by Dr. D Ivan Young, ICF Master Certified Coach
Most highly successful individuals have a great story. Inasmuch, there are usually many ups and downs that are seldom shared with the public. There’s a season where all hell breaks loose. Typically this happens at what seems to be the worst of times. Then there’s the breakthrough.
The question is, how do those few individuals who survive the mayhem stay motivated?
The difference between those who make it and those who don’t is that those who are successful kept going. Even when they didn’t think they could possibly go any further.
It’s challenging to stay motivated when you’re going through a major life change or trying to accomplish ambitious goals. It’s even harder when you’re worried about how you’re going to pay your rent, provide for your family, and keep your sanity intact.
But it’s possible.
There are ways to stay motivated even when your back is against the wall and you feel like you’re ready to give in.
As a master-certified life coach, I’ve worked with many clients who are initially motivated to achieve their goals yet fall short or are on the verge of throwing in the towel. That’s where people like me come in.
I help my clients gain clarity of vision while empowering them to connect with their internal and external resources. The first step is motivating them to refocus while silencing the inner voices of their judges and saboteurs. Success necessitates staying motivated when we experience setbacks.
When you’re struggling to stay motivated, there are a few factors you can hone in on to improve your process.
Using Your Resources
When life hits you hard, it’s easy to forget about what’s available to you.
Your external resources may be limited, chances are you have much more than you think at your disposal. You also have unlimited internal resources.
There’s one condition – you must be willing to do some introspection and put in the work to tap into them.
As a neuroscientist and master certified coach, I teach my clients how to silence internal distractions and tap into the things they’ve overcome in the past that positioned them to be successful in the present.
Your brain is like a complex computer that perfects the use of old programming. But your mind is the brain’s operating system. Learning to operate with foresight as opposed to hindsight creates the paradigm shift needed for success.
Stay Motivated by Taking Advantage of External Resources
When building a business from the ground up or entering a leadership role, it’s almost second nature to put on a brave face and keep up appearances. But pretending you’re not struggling or scared won’t do you any favors. Be upfront with yourself, and those closest to you about your situation. Transparency includes sharing any roadblocks or fears you’re experiencing. You never know who might be able to help you.
It can be beneficial to:
- Build relationships with others in your industry.
- Lean into the relationships you already have.
- Ask for help.
- Hire a well-qualified coach.
- Educate yourself by attending conferences and professional development seminars
When you’re authentic and honest, you open the door for support while creating room to explore external opportunities. Even if your friends, colleagues, or other connections cannot help you monetarily, having emotional support and credible advice can help your focus and momentum.
Using Your Internal Resources to Stay Motivated
Making your business successful requires sacrifices. There are financial, mental, and emotional costs initially. Typically the first thing to go is usually your perception of well-being. But it shouldn’t be this way.
Making sure your mental and physical health is stable is crucial for your ability to stay motivated¹.
One of your most vital internal resources is resilience and a willingness to make and learn from your mistakes. Sacrifices are necessary when taking on something as huge as starting a business or a new role. But if you sacrifice your well-being and happiness in the process, everything else suffers with you.
Internal resources are necessary to stay motivated. But to access them, you must take care of yourself. Consider these practices for improving your mental well-being and building up your resilience.
- Meditate.
Meditation has proven emotional and physical benefits. You don’t have to be an experienced meditator. Short daily meditation can enhance your attention, improve your mood by decreasing stress levels, and even influence your working and recognition memory².
- Form healthy habits.
Routines can be healthy, as long as you’re not overly strict with yourself. It can be hard to find a balance between holding yourself accountable and cutting yourself some slack.
Once you’ve developed a healthy habit, missing it once or twice likely won’t cause you to stop engaging in the habit³.
- Don’t stop doing things you enjoy.
Downtime and socializing are important, especially when you feel like you don’t have time for these activities.You might have to sacrifice your weekly bowling night with friends, but try to go out once every two weeks. You shouldn’t stop spending time with your loved ones or cut out all your hobbies.
- Make room for mindful moments.
Every day take two or three five-minute breaks and sit still while disconnecting from everything. These little breaks go a long way in managing anxiety and stress.
Make sure your habits and routines are set up to help you stay motivated to meet your goals.
How to Stay Motivated as an Entrepreneur
Consistently engaging in reflection can be highly beneficial. If you want to keep the doors flinging and the cash register ringing, here are a few questions you should ask yourself.
What new resources are available to me? Keep reassessing who’s in your corner and put effort into cultivating those new relationships.
- What have I done right or wrong?
Look at yourself and your process objectively. There’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Everyone has growing pains and makes mistakes, including you.
- Do I need to adjust or course correct?
Self-assessment goes along with #2. Analyze your mistakes and find a better path, but don’t dwell on them. Dwelling on mistakes can make it challenging to stay motivated.
- What’s truly meaningful to me?
Success looks different from one person to the next. Sometimes your goals or needs will change. It could benefit you to be open and regularly evaluate where you are in relation to where you want to be.
Self-reflection and your ability to accurately analyze your situation will heavily impact your odds of staying motivated.
Every entrepreneur should ask themselves these important questions.
Keep Going
Starting a business, building a brand, entering a new role. These are all challenging – and exciting – ventures.
Even though your journey is bound to test you, you will get there if you commit to not giving up. But this is easier said than done, which is why many aren’t able to accomplish their goals.
Your ability to stay motivated can be improved by utilizing your resources, taking care of yourself, and surrounding yourself with the right people.
Sometimes the right people include a therapist, a master-certified coach or a combination thereof. These professionals can help you maintain and improve your mental health, provide support and guidance, and help you figure out what’s most important to you.
Nothing worth doing is ever done alone.
Bio – Dr. D Ivan Young is an expert on human behavior and relationships. He’s a Master Credentialed expert on personality type, an ICF credentialed Master Certified Coach, a Certified Professional Diversity Coach, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Dr. Young is also a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.
- https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-stay-motivated-to-start-a-business/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016643281830322X?via%3Dihub
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3505409/
Read my other blog about how to overcome depression as an entrepreneur. It’s more common than you might think.