Small Business Tips
How Small Business Owners Can Get and Stay Motivated
As an entrepreneur can tell you, running a business isn’t always easy. Because of this reality, it’s not uncommon for business owners to feel burnt out, fed up, or just unmotivated at times. While this is certainly a natural part of being human, pulling yourself out of your these ruts is how the true entrepreneurs stand out and is what allows them to succeed.
Whether you’re currently in a slump or want to help stay motivated before one hits, here are a few ways to make that happen:
Create a mission statement and consistently set new goals
Growing a small business means looking forward and changing while also staying true to what your company is and the values you and your employees share. That’s why entrepreneurs should create mission statements when starting a business. This should state their main vision for the company, what the key elements are that make the business special, and what you ultimately hope to achieve. Reading this mission statement regularly will help keep you on track, although don’t be afraid to change it over time if necessary.
Similarly it’s important to set and reassess your goals from time to time. While your mission statement should lay out your long-term aspirations, setting additional short-term goals will help guide you toward that larger objective and motivate you to reach the next milestone. Just be sure that your goals are realistic, specific, and measurable so that you can monitor (and celebrate) your progress.
Have others hold you accountable and allow them to encourage you
Another great thing about having a company mission statement is that you can share it with your employees so that they will fully understand your vision and values as well. Furthermore this will allow them to help hold you accountable should you start to lose your way. By setting up an environment where your team feels empowered to be open and honest with you, you’ll also be creating a culture ripe for motivation when you need it most.
Motivate others and share your advice
Just as you hope your employees will offer their suggestions and ideas, sharing your advice with friends or loved ones and attempting to motivate them could serve to inspire you as well. To that note, you might also want to look into how you can help younger, aspiring entrepreneurs either online or in person. Seeing their drive and determination might just serve to reignite that entrepreneurial spark in you.
Try new things
Sometimes what you really need is to shake things up. This doesn’t mean you should sacrifice the core proficiency of your business or make overly risky moves just for the heck of it, but you should be open to trying things that push you beyond your typical comfort zone. Like with any business decision, these plans should be well thought out and assessed but, aside from that, don’t be afraid to try something new — the exhilaration can be just what you need to bring that motivation back.
Regardless of whether you’ve been a business owner for five months or 15 years, there can be times when you feel jaded, stuck, or just downright unhappy. In these times it’s important to shake yourself out of your funk and reclaim the passion that inspired you to start your business in the first place. Having a mission statement you share with your team, setting regular goals, maintaining an open door policy, helping to inspire others, and trying new things will help you to stay motivated and help your business to reach its full potential.
