Do you find yourself wondering what are the keys to motivation?
Even when you are in business for yourself, it’s still important to have some focus on your own personal development. I believe that there are three main things that are essential to successful personal development and motivation to do so! This will ultimately lead you to the success you wish for 🙂
1. INSPIRATION
Inspiration is crucial to staying motivated and improving yourself. If you are not interested in your business, you will not be motivated to do what it takes and you will not be able to sustain interest for very long.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest them in the least.
These people grow weary and uninterested pretty quickly because they have no real inspiration or passion to sustain them during the tough times they’ll encounter as a business owner or entrepreneur.
If you do not enjoy your work, then think how you can re-focus your business to better match your needs. Or consider making a change completely. Without inspiration, you will not feel motivated and personal development gets put on the back burner!
2. SETTING GOALS
Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you don’t set goals, you won’t have a definite purpose on which path you are on.
How could you muster up motivation if you were unsure about the direction of your company?
Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound a wee bit daunting, but it is really nothing more than goals, strategies, action plan and a budget. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually.
Include mini-goals that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days or weeks as well as the more ambitious grand-goals that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.
Written goals will make you feel more professional, organized and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.
3. NETWORKING
Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is networking with other business owners and entrepreneurs. Connection to support and resources is a very supportive facet to growing your business.
The isolation of working alone is of one the most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. You can never achieve personal development without the help of others.
Make it easier to start networking by connecting with others either in your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you’ll often find similarities and even ways to work together.
Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of the business. Working together, a networking group can help its members generate more qualified sales leads and solve problems faster and more efficiently.
Sharing ideas, expertise and experience is also an invaluable aspect of motivation and personal development.
Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem a bit overwhelming.
With your network to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process. You’ll feel motivated to accomplish what you need to do when you know you are not alone.
Focusing on these three items will help you feel motivated, confident AND successful 🙂
Moira, I really appreciate that you advise breaking big goals into mini goals. I am going to give that a go with some of my larger projects! I think you are so right about finding a networking group. The right group can make all the difference in the world! Great post, thank you!
Great post, Moira. Sometimes you have to take a step back and remember the basics. Goal-setting is definitely one of them. It’s easy to just fly by the seat of your pants, but it’s often much more productive to set goals, figure out the steps to get there, and then move forward with intention.
As a solo-preneur motivational speaker/author, occasionally the cobbler’s kids have no shoes. It is so good to be reminded of these key ingredients. Having pulled back from networking (to finish a book and several recordings), I see what the neglect has done to my momentum. Getting back in the game as we speak! : )
Great post! Thank you!
I agree, Moira. I find that you’ve got to work on your business as well as your own personal development. I also believe networking is so important and helps keep you motivated and inspired in your business.
All of these things are so important in our lives. We not only need the persoanl development and networking for our businesses, we need it for ourselves! Great reminder 🙂
These are all really important pieces of the puzzle not only for business but for the rest of our lives as well. For me networking was always the hurdle, but now that I’m getting better at it my business, and my life in general, are moving ahead at warp speed. Great post Moira!