"It’s not the about the
destination; it’s the journey."
With all the twists and turns of
entrepreneurship, at some point we get tired,
jaded, disappointed, overwhelmed and bitter.
We feel like letting go of our three employees
and moving to Timbuktu… or worse, keeping
a 9-5. But, we must press on because we
know why we started this painful journey in
the first place, and that my friends is THE
MAJOR KEY that the wise old DJ Khaled talks
about. We must - keep our eyes on the ball.
That ball not being the outcome of hard
work, but instead the reason or reasons we
started in the first place.
Motivation is a funny thing. Some people are
motivated by the idea of making someone in
their life proud, others by shaming people in
their lives, others by defying societal norms,
and the list goes on and could include any
mix of reasons. However, it is important to
find a source of motivation that is internal so
that when external reasons fade there is still
something there that drives you. This can be
done by having a mission that’s bigger than
the business. Get real about how your
business impacts the lives of those it serves. A
business built solely around the possibility of
earning money will begin to burst at the
seams once financial pressure is applied.
Ensure that you pinpoint how your business
positively impacts society, and use that as
guiding light when you get stuck in the dark
fog of procrastination and apathy.
Inspiration sparks motivation. Watch a
documentary, a movie, a Ted talk, read about
ISSUE:4 APRIL 2019
someone you admire, go to a conference or
networking event. Make time to be inspired.
It’s easy to feel like one doesn’t have time for
anything more than work or sleep, but being
inspired and consequently keeping motivated
are important parts of the journey. Become
conscious of the things that trigger that spark
of inspiration, and ensure you make time for
them.
Another thing entrepreneurs sometimes take
for granted is how important it is to feel
rejuvenated and refreshed. Being physically
worn down drains our mental reserves. We
can’t work ourselves until we have no energy
to be motivated. We have to decompress.
Pencil out some personal time... some time
where you don’t have to worry about what’s
next on your to-do list. This shouldn’t be time
you arbitrarily squeeze in, but time you
schedule as a regular part of your routine. Go
play with your kids for crying out loud, take
your partner out, go to the beach, get a
pedicure, or just sleep in.
"Birds of a feather, flock
together."
The saying your mother used when she was
concerned about the company you kept.
Being an entrepreneur is a very lonely,
individual journey. But, the journey feels a bit
easier when we are surrounded by others
who have been through, or are going through
some of the same things. It helps to surround
yourself with like-minded people; persons
who share your drive and ambition. They can
become a source of inspiration, therapy, or
just a shoulder to complain on. When you
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