For years you've wanted to work from home and you finally do. You are no longer an employee with a job; you are now a business owner, a self-employed worker, master of your own destiny and you have inherited all the responsibilities that come with owning a business :
You are the manager
You are the commercial
You are the service provider
You are the accountant
And the list goes on. We're often so busy running our businesses that we forget why we started them in the first place.
So what does a small business owner do to stay motivated while working from home?
I'll try to answer this question in seven points.
1. Remember the "why".
Take a step back and remember why you started your business in the first place. What was your inspiration? It is helpful to focus on what you felt when you realized you wanted to succeed as a self-employed person. For me, it was the sense of freedom and independence that I knew would accompany success as an entrepreneur.
2. Give yourself a time frame.
If you're procrastinating about a project, you may be motivated by the pressure you're putting on yourself. Try to set a deadline that you won't want to come back to: send an e-mail to your friends to announce the launch of a new product, send an e-mail to your client to let them know the deadline for the big project you're working on, make reservations for your first class over the phone, you got it.
3. Maintain a support system.
One of the most difficult aspects of being a sole proprietor can be the feeling of isolation. When things go well (or badly), we no longer have the "water cooler" to go to. Make sure there is someone you can share with, someone who is available for a quick motivational talk when you need it.
4. Keep the goal in sight.
A simple but effective motivational tool is to keep your goals in sight literally. I took a picture of my dream house and made it the background for my computer screen. One look at this house is a megadose of motivation for me!
5. I'm taking a nap.
As counterintuitive as it may seem, taking a nap is one of the best ways to rejuvenate your body and mind. The next time you feel overwhelmed or depressed, read each of your goals slowly and carefully and take a nap. Let your subconscious mind work on ways to manifest these goals while you rest.
When you wake up, you'll be ready to go!
6. Reward yourself.
When you are faced with a big project, an unpleasant task, or anything that overwhelms you, plan a reward for once it's done. The reward can be as simple as a quiet bath with candles or as exciting as a professional sporting event. Just make sure you plan a reward that you want and enjoy!
7. Take a break.
You've probably never worked as hard as you did when you started your own business. In addition to "doing" all the work, you have to take care of marketing, billing and other general or "non-billable" tasks.
Don't get caught in the "all work and no play" trap. Make sure you take days off and breaks throughout the day to recharge and take a step back. Whenever I get stuck on a project, I pick up one of the dogs and go for a walk... By the time I get back to the office, things have usually worked themselves out in my head.
It doesn't matter how successful your home-based business is or how much you love working from home; new and established entrepreneurs alike face the motivation dilemma at one time or another and while some of the above motivational strategies may seem contradictory at first glance - taking a break for example - they all have their place in the life of a successful entrepreneur.
ISocial Plugin