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8 Tips For Entrepreneurs to Get and Stay Motivated in 2009

Guest post by: Brian Linton

Article Overview: One of the most difficult things for entrepreneurs to do is stay motivated. Check out these tips and consider applying them to your entrepreneurial lives this year.

8 Tips For Entrepreneurs to Get and Stay Motivated in 2009

I’m going to be completely honest with you. My life as an entrepreneur is not as exciting as I make it out to be in my regular writings and new weekly video show at brianlinton.com. I am not always motivated to get up and work everyday. I struggle to get up, and sometimes, I would rather sleep in than get up and toil away at jobs I wish I didn’t have to do. I love to sell, I love to meet with customers, and I love to travel to tradeshows…but I am an entrepreneur and have to do more than only the things I love to do. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult for me to stay motivated and grow my company from day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year. But I work hard at staying motivated because I know the importance it has for me as an entrepreneur.

From experience, I believe that motivation is one of the most important things an entrepreneur must have for long-term success. Many times, young, startup entrepreneurs work long hours alone, making less than they could be making if they worked at their local Starbucks. They keep on working because they see long-term rewards and are motivated to succeed.

I do a number of things to stay motivated, and I have written about this topic before here on brianlinton.com. In this article I have put together a new list of some of the things I feel will help you to get and stay motivated in 2009. The tips presented here are the exact things I have either done or will be doing this year.


1. Start Something New

I have a problem with having too many projects going on at one time, but I think this problem is one of the things that keeps me motivated. For instance, every year I launch new products for my company Sand Shack. This year we have three new catalogs with all new products (see those here). New products are more fun to sell than old products. Our customers expect new products, and these new products present a new and exciting challenge in selling them. Also, more recently I began a weekly show on entrepreneurship called ‘The Entrepreneur Road Show’ which will air every week right here on brianlinton.com. I get really excited about new projects such as these…they help keep me motivated. Consider starting something new today.



2. Change your workplace

Many entrepreneurs work out of a home office. At home it is difficult to stay motivated, so consider trying to separate yourself from your home office this year. If you work mostly via computer, consider working a few days a week at a coffeehouse. Changing your environment helps ward off negative thoughts and keeps you motivated to succeed.




3. Read and Interact With Other Entrepreneurs More

Thank you for reading this article, you are the type of person that is more likely to stay motivated this year. Reading about topics such as entrepreneurship and things written about the field of business you are in have the ability to empower and motivate you. Also, don’t underestimate the power of reading a good success story about a fellow entrepreneur. Reading about and interacting within a community of entrepreneurs not only makes you a better and smarter entrepreneur, but a more motivated one as well. Consider participating in forums on entrepreneurship such as youngentrepreneur.com.



4. Get Great PR for You and Your Company

Get in the news or on TV this year. Speak at an event. Get your company’s products into a relevant magazine. Great PR has the ability to pump up and motivate you. Everybody needs a pat on the back sometimes, and getting great PR may be the back pat you need to stay motivated in 2009.




5. Don’t Watch Too Much TV or Read Negative News

Am I telling you to shelter yourself from the world? No. But TV, for the most part, is a waste of time. I love to watch TV, but I don’t let it consume my free time. In fact, I don’t own a TV! The only TV I watch is online from my computer. Also, I am not a fan of the news. I keep up to date on what is going on in the world, but there is far too much news coverage on negative stories. Next time, consider skipping over the doom and gloom story about the economy or the story about a mall shooting or other terrible event.




6. Get Fit

I’m going to throw this in here even though it is something I have not yet achieved. I used to be fit, but I have put exercising and eating healthy off for the past few years, and my health is paying the price for it. I know it is vain, but if you look good, you are going to feel good, and if you feel good you are going to stay motivated. As soon as gyms start offering their ‘New Year Promotions’, I am signing up for a membership.



7. Plan a vacation

Although many entrepreneurs feel as though they can and should be working whenever they can, a vacation is a nice reward and break from being an entrepreneur and can help keep you fresh and motivated.



8. Set goals

Ok. So I’m putting this last because I know you are getting sick of everybody telling you to set goals, especially now that it is the first week of January and half of the world’s population is currently setting goals only a small fraction will accomplish. But no worries, you are different. You are an entrepreneur! Set goals you can accomplish this year, but also look at where you want to be five years from now. Knowing what you want to accomplish will help you stay motivated this year.

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Related Forum Posts
Business Tips - How about: Tips for managers to handle employees more effectively? Tips on how to deal with difficult customers? Tips on how to deal more effectively with suppliers? The only three I have in mind right now, but will try to come up with something else. Chris
Re: Moderators on vacation - I will be on vacation from Dec 23, 2008 - Jan 5, 2009 - See y'all in the New Year! Happy 2009 to All!!!
Re: My first video in over a year - Thanks guys - I appreciate the feedback! I'm just working my next video and I like it even better! Stay tuned!
Re: FREE Toronto Referral Workshop - Kevin, I'll try to get a copy of the slides and summarize the 14 Strategies. Stay tuned!
Re: WorkfmHomeDiva is in the House! - Hi, name is Melissa Burns. Stay home working mom, and loving this site!


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