5 Tips for Staying Motivated as a Small Business Owner
Identify if its a Hobby or an actual business:
We often hear people say, "Follow your passion," and then we end up picking a hobby and trying to turn it into a business. Is that the case for you? Do you enjoy taking pictures of your dog and posting them on Instagram? Someone comments, and then you get carried away, thinking it could be a business. A few months go by, and the post you made on the marketplace isn’t getting any responses. You've poured money into buying the latest gear, but still, nothing works.
Well, I’m afraid you might have ruined a hobby. Yes, deep down, you probably know it. What once brought you so much joy is now draining your soul. Taking pictures or running the business no longer feels fun. Maybe this just isn’t for you—or at least not right now. You’ll never find the motivation to do things you didn’t truly want to do in the first place.
To stay motivated in this situation, consider taking courses or learning from an expert. This way, you’ll equip yourself with the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in your business.
What will it take to continue/run this business:
Now, I’m asking you to do the opposite of thinking about your "why." Let me give you an example: I had an event business in Dubai with my best friend. Everything was going well, and I loved every part of it. But then I had to move to Canada, and there was no way for me to continue the event business long-distance. I had no choice but to sell my share. The reason I started the business was different, but even if I could motivate myself, I would have failed in that business. The best option for me at that time was to discontinue and find my calling elsewhere.
Now, think about where you are in your business right now. Come on, close your eyes and ask yourself, What will it take for me to continue this business? Now open your eyes and jot down everything that came to your mind—any worries or seemingly impossible scenarios. Maybe you’re a new mom and back at work, or maybe you’ve just quit your job and are now running this business. Think about all the things you’ll need to do to keep it going.
If, after this exercise, you still feel excited about pursuing it, then that’s your answer. You don’t need motivation, my friend—you either need a vacation (we all do) or an expert to help you with your business ideas. Maybe you’re just overworked and need a proper reset.
Take a Restart break:
As a business owner, it’s often difficult to shut down shop and go on a trip. Some of us can, but many of us can't. We either have too many responsibilities or no time for fancy business breaks. Yes, the goal is to afford one soon, but right now, I’m talking about a restart for your business.
Make a list of all the things, as mentioned above, that you must do to continue or run your business. This list is your master list, and it needs a reset.
Now, pack your bag and go to a coffee shop. Take this list, along with a notebook and pen. Go outside—no, not your home office, your office, or your workplace. If you have nowhere else to go, sit in your car. I just want you to step outside, treat yourself to a nice coffee or tea, and think of yourself as a consultant.
The list you brought with you—think of it as a client's list. How would you rephrase it? How would you rewrite it for her? How would you help her get through it? Don’t think of yourself for a moment—think as though you’re helping a friend.
Identify her problems. Understand her lifestyle. Understand what she needs to be successful in her business. Then, give her a plan to tackle that list.
Oftentimes, we need motivation to do the same things, or we need to innovate and find different ways to run our business. Or maybe we just need to do the same things from different locations. Change the energy, and watch your creativity flow.
Revisit your Goals
When was the last time you reviewed your business goals?
If that’s something you don’t even remember, then maybe we can do it right now. Of course, you’ll need a notebook and pen.
You know how goals work—you write down the exact things you're working towards. Let’s start with the big picture: What would you like to achieve this year in your business? How many clients do you want to close? How much money do you want to make? What do you want to achieve this quarter based on your projections for the year?
How would you like to achieve these goals? How will you break them down by month? What will you need in your business to achieve those goals? Will you need a new website? New branding? A new scheduling system to bring in more clients? Do you need more mentoring?
What is it that you need to be successful in your business?
If you've set goals before, revisit them. Write down why those goals were achieved—what worked. If you didn’t achieve them, reflect on what stopped you from pursuing them. This is a deep dive into your goals.
Set aside time every month to revisit these goals and stay aligned with your plan. Go back to the basics. Don’t jump on trends—stick to your plan. There’s a reason you wrote down these goals.
Big corporations like Apple, Starbucks, and Honda spend a lot of time and money ensuring their employees understand the company’s goals. They don’t change their goals based on trends—they set trends in their respective industries.
Be the trendsetter in your industry—set clear goals.
Let me know if you need any further adjustments!
Align your lifestyle with your business:
Your life has so much on your plate that you're juggling too many roles at once. Maybe you're in a season of life that’s not allowing you to put the time into your business. In this case, you can either hire help for your business or for your personal life.
Now, help doesn’t have to mean hiring a chauffeur-driven car—well, if that’s what you need and can afford, then yes, let’s do it! I’m talking about small things that can free up your time. Because time is energy. The more free time you have on your calendar, the more you can grow your business.
More time in your calendar can be won by hiring a virtual assistant, a nanny, a website designer, doing meal prep, or batching social media content. Basically, what I’m trying to say is—girl, you don’t need to do it all alone.
Please don’t ever think you’re alone on your business journey. You’re an expert in your field, and it’s healthy to have a personal life. What’s unhealthy is not setting boundaries. You don’t need to DIY your website; you can either buy a template or hire a designer to help you. This gives you time back to spend with your family.
You don’t have to constantly be on your phone posting on Instagram when your kids need you—they should always be your top priority.
Your motivation in business is lacking because you’re refusing to embrace being an expert in your field. If you’re a photographer, do what you do best—you don’t need to learn coding, is all I’m trying to say.
