When you are running your own business it is very hard to stay motivated. I think the main reason for this is because there is no one telling you what to do and you’re on your own schedule. Because of this you can become very lazy and not get as much done. I have experienced this quite a few times. I get very lazy and don’t feel like doing work then I realize that I’m not making as much money and I’m like oh crap. It becomes apparent to me that sometimes my only motivation is having enough money to pay my bills and maintain my lifestyle. This is no way to be because you can become so lazy that doing the basic functions of your work become too much for you. There are quite a few ways I stay motivated.
Setting Goals – I try to set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. The daily goals are more like lists of things that I want to get done that day. The list keeps me on track and also reminds me of what I need to get done. Weekly goals are like a list but have a number value like, “Have 5 reviews posted on ThinkComputers” or something to that effect. My monthly goals are somewhat the same as my weekly goals, but they also contain things that can take up to a month to complete.
Working Towards Something – This is another great way to stay motivated. Do you want that brand new car, video game, laptop, etc? What better way to stay motivated than working towards the goal of getting what you want. Of course your goal could be to be to have financial freedom, but that is more like a lifetime goal. Working towards small things like a new cell phone, laptop, etc should help you stay motivated.
Wanting to better your business – When ThinkComputers started I never imagined it would be what it is today, but I am always trying to make it better. Some things to “better the business” for ThinkComputers would be to try and make it more respected in the industry, get more sponsors, and put out quality reviews. If you care about your business and continually strive to make it better it will succeed.
Not getting discouraged easily – Some websites that I have started have failed and some are struggling, but I always try to stay positive, because I do have successful websites that are keeping me from working the 9-5 job. When something goes wrong I try to stay positive and work through the problems rather than giving up.
Being “Hungry” – Well if you are anything like me there are things that you imagine having, that nice car, luxury boat, etc. In reality many of us may not get these things, but it is always good to stay “hungry” to have such things. Being “hungry” basically means you want more than what you currently are making. Believe me I’m HUNGRY!
Hopefully this information is helpful to all the website owners out there and can help them get through some tough times. Being motivated has really helped me out a lot in my endeavors.