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.
How is it that some people seem to be destined for success from an early age, while others are not? The answer is easy - it has everything to do with maintaining a positive mental attitude. Napoleon Hill found his life's work in interview the most successful business people of his day so that he could educate future generations of the success habits of the ultra rich. His conclusion what that people who maintained a positive attitude could literally Think and Grow Rich. For those on the path to success (however defined), the concept of failure never crosses their mind. They have a fundamental need to prove something to themselves, and the self-confidence to believe themselves capable of handling any situation.
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. 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. 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 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. Get outside and reconnect with living, breathing people - during the start-up phase, online entrepreneurs can spend quite a bit of their time alone. Re-establishing contact with old friends can be encouraging. To lift the spirits a little further, findan hour and help somebody else with a problem they are facing.
7. Don't check your AdSense account more often than you brush your teeth. This is really a weight-loss technique that I have adapted for this list. If you weigh yourself frequently when trying to lose weight, you will become unnecessarily discouraged every time the scale is not giving you positive reinforcement. Frequent checking of your AdSense account (or Chitika, or Kontera, or Amazon, or ... you get the idea) is both a waste of your time and provides you a small let-down if the balance has not moved. It is best to check the account no more than once a day.
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. Make sure your goals align with your 'true self'. Finding authenticity is easier said than done. Those who achieve high levels of success are totally comfortable in their own skin. Ensuring an alignment between your core values and your ultimate goal will give the best chance of fulfilling those goals. If your goals are at odds with your beliefs, doubts will continue to arise and undermine your planed success.
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.
How is it that some people seem to be destined for success from an early age, while others are not? The answer is easy - it has everything to do with maintaining a positive mental attitude. Napoleon Hill found his life's work in interview the most successful business people of his day so that he could educate future generations of the success habits of the ultra rich. His conclusion what that people who maintained a positive attitude could literally Think and Grow Rich. For those on the path to success (however defined), the concept of failure never crosses their mind. They have a fundamental need to prove something to themselves, and the self-confidence to believe themselves capable of handling any situation.
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. 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. 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 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. Get outside and reconnect with living, breathing people - during the start-up phase, online entrepreneurs can spend quite a bit of their time alone. Re-establishing contact with old friends can be encouraging. To lift the spirits a little further, findan hour and help somebody else with a problem they are facing.
7. Don't check your AdSense account more often than you brush your teeth. This is really a weight-loss technique that I have adapted for this list. If you weigh yourself frequently when trying to lose weight, you will become unnecessarily discouraged every time the scale is not giving you positive reinforcement. Frequent checking of your AdSense account (or Chitika, or Kontera, or Amazon, or ... you get the idea) is both a waste of your time and provides you a small let-down if the balance has not moved. It is best to check the account no more than once a day.
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. Make sure your goals align with your 'true self'. Finding authenticity is easier said than done. Those who achieve high levels of success are totally comfortable in their own skin. Ensuring an alignment between your core values and your ultimate goal will give the best chance of fulfilling those goals. If your goals are at odds with your beliefs, doubts will continue to arise and undermine your planed success.
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 internet business ideas to generate a lifetime of passive income.
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