Eddie Cantor once said, "It takes twenty years to become an overnight success". In the internet age, entrepreneurs can shorten this window considerably, however, the fact remains that long hours and significant effort are required prior to the launch of a new on-line business. During this pre-launch phase, ebbs and flows in energy levels will have an impact on our overall enthusiasm. One day, euphoria around breathing new life into what was once just a concept. The next day questioning whether the countless hours will ever result in eventual revenue. True entrepreneurs somehow find the self confidence and perseverance to forge ahead until their goals become reality.
How is it that some people seem to be destined for success from an early age, while others are not? The answer is easy - it has everything to do with maintaining a positive mental attitude. Napoleon Hill found his life's work in interview the most successful business people of his day so that he could educate future generations of the success habits of the ultra rich. His conclusion what that people who maintained a positive attitude could literally Think and Grow Rich. For those on the path to success (however defined), the concept of failure never crosses their mind. They have a fundamental need to prove something to themselves, and the self-confidence to believe themselves capable of handling any situation.
The mental side of running a business is, in my opinion, the most important determinant in whether your new company will succeed. At some point, every successful entrepreneur has had a moment of questioning whether their efforts are truly worth it. In the end, those who persevere are the ones who achieve the highest levels of success. Choosing to stay positive can be difficult, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when you feel yourself starting to lose enthusiasm. These are listed from easiest to hardest.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
2. Create a Vision Board - I first heard about visualization from John Assaraf in the movie "The Secret" and was sceptical. The concept involves finding images that represent your dreams, goals and ambitions, then turning those images into a poster and keeping it somewhere where you will notice it several times each day. My wife tried it, and I noticed how it seemed to keep her on-track for a half marathon. I decided to give it a shot. My take on this was a little different - I put several PowerPoint slides together and saved them as images. These became my screen-saver and my computers wallpaper. I found the constant reminding was motivational, and eventually found that I was accomplishing each of the goals that I had initially set for myself. Check out the movie 'The Secret" if you need more help on visualization techniques.
3. Keep a list of the books, movies and quotes that inspire you. Whenever I need a boost of energy, I play a clip of Robin Williams character John Keating from the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society: "They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary. "
4. Find your Mantra - Adam Kreek, Canadian Olympic Gold Medallist in Rowing from 2008, advocates finding a personal mantra to inspire success. While training for the 2008 games in Beijing, he repeated the phrase "I want a gold medal" thousands of times with each stroke that he took. Find something primal that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit, then stick it to the wall near your computer.
5. This may not work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be a powerful tool that helps provide clarity and focus. Try to find 10 minutes where you can cut all distractions, sit quietly and focus on nothing but breathing. Initially this is difficult, but with practice, you will find you are able to take your focus off your thoughts and just sit quietly. Many people find they operate at a greater level of mental clarity after meditating.
6. Reconnect with real humans - the only downside of working on-line is the isolation. You will feel better about yourself if you are able to get out of the house every so often. You will feel even better if you are able to help somebody else.
7. Frequent checking of your AdSense account or your Affiliate Sales stats is counter-productive. At best, you have made a sale and be motivated to continue. At worst, you just wasted your time and have felt discouraged with your lack of progress. If you allow this to happen several times a day, you become distracted from the serious tasks at hand. This is like dieters who weight themselves several times a day. It may be difficult, but try to limit yourself to checking your stats no more than once a day.
Advanced Strategies
8. Develop a positive support network - this could take the form of a MasterMind Group, friends or family. It is important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and can celebrate all of your mini-successes.
9. Ensure there is complete alignment between your core values and your business goals. If your goals are at odds with your 'true self', your subconscious will find ways to derail your success. Finding authenticity is easier said than done, but is a distinguishing character trait amongst highly successful individuals.
10. Keep the balance in your life - if you let it, creating a business can consume all of your time and attention. Being all consumed in the initial stages is quite normal, but once your business plan is set, be sure to set boundaries. Otherwise, a pattern of workaholism will root to the detriment of things like family and exercise and will eventually lead to burn-out. Keeping balance also gives you a chance to reflect on your goals - it is normal for goals to shift over time. Without this introspection, you may find yourself climbing the metaphorical ladder leaning against the wrong wall.
How is it that some people seem to be destined for success from an early age, while others are not? The answer is easy - it has everything to do with maintaining a positive mental attitude. Napoleon Hill found his life's work in interview the most successful business people of his day so that he could educate future generations of the success habits of the ultra rich. His conclusion what that people who maintained a positive attitude could literally Think and Grow Rich. For those on the path to success (however defined), the concept of failure never crosses their mind. They have a fundamental need to prove something to themselves, and the self-confidence to believe themselves capable of handling any situation.
The mental side of running a business is, in my opinion, the most important determinant in whether your new company will succeed. At some point, every successful entrepreneur has had a moment of questioning whether their efforts are truly worth it. In the end, those who persevere are the ones who achieve the highest levels of success. Choosing to stay positive can be difficult, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when you feel yourself starting to lose enthusiasm. These are listed from easiest to hardest.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
2. Create a Vision Board - I first heard about visualization from John Assaraf in the movie "The Secret" and was sceptical. The concept involves finding images that represent your dreams, goals and ambitions, then turning those images into a poster and keeping it somewhere where you will notice it several times each day. My wife tried it, and I noticed how it seemed to keep her on-track for a half marathon. I decided to give it a shot. My take on this was a little different - I put several PowerPoint slides together and saved them as images. These became my screen-saver and my computers wallpaper. I found the constant reminding was motivational, and eventually found that I was accomplishing each of the goals that I had initially set for myself. Check out the movie 'The Secret" if you need more help on visualization techniques.
3. Keep a list of the books, movies and quotes that inspire you. Whenever I need a boost of energy, I play a clip of Robin Williams character John Keating from the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society: "They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary. "
4. Find your Mantra - Adam Kreek, Canadian Olympic Gold Medallist in Rowing from 2008, advocates finding a personal mantra to inspire success. While training for the 2008 games in Beijing, he repeated the phrase "I want a gold medal" thousands of times with each stroke that he took. Find something primal that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit, then stick it to the wall near your computer.
5. This may not work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be a powerful tool that helps provide clarity and focus. Try to find 10 minutes where you can cut all distractions, sit quietly and focus on nothing but breathing. Initially this is difficult, but with practice, you will find you are able to take your focus off your thoughts and just sit quietly. Many people find they operate at a greater level of mental clarity after meditating.
6. Reconnect with real humans - the only downside of working on-line is the isolation. You will feel better about yourself if you are able to get out of the house every so often. You will feel even better if you are able to help somebody else.
7. Frequent checking of your AdSense account or your Affiliate Sales stats is counter-productive. At best, you have made a sale and be motivated to continue. At worst, you just wasted your time and have felt discouraged with your lack of progress. If you allow this to happen several times a day, you become distracted from the serious tasks at hand. This is like dieters who weight themselves several times a day. It may be difficult, but try to limit yourself to checking your stats no more than once a day.
Advanced Strategies
8. Develop a positive support network - this could take the form of a MasterMind Group, friends or family. It is important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and can celebrate all of your mini-successes.
9. Ensure there is complete alignment between your core values and your business goals. If your goals are at odds with your 'true self', your subconscious will find ways to derail your success. Finding authenticity is easier said than done, but is a distinguishing character trait amongst highly successful individuals.
10. Keep the balance in your life - if you let it, creating a business can consume all of your time and attention. Being all consumed in the initial stages is quite normal, but once your business plan is set, be sure to set boundaries. Otherwise, a pattern of workaholism will root to the detriment of things like family and exercise and will eventually lead to burn-out. Keeping balance also gives you a chance to reflect on your goals - it is normal for goals to shift over time. Without this introspection, you may find yourself climbing the metaphorical ladder leaning against the wrong wall.
About the Author:
Ryan's blog, How To Earn Money Online HQ, is dedicated to teaching online entrepreneurs the ethical strategies, techniques and online business strategies to generate a lifetime of passive income.
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