or Chitika, or Kontera, or Amazon, or ... you get the idea) is both a waste of your time and provides you a small let-down if the balance has not moved. It is best to check the account no more than once a day.
Advanced Strategies
8. Cut the toxic people from your life and make sure the people you associate with are people who give you energy. There are two types of people in the world - those who pump you up and those who bring you down. Whether you recognize it or not, people tend to be a reflection of their peers. Make sure you associate with people who bring out the best in you.
9. Make sure your goals align with your 'true self'. Finding authenticity is easier said than done. Those who achieve high levels of success are totally comfortable in their own skin. Ensuring an alignment between your core values and your ultimate goal will give the best chance of fulfilling those goals. If your goals are at odds with your beliefs, doubts will continue to arise and undermine your planed success.
10. Stay balanced - if you let it, starting a business can consume all of your free time and attention. In the beginning, this is a necessary burst of creative energy as your plans start to take shape. It is very easy to spend all your time thinking about the business to the detriment of things like exercise and family. Don't burn yourself out and make sure to take the time to reconnect with the things that matter in your life. Make sure you are using your down time to reflect on how you spending your time in relation to achieving your original goal. Also realise that goals may shift over time. Shifting priorities are okay - the last thing you want to realize after having climbed the ladder is that you had it leaning against the wrong wall building.
About the Author:
Ryan's blog, How To Earn Money Online HQ, is dedicated to teaching online entrepreneurs the ethical strategies, techniques and internet business ideas to generate a lifetime of passive income.
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