Don’t Give Up – Keep Going!

When you are employed by someone else you are usually given incentives to keep you working to the standard desired by your employers. However, being your own boss can have set backs where motivation is concerned. You have to find ways to motivate yourself and this is sometimes difficult.


Working for yourself can give many more rewards than performing a job on an hourly rate but when times are hard there will be occasions when you may feel like giving up. Remember, you chose to be your own boss and are, therefore, the one responsible for your success. Here are some ways to make yourself feel motivated again.

1. Prepare a list of the reasons you decided to start up in business on your own. You had great motivation at the beginning just to do it so spending some time referring back to how you felt at that time can put you in a similar mind set. Keep your list safe for future reference.

2. Lay down some goals and make sure you are rewarded for achieving them. Goal setting will help you stay on track and the rewards will provide the extra incentive to strive for the next goal.

3. Maintain contact with other business owners. They can often inspire you if they have found themselves in the same situation in the past but managed to pick themselves up and got back on track. Networking provides helpful advice and problem sharing which can lighten your heavy load a little.

4. An investment in books, seminars or motivational videos and CD’s should be considered. They are all good tools to help you get back on your feet. There are many of these on the market so if you are not sure which one to choose, ask your fellow business owners for their recommendations.

5. Take a break from it all. Sometimes if you have been working long hours on a constant basis you feel you are not reaping the rewards you deserve. Take a break for a long weekend, get someone else to take your calls and check your mail. After a well earned break you will come back with a much clearer head and ready to take on the world.

6. Take on hire help. There is sure to be an area of your work that you really do not like doing, so if you hire someone else to do this part of the job, you will then be able to dedicate more time to the aspects of the business which you enjoy.

Keeping motivated is vital to the success of your business. When motivation is lost, your work will suffer and set backs will occur. Spend a little time reminding yourself just what you set out to achieve, take the necessary steps to re-energize yourself and you will regain the enthusiasm you need to take you through the tough times and see the light at the end of the tunnel.