How do you motivate yourself as an entrepreneur?
I spent most of my career in the corporate world going into an office with fixed hours. I am finding it challenging motivating myself without that structure. What are some ways others have created structure and found motivation as an entrepreneur?
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Oct 5, 2017
The easiest way for me, personally, is to see positive outcome from everything I do fast. "Fast" is the key word here.
If I work on a project that takes, say, 1 year to complete (close a large corporate deal, for example), I break it into smaller manageable chunks and define an achievable short to mid-term goal. Ie. "Get a meeting with CMO / 100 interactions with CMO office" and work towards that. By constantly getting these small achievement and celebrating them (!) I can always look at any month of my work with a lot of satisfaction and always look for the month to come. Without this small tactic, I feel, I would have never grown any business by more than 10% of what I have grown them to so far.
Feb 14, 2017
When a Startup entrepreneur or sometimes, a group of Startup entrepreneurs start a business, there are many risks involved. For every step, Startups have to weigh the pros and cons of that step, along with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Sometimes, an entrepreneur has technology but he lacks business acumen or vice versa. Some entrepreneur may have Team Management skills but he lacks finance. Some entrepreneur may have knowledge on the subject matter concerning the business but he needs some other factors and aids to launch his business successfully.
Succumbing to their limitations caused by their weaknesses, entrepreneurs plan their business models, emphasizing on their strengths. Usually the weaknesses of entrepreneurs hurt the profits of business and sometimes, ruin it.
How to overcome the weaknesses that cripple business?
A new business model BOMT (Build Operate Market Transform) has been designed for this purpose only. This business model is Technology Business Accelerator that helps Startups, Independent Service Vendors (ISVs) and Entrepreneurs to overcome their weaknesses and launch their business successfully.
Various business models offer to build a business and make it operational. However, BOMT is different from other business models because not only it establishes a business and makes it operational, but also helps it to enter market, connect with potential target customers and earn Return On Investment (ROI) for the next level of business that would aim at the launch of the more advanced version of the product or service being offered by business.
Why BOMT
The Unique Selling Point (USP) of BOMT model is to aid Startups and ISVs’ in reducing their time-to-market. BOMT also creates opportunities for increasing revenue and maximizing ROI at minimum risk. Not only operations and branding, BOMT also helps Startups to find investors and business partners via Partner Product Development.
BOMT offers a progressive launch pad for innovative ideas and enable the products (or services) offered by business to be transformed into viable software products.
Usually, benefits of an investment come at the last stage when a product or service is sold. However, being the unique Technology Business Accelerator that BOMT is, it starts delivering benefits from first stage and those benefits would eventually culminate into high ROI.
BOMT model helps organizations tap into the global resource pool with no upfront investment. It uses a low risk “Build only what you need” model.
Four stages of BOMT
DevOps, a term for a group of concepts that have catalyzed into a movement and are rapidly spreading throughout the technical community comprises of Build and Operate stages of our BOMT model. It takes care of resources, technology, automation, operation support and mobility on demand.
Build stage is about scratching the surface of a business idea and to build a profitable business plan to launch the business. Analysis of business needs, cost involved, strategic requirements, and staffing needs, infrastructure, facilities and team are done. Business analysts plan the infrastructure, resources to be deployed on project, hardware and software needs and other operational requirements of the new project.
For a budding business, BOMT takes care of all operations as well. The Operate stage establishes the operational management services. It includes taking care of SaaS clustering and monitoring the servers 24×7. This stage takes care of process management, performance management, quality assurance, and target achievement. The team of dedicated resources for new set-up is briefed about the entire process. Specific targets are set for project completion.
Marketmate, another group of concepts is comprised of Market and Transform stages of BOMT model. It includes activities like digital marketing, customer contact centre and CRM on demand.
Market stage is the USP of BOMT model. Once a business is operational, it needs to enter market and expand its presence. To overcome this situation, we at Outsourced software product development company Leo TechnoSoft help Startups to enter the market and compete with established brands. Marketing strategy for new business is planned, aiming to make it a brand. This guidance from us, gives Startups, an advantage over competitors. We also help in expansion of the brand through marketing and lead generation. The connections of Leo TechnoSoft in the form of retailers in the market also help the business to enter the market with the Minimum Viability Product (MVP).
After the business becomes a brand comes the Transform stage. A major attraction of BOMT is Partner Product Development as it helps Startups requiring investment to find right business partners whose investment would be good for business. Planning is done for the next level of investment regarding business expansion. Upgrades to MVP with regards to advanced version and new features are also planned. Leo TechnoSoft also helps Startups to find Venture Capitalists and financers who would increase the finances of the business by investing more money in addition to the money being invested by business owners.
Jan 19, 2017
-You can ask for help your friends, family, relatives. Engage your friends and colleagues to help motivate you both toward individual and shared goals. I read about mobile apps that can make this engagement fun. With the help of those apps, you can share actions with photos and geolocation, and reminders.
-And sometimes, you simply need to watch inspiration video. TED Talk can help you with that.
-Try to set the plan ahead. Set reminders throughout the day for the important tasks and daily goals you have set.
I hope those tips will be helpful for you.
Jan 15, 2017
You left for a reason. There are a lot of list type apps these days (momentum on Chrome is what I use) and you need to develop one that motivates you to work. Creating a schedule is key to that, and whether you are working remotely or for yourself a schedule is going to keep you in a routine. It's a fairly common problem. Give yourself a 6 month challenge. What do you want to achieve (your objective)? What monthly successes will get you there? Block them out by month. Make sure you see them every day. Work the hours that suit you. If you don't like being at your desk at 8, start at 10. If you adjust your schedule like that, make sure you do all your client contact during normal business hours. Find a group or friend who will hold you accountable.
It's harder than it looks. The key is to find what works for you, and then develop that schedule.
Sep 11, 2016
I provide my own structure. I have goals for doing work, learning activities, networking activities, marketing and more. To ensure I'm doing something every week in each category I develop my schedule with those activities plugged in, sometimes weeks in advance. I sign up for free webinars regularly, attend professional association meetings, write blog posts, etc. I have a lunch break, break once or twice to make myself coffee during the day, and leave on time. I check my email by phone at night. I'm busy all day so the time flies by. Before I start each day I have coffee and review where I left off the day before, looking what I accomplished and figuring out things I can do differently for better results. This is typically a good brainstorming time for me, because it's before the start of my routine. Once I do that, I hit the ground running right on time. Also -- exercise is a key part of my day; I do it at the same time every day.
May 17, 2016
Before you begin, stop. Take all the time you need to think through why you want to own, run and start a business. In this, you need to see what the business will be as best you can, and again understand why you are doing this. The more you do this and get to a clear vision for what you want to accomplish, the more motivation you will have. The point is motivation has to come from within. No one else can put it there.
May 15, 2016
Having clear goals. When you are not sure what to do next or the progress you are making, it is important to go back and review your goals and progress. This will guide you through the bumps in the road.
May 14, 2016
Jane
There are a lot of good answers here, so I shan't aim for a comprehensive 'academic' response (tempted though I am, as I write about productivity and personal effectiveness).
I will say two things, from a very personal perspective:
1. I motivate myself because I love what I do. As an entrepreneur, you need to be chasing a dream you believe in and choosing a career/work that you enjoy.
2. Yet sometimes, that is all bunk. You know you enjoy your life and are chasing a dream, but this next task, or today's early start seem just to unappealing. I recently got asked about how I created the habit of getting up at 5am every day to start work on my current venture. Does it take 14 days, 21, or 35 to create a habit. My answer was simple...
I don't get up every morning at 5am because it's a habit. I wish it were. That would be easy. I do it because it's a discipline. I ceate the routines that will get me what I want and I stick to them through sheer force of will.
I sometimes feel too many people want it easy these days. They want to be motivated. If you want something, that's your motivation. But don't think it will be easy. It often won't. But if your entrepreneurial idea is important enough to you, then knuckle down and JFDI (like JDI but less polite). Discipline and routine aren't motivating, but they get the job done and bring the rewards.
Sorry to say this, but I need to. There's no short cut to hard work.
May 12, 2016
You can motivate yourself through adopting a positive mindset, nurturing your self-esteem, and building your self-confidence. Self-motivation is an inside job and takes disciple, nobody can do it for you.
May 12, 2016
1. Have a clear vision of what you want and remind yourself why did you started your business in the first place.
2. Talk to other like minded people
3. Take care of yourself. What inspires you? Do more of what you love.
4. Have fun
5. Work SMART not hard :)
May 11, 2016
Being an entrepreneur is an 24/7 existence because you are always on the lookout for new opportunities and ideas to add to your own or create, as with to motivate yourself, it is that you "want it" rather then you have to. So if you want to succeed, to become a " successful entrepreneur" then that is the motivation that you need.
May 11, 2016
As an entrepreneur you don"t have to stay in office for fixed hours daily , Its vry important to keep on moving a round in order to make wide relations which you need badly , you need to widen your relations in everuway , relations brings to you businesss .study market situation , your compititors .this way you can understand market directions better .
May 11, 2016
If you need motivation DO NOT attempt to become an entrepreneur. Just as if you can't or won't practice, you wouldn't expect to become an elite at athletic competition. Find a way to measure your performance at least daily and do not accept less from yourself. Entrepreneurs (wanna be's) usually fail because they want to do what they want to do, instead of what needs to be done.
May 11, 2016
I have a "beginning of the day" routine! I try to get up at the same time, every day, pray, read emails, and exercise.
I usually get up at 530a, so that I can have all of this done before I have to make calls.
Hope this helps!
Randy Broadus, Principal
BROADMARKETING
May 11, 2016
Three simple suggestions :
a) Get up and get dressed, simple but have it in mind that you are still going to work. It's easy get into slack habits.
b) Create a great plan, and then work out the night before what your intention for the next day is; not a task list and 'intention list' so if tasks go astray your intention is still there.
c) And one I was reminded of today from the first 'Karate Kid' 'focus on your focus', remember where you're going and what excites you
May 11, 2016
If you are self employed you can also work fixed hours. Most people I know that are self employed work for more hours then they did working for somebody else. I think it is the passion to grow a business or help others that drives most business owners or self employed people. There is also the fact that your potential is unlimited when you are self employed. It is up to you what you are willing to put into it.
May 11, 2016
Jane * I am in the same 'boat' as you. Spent a number of years in the corporate world only to go through a few downsizings. After much deliberation I have decided to forego corporate positions and start my own company. It is exciting and scary at the same time.
One must force oneself to change the way we thought in the past. We now are the CEO's of our career and companies. We do have Board of Directors....but they are our loved ones and close friends who provide us with guidance.
In my start up endeavor I try to attend as many business functions as I can - Chamber of Commerce, BNI's, Business Networking Groups, Conventions and Conferences, etc...It is a completely different 'ballgame'. We are selling ourselves to any potential buyer as opposed to having a ready made product from the corporate world.. People will buy from someone they know first and have built up some form of relationship. Trust yourself and you will be pleasantly surprised.
May 11, 2016
Try working the way you used to in your corporate days. Get up as if you had to leave at a certain time to drive or get a train to work. Start your day's work at the time you used to in your old corporate office. Set targets and to-do lists for each day, as you probably used to do. Take a coffee and lunch breaks at regular times to break up your day. BUT, at the end of the day, don't 'clock-off' as you usually did, remember that every extra hour you work lis now for the benefit of YOU, not some corporate company. ENJOY...
May 10, 2016
Firstly change your mind set.Earlier you were working for some one else and were getting paid.Now you are on your own so one will have to work more harder so that your cash flow remains intact.Become self motivated by reading articles ,books and blogs etc.Next meet like minded people son social networking sites like facebook etc.There are many groups in Linkedin where will you meet people with same back ground.
So why wait start today.
May 10, 2016
It helps to keep a calendar and stick to a schedule giving yourself breaks throughout the day that are also limited.
At the beginning of the day, look at your list of what needs to be worked on so you have that focus and goal. At the end of the day, review and celebrate what you accomplished. If you felt disappointed, then look at what distracted you. If you can remove it from your immediate area, then it is important to do that. Unfortunately, my distraction is email. I can get very distracted by massive emails. I try to remove myself from lists and use rules to filter emails. But, ultimately, I simply have to delete without reviewing much of what I get and I have to time myself or half the day is gone.
If it is a task that needs done before you can feel focused, then do it so you can get back to working.
Another suggestion is to have an accountability partner - another business owner/ solopreneur that you share a list of what you want to accomplish at the beginning of the week and at the end of the week, share your progress.
Have a ritual to get you in the mood to work. Maybe it is playing a type of music that gets you ready to work or makes it more enjoyable while you are.
If you have kids, that adds another level of complexity. It can be done. But it's important to have a sitter during important meetings/phone calls if they are young enough that they will disturb your meeting.
Keep in mind your long-term goals. You will get there.