“I don’t feel like working today. I’ve been really pushing hard lately. I think I’ll sleep in this morning.” Remember when you tried that on your boss? I bet it didn’t work very well. Sure, we all need a break once in a while. Yes, it’s hard to stay motivated sometimes. Yeah, I know, the world owes you for what you’ve already done. Blah, blah, blah… Get over it!
If you’re a business owner, you made a commitment to serve your customers. Entertainers probably understand this better than anyone. A Broadway show does not get canceled because one of the cast members woke up with a runny nose. David Copperfield doesn’t cancel a sold out show because he woke up that morning in a bad mood. David Letterman doesn’t cancel a show because he would rather go to a baseball game that day. The Show Must Go On!
Before you start arguing with me about the circumstances out of your control, keep in mind a good businessperson will usually have a ‘Plan B’ . That is not the point of this article. I’m talking about the commitment you made to your customers, and what to do when you just don’t feel motivated to follow through.
In many cases, just reminding yourself of your responsibility is enough to keep you motivated. I’ll be the first to admit that is not always enough. When you need that extra kick in the pants to keep you going, try some of these ideas:
- Look at why you are in business. If you find yourself unmotivated, and it happens a lot, you probably don’t have a big enough WHY. Why are you in business in the first place? Is it money? Family commitments? To change the world? What are the alternatives if you don’t continue?
- Make it fun. There are no rules that say you have to always be serious when running a business. Take time to play and be goofy once n a while! Why not? It’s your business. You make the rules.
- Acknowledge the progress you have already made. It’s OK to pat yourself on the back. Take a look at your past successes. Think about the struggles you have already pushed through to get you to today.
- Reward yourself. A simple “atta-boy” is a great motivator. You won’t always have someone around to tell you how good a job you have done. Do it yourself. Treat yourself to something when you have a breakthrough. Don’t get crazy here. You don’t need to take a trip to Vegas every time you make a sale!
- Remind yourself you are doing this for someone else. You probably wouldn’t be in business if you don’t like providing value to others. Feel the sense of pride you get from helping your customers.
- Keep it simple. Why is it we want to complicate things? It’s easy to become overwhelmed with tasks we have to do. Are some of your daily tasks even necessary? Could someone else do the ‘busy’ work for you?
- Get mad! What really pisses you off? Use your feelings of frustration as a motivator to do something, anything that brings you closer to your objective. Don’t just vent about it, do something. Change something!
- Change you work environment. If you work at home, grab what you need and head down to Starbucks for the day. Hang out at your kitchen table, instead of your office. Do something to change the scenery for the day.
- Picture your work already completed. Keep a vision in your mind what it’s going to feel like when you complete a task you dread. When you catch yourself thinking about what you don’t want, picture what you do want instead.
- Create momentum. Science tells us that something in motion tends to stay in motion. Each small success builds quickly and leads to great results. Break your tasks into small steps to create the momentum.
Do you have a ‘Show Must Go On’ attitude? What keeps you motivated? What would you add to this list?
