Let's face it - the hours needed to breathe life into a new on-line business are long, and profitability is never guaranteed. During the first few months, many people would find working a paper route more profitable than launching a new on-line business. The ability to stay motivated and believe in themselves is one of those intangibles that seem to be ingrained deep within the DNA of every successful businessperson.
I have long been fascinated by the human psyche, and in particular, why some people are seemingly destined for success at a young age while others are bound to be living hand-to-mouth their entire lives? The answer is surprisingly simple - it's attitude. It was Napoleon Hill who made famous the idea that you could Think and Grow Rich. When you are working on your business in a positive and authentic way, that vibe comes through to your customers. For truly successful people, failure is simply not an option. They have a burning desire to prove something to themselves, the self confidence to believe in themselves and a stubbornness to never, ever quit.
Having the ability to remain positive in the face of adversity is critical, or in the words of Napoleon Hill, Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. All entrepreneurs will find themselves, at some point, questioning whether they want to continue with their business " whether their efforts are meaningful. Ultimately, those who choose to remain positive will be successful. This is not always easy, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when your enthusiasm begins to wane. This list starts with the easy suggestions and becomes progressively more difficult.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to give yourself regular positive reinforcement. For example, use your iPhone/Android/Blackberry ringtones to remind you of the things that 'put fire in your belly' - I have a different sound profiles set for each one of my email accounts - for email I receive from my blog, I hear the sound of a cash register.
2. Visualization Techniques " If you have ever seen the 2006 movie The Secret, you may remember John Assaraf describing his use of Vision Boards. Initially I was skeptical, however, 6 months after creating her first Vision Board, my wife completed her first half marathon. To create a Vision Board, Assaraf suggests that you gather pictures and quotes that either inspire you or represent your goals and dreams. Glue each of these images to some poster board, then hang the poster in a place where you will catch your eye frequently throughout the day. My first vision board was a PowerPoint slideshow which I turned into a screensaver. I found that this kept my goals top of mind', which meant I made decisions each day that allowed me to accomplish my dream.
3. Keep a list of the movies, books or quotes that provide you with inspiration. My all-time favorite quote is 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. Develop your personal mantra - words have incredible power. Put together a short sentence short sentences of positive, primal affirming words that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit. Mantras can be short (i.e."Lets do this") or wider reaching ("I only manifest the best in my life - prosperity comes naturally to me). Keep a copy of this phrase in your wallet or taped to your computer monitor.
5. This won't work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be incredibly helpful. Sitting quietly for 10 minutes provides a clear perspective on things and allow you to distinguish between competing priorities. The goal of meditation is to stop thinking and just focus on breathing.
6. Go help somebody - online entrepreneurs can spend most of their time alone. Reconnecting with actual living human beings will lift your spirits, and helping somebody else will help you feel encouraged.
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. Cut the toxic people from your life and make sure the people you associate with are people who give you energy. There are two types of people in the world - those who pump you up and those who bring you down. Whether you recognize it or not, people tend to be a reflection of their peers. Make sure you associate with people who bring out the best in you.
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.
I have long been fascinated by the human psyche, and in particular, why some people are seemingly destined for success at a young age while others are bound to be living hand-to-mouth their entire lives? The answer is surprisingly simple - it's attitude. It was Napoleon Hill who made famous the idea that you could Think and Grow Rich. When you are working on your business in a positive and authentic way, that vibe comes through to your customers. For truly successful people, failure is simply not an option. They have a burning desire to prove something to themselves, the self confidence to believe in themselves and a stubbornness to never, ever quit.
Having the ability to remain positive in the face of adversity is critical, or in the words of Napoleon Hill, Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. All entrepreneurs will find themselves, at some point, questioning whether they want to continue with their business " whether their efforts are meaningful. Ultimately, those who choose to remain positive will be successful. This is not always easy, so here are 10 ways to find motivation when your enthusiasm begins to wane. This list starts with the easy suggestions and becomes progressively more difficult.
Basic Strategies
1. Find small ways to give yourself regular positive reinforcement. For example, use your iPhone/Android/Blackberry ringtones to remind you of the things that 'put fire in your belly' - I have a different sound profiles set for each one of my email accounts - for email I receive from my blog, I hear the sound of a cash register.
2. Visualization Techniques " If you have ever seen the 2006 movie The Secret, you may remember John Assaraf describing his use of Vision Boards. Initially I was skeptical, however, 6 months after creating her first Vision Board, my wife completed her first half marathon. To create a Vision Board, Assaraf suggests that you gather pictures and quotes that either inspire you or represent your goals and dreams. Glue each of these images to some poster board, then hang the poster in a place where you will catch your eye frequently throughout the day. My first vision board was a PowerPoint slideshow which I turned into a screensaver. I found that this kept my goals top of mind', which meant I made decisions each day that allowed me to accomplish my dream.
3. Keep a list of the movies, books or quotes that provide you with inspiration. My all-time favorite quote is 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. Develop your personal mantra - words have incredible power. Put together a short sentence short sentences of positive, primal affirming words that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit. Mantras can be short (i.e."Lets do this") or wider reaching ("I only manifest the best in my life - prosperity comes naturally to me). Keep a copy of this phrase in your wallet or taped to your computer monitor.
5. This won't work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be incredibly helpful. Sitting quietly for 10 minutes provides a clear perspective on things and allow you to distinguish between competing priorities. The goal of meditation is to stop thinking and just focus on breathing.
6. Go help somebody - online entrepreneurs can spend most of their time alone. Reconnecting with actual living human beings will lift your spirits, and helping somebody else will help you feel encouraged.
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. Cut the toxic people from your life and make sure the people you associate with are people who give you energy. There are two types of people in the world - those who pump you up and those who bring you down. Whether you recognize it or not, people tend to be a reflection of their peers. Make sure you associate with people who bring out the best in you.
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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