Working on your own is a great way to gain freedom and flexibility, but finding self-motivation can be one of the biggest road blocks. The key to succeeding as your own boss is that you have to act like a boss. You boss is someone who gets you on the right track and keeps you going. Here are a few tips on how to be your own motivator.
Make goals. It’s pretty hard to stay focused on work if all it is to you is work. To keep yourself motivated you have to have something to work towards. If you’re starting to get yourself motivated, the first thing you need to do is set goals. It might be a business goal, a financial goal, or something you’ll be able to do once you get your business going (like sending your kids to college). If you’ve been going for a while, remind yourself of what you started working for. And don’t forget to write down your goals so you have them right there with you.
Don’t forget. Once you set your goals, be sure to find a way to keep them in your mind. Keep a written statement of your goals somewhere you can see them often, or post pictures on the walls of your office of your family or things you want to do when you make the money. Anything that will remind you of what you’re working for will help.
Get help. If just having goals isn’t enough to keep you on track, why not try going to a professional. You don’t have to spend all the money to hire a life coach. There are plenty of courses and systems available with methods to help keep you on track. The key is finding the right one. Why not find successful people you know and ask them to point you in the right direction.
Think positive. While positive thinking is a hard skill to master, it’s one of the most beneficial things you’ll ever learn. It can not only help you achieve your goals, you’ll probably find yourself happier and more satisfied in your personal life as well. You can try things like positive affirmations or even meditation.
Stay healthy. A healthy mind is fueled by a healthy body. You don’t have to be a pro athlete, but if you eat a sensible diet and get regular exercise, you’ll probably find yourself feeling better and working better too.
Take breaks. If you feel like you can’t concentrate, take a break and get yourself back in focus. The same thing applies long term. If you’re feeling burnt out and just can’t get yourself going, why not take a few days off. You can go on a vacation, or just take a stay-cation and rediscover what’s in your own back yard. Once you go back, you’ll feel re-energized and ready to take on any challenge.
Hi Joy,
I have found (and heard from other people in the same position) that if you are trying to go at things alone, it helps to join some sort of online community that provides goal achieving support to its members. There are plenty of communities out there, including http://43things.com, http://mindbloom.com and http://noomii.com
The point is that we all need human accountability to make sure we do what we have committed to doing. If you don't have a community in your office, online communities can help!
Thanks for the article, it was a great read!
Posted by: Life Coaches | October 26, 2009 at 06:05 PM