“How do you stay so motivated?” I get that question a lot and I can easily understand why many entrepreneurs lose their motivation on a regular basis.
First of all, I believe it’s human nature. Nobody is motivated ALL the time. And if they tell you that they are, then they are lying.
I was telling my girlfriend over the weekend that I just wanted to run away from it all and she was shocked. She said she thought that everything was always sunshine and roses for me in my business. Seriously?!! My business is made up of human beings just like everyone else’s – and where 2 or more humans are gathered, there are challenges, problems, complaints, concerns, and more. I had lost my motivation, temporarily.
Motivation comes from within. And there are many types of motivation – google the word and you will see what I mean. I typically lose my own motivation when I am tired or experiencing a lot of jet lag. My energy is depleted and it affects me emotionally. What makes me different is that I know how to turn that around and do it quickly.
Let me give you some of the techniques I use on a regular basis to stay motivated or to renew my motivation.
Admit to myself when I am feeling de-motivated. As Dr. Phil always says, ‘you’ve got to name it to claim it.’ As I wrote above, no one is motivated ALL the time. So, just accept that lack of motivation does happen. Get back in the game! That’s key. I believe in having ‘pity parties’ – I really do, LOL. When I am feeling a lack of motivation, I ‘schedule’ a party so there is a start time and an end time. Then, that’s it – over and done. Move on. Be clear on my Why. When I stay clear on my WHY in business, it’s easy to regain my motivation. My WHY drives me. It inspires me. It keeps me going. Keep my Success Cards. This is a weekly habit that I have followed for close to 20 years. Every Friday, I take a colored index card and write down the 5 successes of the week – they can be HUGE (landing a high paying speaking gig) or they can be small (not turning off the alarm so as to avoid exercise at 5:45 a. m.). I write them down, read them, internalize them, celebrate them. (I have a HUGE stack of success cards in my office and review them regularly.) Celebrate my successes. Most entrepreneurs just keep on going and never stop and make time to celebrate the successes. Listen – it’s not easy being an entrepreneur. It’s just not. If it was, everyone would be doing it. Make time to stop and celebrate in some small way each and every success along the journey – anything from buying yourself a pretty new pen, or putting extra money away in your vacation account. Share your successes with a friend or colleague – someone who knows and understands what you do (because many of the people in our circle do not!) – and allow yourself to wallow in the positive feedback from them. This builds your internal self-confidence and is a critical skill to being a successful entrepreneur. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Not everyone is good for you. Get rid of any toxic people in your circle. Be with inspiring people. Read motivational material. There’s so much good stuff out there!
Sound like a simple formula? Well, it is. Stop complicating things. Recognize that everyone loses their motivation at one time or another. The thing is to have a strategy for getting back on the horse, so to speak. And then take action.
So go ahead and acknowledge those times when you feel a lack of motivation. It’s OK. But know that motivation is an internal game. No one OUTSIDE of you can motivate you. It’s a ‘do it yourself’ project. They can inspire you. Only YOU can motivate YOU.
“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others” – Ayn Ran