Being an entrepreneur can be tough. There’s always so many things that have to be done during the day. It can be tempting to procrastinate or even give up entirely. Deep down, you know that’s not what you want. But how do you keep yourself motivated when there’s so much work to be done? Here are five tips for staying motivated when the going gets tough.
Keep your goals where you can see them
This is a trick that’s used by virtually all great entrepreneurs. The idea is to write down your goals and keep them in a place where you can see them everyday. This helps you stay motivated and focused. People who don’t keep their goals in the forefront of their minds have a tendency to drift away from them or even forget them. By writing your goals and reviewing them multiple times a day, you can ensure this doesn’t happen to you.
Focus on your reasons
The reasons behind your goals are going to be the main things driving you forward. Maybe you want to make a better life for your family. Maybe you want to achieve financial freedom for yourself. Whatever your reasons are, you want to continuously remind yourself of them. You also want to think about what can happen if you don’t achieve your goals.
A former mentor of mine once recommended writing down the reasons for my goals everyday. That may seem a little intense, but it just goes to show how important this concept is.
Visualize achieving your goals
This is a trick I learned from Napoleon Hill’s classic book, Think and Grow Rich. The idea is to create a picture of what you want in your mind and then live into that picture. As you do this, you want to imagine how you’ll feel after you’ve accomplished your goals. Napoleon Hill recommended dedicating thirty minutes a day to visualization. This may sound like a lot, but it can make a real, tangible difference in how you feel about your work.
Make friends in high places
Very few things are as motivating as associating yourself with others who are already successful. The people you spend time with have an effect on how you live your life. Seek the people who are already successful in your field and find out how you can help them or work with them. Along with being incredibly inspiring, this can benefit your business in a number of other ways. Plus, you might find a new mentor along the way.
Avoid becoming a workaholic
One reason people become unmotivated to work is because they burn themselves out. They work until they have nothing left. If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, you’re going to have to dedicate yourself to your business for the long haul. To do this, you’re going to have to take some time to recharge every now and then. I personally recommend you decide on a stopping point every night. This gives you a chance to unwind after a hard day’s work. And of course, don’t forget to spend time with your friends and family while you’re at it.