What keeps us independent entrepreneurs motivated? Remembering how things used to be!
When I worked in a big company, I never had much trouble feeling motivated to do my job. There was energy and activity all around me. There was always a deadline to meet. Everyone was busy doing something interesting, and the truth is that I was too. I really liked my job, most of the time. Granted, there was too much of that. And some of my co-workers weren’t exactly team players. And now that I think about it, I had a boss or two that I really despised, but overall, I kept myself motivated to do well. Also, NOT getting it right would have been mortifying. At staff meetings I didn’t want to be the one who didn’t have an answer or hadn’t met my goals. In a department full of outstanding people, there’s nothing like peer pressure to spur a little extra effort.
On the other hand, there were things that I did not find at all motivating. I didn’t voluntarily vote for that “team building” paintball outing the guys wanted so much. But it was unacceptable not to go, so I did. And once on the battlefield, I shot and got shot, like everyone else, until it started to hurt really bad. I then realized that behind our masks and other protective gear no one could tell who I was; we were anonymous! So I quietly found the ladies’ room, where to my surprise I found a couple of colleagues were already hiding! All of us, refugees from the paintball war raging outside, were blissfully absent for the rest of the afternoon. Still, even with girl chat, the experience was NOT motivating.
Thank God, I now run my own independent entrepreneur business and no longer have to “go with the flow to get along.” Like most of my clients, I love being able to do what I want, the way I want, for reasons that motivate ME. But what I’ve found is that staying motivated when you’re working alone is quite different than when you’re in a traditional workplace. You are NOT surrounded by that activity and energy that feeds you. There’s no longer that peer pressure to perform.
Maybe you are like me. Now that you’ve been at it for a while, it’s an effort to stay motivated. The excitement of owning your own business has begun to wear off. Maybe it’s harder than you thought it would be. Perhaps you even miss the casual camaraderie of the office, and the irritation you sometimes felt at having to “fit in” has been displaced by nostalgia for times that are better remembered than they really were. Well, if that’s where you find yourself these days, drop it!
If you feel like your motivation is fading, turn back the clock and remember what your previous work life was really like.
1. When you worked for someone else, you had to do what the job required. Even the things you enjoyed had to be done a certain way… someone else’s way. Not anymore. Now that you’re the boss, you can do things the way you see fit. You set the goals… you decide how to achieve them… and you reap the rewards. If you don’t want to do a specific project, you can decline it. If a business relationship is not going as you expected, you can end it. After all, you are the boss.
two. When you worked for someone else, you were expected to conform to a pre-existing culture. You were categorized based on your job description and pigeonholed by someone else’s opinion of your talents and abilities. Now, you can be true to yourself and be as conservative or outrageous as you want. You can decide the dress code. You can expand your personality, your creativity and your individuality as much as possible and find clients who value exactly those qualities.
3. When you worked for someone else, you had to do all the work, even the parts you didn’t like and weren’t good at. He couldn’t swap tasks with his colleague, just because there were parts of his job he would have liked better, and vice versa. Now, that is no longer the case. He can now decide which tasks he will perform and which ones he will assign to someone else. He can spend more time doing the things he loves and is good at, and less time on those other things.
Four. When you worked for someone else, your boss decided when and where you worked. But now, you can work when and where you want. Your schedule is totally flexible and allows you to accommodate family and social activities, personal interests, and even gym workouts. Your office can be anywhere you are: in a coffee shop, in your car, or on the beach. As long as you have a cell phone, laptop or tablet, and internet access, you can be open for business.
5. When you worked for someone else, you had to keep up appearances. You had to act like your boss was the smartest guy in the room. He felt compelled to attend the company picnic or Christmas party, even dragging relatives who were unwilling to do so. Now, you don’t have to put up with any of that. And you don’t have to worry about losing your job just because your boss decides he doesn’t like you anymore or his niece just finished college.
Now tell the truth… when you think about your previous life working for someone else, don’t you feel lucky now? Sure, running your own business has many challenges, but what could be more motivating than reminding yourself of the things you used to hate and the things you now love? I could never go back and work for someone else, could you?