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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 motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
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. Find quotes/movies/books that inspire you. Quotes have a way of cutting through the intellect and speaking straight to our soul. My favorite quote is, "Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary" from the 1989 movie "Dead Poets Society".
4. Find your Mantra - Adam Kreek, Canadian Olympic Gold Medallist in Rowing from 2008, advocates finding a personal mantra to inspire success. While training for the 2008 games in Beijing, he repeated the phrase "I want a gold medal" thousands of times with each stroke that he took. Find something primal that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit, then stick it to the wall near your computer.
5. This may not work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be a powerful tool that helps provide clarity and focus. Try to find 10 minutes where you can cut all distractions, sit quietly and focus on nothing but breathing. Initially this is difficult, but with practice, you will find you are able to take your focus off your thoughts and just sit quietly. Many people find they operate at a greater level of mental clarity after meditating.
6. Reconnect with real humans - the only downside of working on-line is the isolation. You will feel better about yourself if you are able to get out of the house every so often. You will feel even better if you are able to help somebody else.
7. Do not over monitor your progress. If you are trying to lose weight, is weighing yourself several times a day helpful? Probably not. It is distracting, counter-productive, and has the potential to cause a sense of discouragement. For the online entrepreneur, frequent checking of their AdSense account or Affiliate Sale is just as counter-productive. Checking your stats daily is more beneficial than checking them hourly.
Advanced Strategies
8. Develop a positive support network - this could take the form of a MasterMind Group, friends or family. It is important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and can celebrate all of your mini-successes.
9. Be authentic - this is easier said than done. Genuinely positive people are not conflicted with who they really are and whom they think others want them to be. Finding your own voice and making yourself vulnerable takes courage and is often-times a long, slow journey of self acceptance that can be easier for some than others.
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 motivate using positive reinforcement. For example, scribble your goals on your bathroom mirror, or post pictures of inspiring images in places where they can be seen several times each day. One trick that I find useful is to give my email a meaningful ringtone - with every email I receive, I hear the sound of a cash register ringing.
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. Find quotes/movies/books that inspire you. Quotes have a way of cutting through the intellect and speaking straight to our soul. My favorite quote is, "Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary" from the 1989 movie "Dead Poets Society".
4. Find your Mantra - Adam Kreek, Canadian Olympic Gold Medallist in Rowing from 2008, advocates finding a personal mantra to inspire success. While training for the 2008 games in Beijing, he repeated the phrase "I want a gold medal" thousands of times with each stroke that he took. Find something primal that resonates with your entrepreneurial spirit, then stick it to the wall near your computer.
5. This may not work for everybody, but I have found meditation to be a powerful tool that helps provide clarity and focus. Try to find 10 minutes where you can cut all distractions, sit quietly and focus on nothing but breathing. Initially this is difficult, but with practice, you will find you are able to take your focus off your thoughts and just sit quietly. Many people find they operate at a greater level of mental clarity after meditating.
6. Reconnect with real humans - the only downside of working on-line is the isolation. You will feel better about yourself if you are able to get out of the house every so often. You will feel even better if you are able to help somebody else.
7. Do not over monitor your progress. If you are trying to lose weight, is weighing yourself several times a day helpful? Probably not. It is distracting, counter-productive, and has the potential to cause a sense of discouragement. For the online entrepreneur, frequent checking of their AdSense account or Affiliate Sale is just as counter-productive. Checking your stats daily is more beneficial than checking them hourly.
Advanced Strategies
8. Develop a positive support network - this could take the form of a MasterMind Group, friends or family. It is important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and can celebrate all of your mini-successes.
9. Be authentic - this is easier said than done. Genuinely positive people are not conflicted with who they really are and whom they think others want them to be. Finding your own voice and making yourself vulnerable takes courage and is often-times a long, slow journey of self acceptance that can be easier for some than others.
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 ideas to generate a lifetime of passive income.
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