How do I stay motivated as an entrepreneur?

As entrepreneurs, like everyone, we have our ups and downs. In our case, however, starting a brand comes with a lot of rejection, motivation, responsibility, and pressure. Launching a business for the first time is both exhilarating and nerve-racking. On the one hand, you are afraid your idea won't be successful and connect with the public, and on the other hand, you cannot wait to see what possibilities it opens up. We treat our first clients like precious diamonds, doing everything we can to make them happy. Once we get more adjusted and our company becomes somewhat of a success, what can we add to our personal life to keep the motivation ball rolling? Keep reading to hear some of my secret tips that help me keep up my motivation. ‍

Tip #1: I have a clear and strong 'why'

After meeting with company after company, I realized an occurring theme. Human nature makes us forget the good when things get difficult. We lose sight of our goals, and we forget why we started our company in the first place. 

Most companies think they know their 'why'', but really they are not diving deep enough and getting to the root. At our marketing agency, we have noticed that once our clients figure out their 'why', it leads to more meaningful content and a stronger brand identity. They also come to work more dedicated and energetic.

Trust me,  I’ve had to work hard to figure out mine and am still working on making it stronger every day. It's so easy for me to see other people's ‘why’ but challenging to see my own. Sometimes you need other people to remind you what your ‘why’ is when we forget or can’t see it for ourselves. 

So, How can we deepen our 'Why'? 

1. Write a list of your 'why' and look back at it to remind you when things get hard.
2. Ask yourself questions like: What motivated me to start this company? What did I want to change in the world? Who specifically did I want to impact?

Tip #2: I set goals that challenge me

If we don’t know where we're going, it's easy to fall off track. Especially with continuous changes in the marketing market, your company has to stay updated and stay on the tip of its toes learning new trends. Your goals are constantly changing, but hopefully, the end big picture goal remains the same, or it changes, and that's also ok! 

Yes, there were times in BRACT when I hit a wall and had to pivot. I just came up with new goals and rolled with the changes. That’s how we got to where we are today and I wouldn't change a thing. 

So what kind of question do I recommend asking yourself to help you set your goals?

1. To achieve the short-term goals: How will I onboard my first clients? How am I going to launch a campaign to introduce my company? 
2. To achieve my long-term goals: How can I improve my brand identity and promote brand awareness? What kind of office environment do I want to create? When I ask myself these questions constantly, it helps me know my direction and accomplishments. 

Tip #3: I try to be healthy and work out  

A friend once told me that your gut is responsible for your negative emotions. What better way to stay motivated than doing everything to keep yourself active and healthy? I know how hard it is to find time in your busy schedule to go to the gym or prepare nutritious meals and not order takeout. Everyone struggles to balance everything, but you can try your best!

So, how can we keep active and eat better?

1. Every week, set aside time for workouts
2. Save time by preparing meals earlier in the week
3. Do this with a friend or family member to keep each other motivated. 

Tip #4: I Dance to myself every day 

Everybody needs to have a way they let loose. For me, it's dancing like crazy when I’m alone. Nobody is around to judge me or stare at me weirdly. It's just me, myself, and I. Especially in today's society, we are so worried about letting go and being our natural selves we don’t even realize how much we are holding in. 

If you are relaxed, then your staff will be more relaxed, which is very important for the work environment. You don’t want to be uptight all the time. Your team should also have opportunities within the workplace to let loose. This can be done by creating icebreakers or giving them the space for creativity and humor.

How can you let loose?

Spend 5 minutes singing, laughing, jumping, or dancing, and let it go! Yes, I know you're probably thinking, “ya right, I’m too busy. That's not going to happen.” Stop right there, this is for your well-being, and it is an investment in yourself that you deserve. You got this. 

Tip #5: I don’t compare myself to other entrepreneurs

We are so prone to comparing ourselves to others. We all have these voices like, “oh, they're so much better than me,” and “I'm not good enough.” Whatever it is, I try my best to stop myself from going to that place. I remind myself that every entrepreneur is just trying to find their unique path and expression. Who needs to dive into a pool of sorrow. Focus on what you do and make it the best it can be. 

How do you avoid comparing yourself to others?

1. When you start comparing yourself to others, switch the route of your thought process and think of a new subject.
2. Think positive! Maybe a change of scenery is what you need to get out of your head. For example, Instead of your desk in your office, work at a coffee shop.

Tip #6: I make sure I get enough sleep

The best way to stay motivated is to get a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Yes, one thing we hardworking entrepreneurs share is sleep deprivation. The endless hours of work for us don’t stop at 5, regular hours are not in our vocabulary. But we have to make limits for ourselves for our own well-being. As much as it's essential to get a lot done when the clock hits midnight, we should also shut down. Those all-nighters might seem productive, but they will come back to haunt you the next day when you're so sleep-deprived and can barely work. 

How can we get enough sleep?

1. Have a work phone, so you're not always available to your clients. There needs to be boundaries. Set a specific time every day then when that hour arrives, you can have a life after work.  
2. Set a time you go to bed and wake up every day. Make sure it's at least 7 hours of sleep. 
3. Read before going to bed and leave your computer in the other room, so you are not tempted to do more work. 

Tip #7: Take a day off 

Yes, I know I said it, “take a day off” you are probably thinking, “no way, that's not possible there's no such thing.” Well, I am here to tell you that there is…everyone needs a day where they can put away the work and just enjoy and refresh. Take advantage of that. It allows you to become more motivated and stronger in leading your team. Hopefully, you hired people you can trust to handle the load for a day while you're gone.

How can I do this successfully ?

1. Set a date! If you don’t do this, it won’t happen. This way, it also allows you to discuss with your team what will need to be handled when you are away. This way, you don't stress that things aren’t being taken care of without you. 
2. Plan the day in detail and leave your laptop at home!

Conclusion 

I hope these tips that I have incorporated into my own life can help you in the future. I am only human, and of course, sometimes it is hard for me to stay on top of doing everything. If one week passes where I forget to do something or don’t have the energy, I will start fresh the following week. As entrepreneurs, we have the challenging task of having so much of the burden on us, but we can't forget to take care of ourselves. Try to take on one of these tips this week, or all of them if you're feeling ambitious and stay positive!