Motivation Techniques for Young Entrepreneurs
As a young
entrepreneur, it is easy to lose your way, to lose steam as motivation wanes. Failed
products and poor sales can crush your spirit, and the loss of support from
family and friends can cause you to doubt yourself. What are some ways young
entrepreneurs can keep up their spirits and persevere in today’s cutthroat
business environment?
Time is on Your
Side
Just as
financial advisers tell young investors, “Time is on your side.” When you’re
young, you can take higher risks, such as buying up high-risk stocks and
waiting a decade before selling. The same applies to small businesses. If you’re
young and able, you have the luxury of failing and being able to pick yourself
back up. You’re able to take risks that older businessmen simply can’t afford
to take.
Don’t Look
Before You Leap
Fear is a
great motivational tool. If you want to start up a business, quit your day job.
Transfer your life savings to a trusted family member, then tell them to
withhold it from you. Once you’ve removed all your safety nets, you’re ready to
leap. The greatest entrepreneurs have risen from desperation – and you’ll never
truly feel desperate unless you lose your monthly income and access to your
savings.
The Glass is
Always Half Full
There’s
simply no point in viewing the glass as half empty. Pessimists should not be
entrepreneurs – they should try to make a living shorting stocks instead. A
great motivational tool is to always look at the bright side – a cliche, for
sure – but also one of the most important qualities of a motivated manager.
Perhaps you botched a product release, and a competitor flattened you. It’s
only a big deal if you didn’t learn anything from the costly lesson. It was
worthwhile if you’re able to perform a thorough autopsy of your dead product to
understand why it failed. Your product didn’t fail – rather, you were given an
opportunity to see weaknesses which you couldn’t see earlier.
Relax!
Sometimes you
just need to take a time out and relax. Put the world on pause, and put on your
favorite CD. Go out for a cup of coffee, get a massage, and let your worries
melt away for the day. Rushed and stressed managers often make terrible decisions.
Taking a day off and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the workplace
can help you come back to work with a fresh perspective on the current
situation. Encourage your co-workers to take breaks, or hold meetings in
outdoor, casual environments.
Reevaluate your
Priorities
Sometimes our
personal and professional lives get so fragmented that we lose sight of what’s
important, and become creatures of habit and routine, rather than passion and
motivation. Think of your mind as a hard drive desperately in need of
defragmentation, where disassembled volumes are scattered carelessly about
rather incoherent volumes. Meditation, exercises and prayer – depending on your
personal preferences – can help center your spirit and allow you to see what’s
truly important in your life.
Connect with
Loved Ones
Our personal
connections with family and friends are often sacrificed in the name of our
careers. Reconnecting with friends and family can put us back in our place,
motivating us to either try harder or to relax more. You might be earning a lot
of money, but if you’ve become so alienated from the important people in your
life, is all that cash worth it? It’s doubtful that you can stay motivated if
no one is there to share your success.
Other Sources
of Motivation
The key to
staying motivated is simple – stay positive. Inspect yourself from time to time
and ask yourself if you’re truly happy, and can stay positive. If you can’t,
it’s time for a change.
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