How to Stay Motivated During Challenging Times

The entrepreneurial life is not for everyone – for one simple reason: No one provides a structure for life. There is no 9-5 work day, no office to got to (if you work from home like me), and no one who will think for you. You need to do your own marketing, find your own clients, serve them well, send bills, make sure you get paid, keep on learning, find new ways to grow your business… All this can be very overwhelming. And yes, I have got stuck in overwhelm many times and have a few strategies on how to get out of it.

Get out of overwhelm and find your drive again

When you find yourself asking “Is this really worth it,” go back to your mission statement. This way you can see how your contribution can make a difference in the world. You are needed! (If you don’t have a mission statement yet, here’s a good book that will guide you through creating one).

As a designer (or writer, or other creative), make sure you do something creative every day – even if only for 10 minutes. I often draw or doodle after dinner; doing crafts, trying a new recipe, journaling or making music are just as good. Whatever it is you love doing, do it!

Revisit your life goals. If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, taking stock of where you are and taking one small step towards your goals – and writing down new ones – will make a huge difference!

Think about how you could grow your business. ‘Growing’ does not necessarily mean ‘expanding’, but rather adjusting to new circumstances. Life changes all the time, and so does the business landscape. Stay flexible, keep on top of developments, and dare to innovate!

I find myself questioning and re-invisioning my business constantly. “Am I still on the right path? Is this truly making a difference in the world? Would I do better if I added to / subtracted from / changed my offerings? What do I really want, and how can I serve my customers better?” – It’s good to ask these questions regularly. Your business needs to grow with you!

Here are a few more ideas on how to get motivated:

• Build daily habits (10 minutes of writing, marketing or new client outreach) – you can always fall back on habits if motivation falters.
• Connect with friends or other business people.
• Take care of yourself, so If you are tired, take a rest! Nothing drains motivation more than exhaustion. It’s okay to just ‘be’. Give yourself permission to lay low for a day – and if you need someone else to do it, here: I’ll give you permission 🙂
• Take time off to be with friends and family. Remember you don’t live to work, you work to live!
• Celebrate your wins: we so often forget this important step! So when you feel down, it’s a good idea to look at what you’ve already accomplished.
• Learn something new: podcasts and audiobooks are my favorite because I can listen while driving or doing chores. Going to seminars is a close second.
• Outsource. The happiest business people I know let experts do what they don’t love doing themselves – book keeping, marketing, IT. Letting others handle these areas actually saves resources and frees them up to focus on the reasons they started their businesses in the first place. So remember: you don’t have to do it alone!

How do YOU stay motivated? Let me know in the comments below.