The Importance of Staying Motivated for Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur can be extremely rewarding – but it’s a challenging role, too, with many pressures that can cause passion and motivation to flag. Luckily, there are lots of things entrepreneurs can do to address this and remain motivated for the long haul.

Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Ensuring that goals are clear and attainable is vital. Setting overly ambitious goals can, on the other hand, quickly lead to feelings of disheartenment when they are not achieved (or not achieved as quickly as one would like). The key is breaking down goals into smaller, attainable steps. This is an effective way to maintain motivation and make the journey towards the target a more manageable one. Furthermore, celebrating ‘small wins’ as each of these steps is achieved is a great way to retain motivation and focus.

Create a Routine

Many seasoned entrepreneurs, such as Volker Hartzsch, know the importance of having a set, consistent routine. This routine doesn’t have to be nine-to-five and should instead suit the individual; having a routine can be a means to avoid workplace apathy setting in and makes it easier to stay on track towards achieving goals. While any routine created should be well considered and realistic, entrepreneurs would do well to remain flexible should an urgent issue or change in priorities occur.

Get Rid of Distractions

It’s much easier for entrepreneurs – and everyone else – to stay motivated when they’re not at the mercy of countless distractions. Addressing this could mean committing to keeping the television turned off during office hours or keeping your phone in a different room while working. Practicing healthy habits during breaks, such as eating a nutritious snack or going for a walk around the block, can be really helpful, too.

Delegate and Automate

For entrepreneurs, time is extremely valuable. Delegating or automating repetitive tasks can free up time to spend on strategic, higher-level tasks and prevent getting bogged down in mundane jobs, which can put a dent in motivation. For new businesses that don’t currently have any employees, an entrepreneur could consider hiring one or more freelancers to undertake repetitive tasks such as responding to emails, invoicing and social media scheduling.

Practice Self-Care

It’s easy for entrepreneurs to find themselves burning the candle at both ends, which can have a significant impact on energy levels and motivation. Practicing good self-care is important to avoid this. Getting enough rest, taking regular breaks and ensuring a sufficient night’s sleep can all have a major positive effect.

Meet Volker Hartzsch | Co-founder and Director of Sixth Society

Volker Hartzsch is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and sold 19 companies to date and invested in more than 23 other start-up businesses.

When deciding which new businesses to support, if he doesn’t understand a business he won’t invest in it. For Volker, it’s critical that a business’s founders have the drive and passion to make their dream a reality.

Volker is also an experienced leadership coach and has personally assisted more than 180 people to achieve an annual seven-figure income. A key part of his coaching revolves around what he calls the ‘Big 3’ principles. First, if a leader says they’ll do something, they should always keep their word. Second, he stresses that leaders should never ask others to do anything they’ve not done themselves or have stopped doing. Finally, Volker says it’s vital for leaders to tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.