Newbie News At Its Best

It’s not always easy.  Being an entrepreneur working from home.

In fact, it can be downright lonely, frustrating, and full of distractions.

One of the problems seems to be motivation.  Or lack of.  What to do when you are stuck having to motivate yourself?

Recently, entrepreneur powerhouse and Maverick owner Mark Cuban talked to Bloomberg BusinessWeek about self-motivation and here’s what he said:

“In the 70′s, I’d drive around and look at the big houses for motivation, trying to get fired up, knowing that if I worked hard enough, I would get there.”

How does that sound?  Is there something you want that keeps you moving forward in your home biz?  What motivates YOU?

That’s really the stepping off place.  When you determine what fires you up, you will have half the battle fought.  If it’s more free time, more money, college educations for your kids, etc. try keeping it in the forefront of your mind.  If you have to take a drive around town every now and then, so be it.

For me, it’s simple.

I like freedom.

I don’t want to commute, don’t want a boss, don’t want an 8 to 5, just really want to create my own world in my own way.  That includes having a home based business.

For me, that’s motivation in itself.  However, I also have techniques in place to keep me moving.  Some of these might benefit you too!

• Timers – I don’t know about you, but knowing I only have SO much time to get a task done makes it a whole lot easier to actually sit down and do it.  And, it’s sort of a fun game.

• Deadlines – Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they work like a charm.  Give yourself deadlines to complete projects and see if that doesn’t help. Of course, your clients can also dictate those deadlines.  Those always work, right?

• Written down goals – This probably should have been number one, but sometimes people have seen this tip so much, they don’t even notice it.  THIS IS THE BEST MOTIVATOR!  Seriously, part of the downfall of any business is not having concrete goals.  If you don’t know where you’re going. . . well, you know the rest. The only way to get ahead is to have a goal. Period. If yours aren’t written down, go do it NOW. It’s more than worth your time.

• Have you own work area – I know.  Sometimes it’s not feasible to have a whole room for your office, but DO take the time to carve out your space for a desk, your computer, supplies and a big “Do Not Disturb” sign for when you are working.

• Accountability – Because working from home has it’s own set of unique problems, lining up some form of accountability can be a great idea.  I personally use two mastermind groups for this. The calls are brief, we stay on point, and it adds a layer of motivation that makes me productive.  To find your own group, simply ask other work-at-homes if they are open to the idea. Just make sure they ARE serious about their business and don’t see it as a way to socialize.  It’s not.

• Hire a coach/mentor – This has been my “secret sauce” since I opened the doors to my online biz in 2008.  Believe me, there’s nothing like knowing you are having a coaching call to set a fire under your activities!  Even though I eventually became a coach myself, I still always have “my” coach in the wings.  It just makes sense.

Motivation isn’t always easy, but it is necessary.  The good news is that if you truly love what you do, working at home can bring you much joy and creating your own business brings a wonderful sense of accomplishment and excitement.

Now, go out there and get motivated!

Peace,

-Martha

Martha Giffen

Martha Giffen is a Small Business and Social Media Consultant, Coach, Trainer, and Speaker. The author of 3 best-selling books, including "Be Social Be Rich," she is an Online Marketing authority and teaches Small Biz Owners how to achieve massive profitable success. And, -she dishes it all out with a warm southern flare!

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