Kate Bacon

photo credit: kthypryn

This is an odd photo for me to post since I consider myself to be entirely “non-sporty” – but the loneliness of the image drew me in. This kid is part of a team playing baseball, but here he is entirely alone.

Do you feel alone in your business?

Working for yourself as a small business owner can be an isolating experience, especially when you are juggling between providing the services your business offers, as well as effectively marketing them both on and offline. Sometimes there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day and it feels like things are slipping – so how do you cope?

Keeping your eye on the ball

This can be one of the most difficult things to do in business (especially when you don’t feel you have enough hours in each day). You need to have the vision of your bigger picture as well as being able to focus down to the micro-level of detail to ensure you are keeping on track.

Getting support I feel is essential. This can take a number of forms – from being part of a business mentoring group, to buddying up with a fellow business owner to keep accountable, or working with a business coach. We can always see more clearly what others could be doing differently  - somehow when it comes to ourselves we are too closely involved and find it difficult to gain perspective.

Getting stuff done…

Now this is the killer isn’t it? How easy is it to lose focus and get distracted because the stuff it is most useful for us to do just feels too difficult to start. (This excellent post by Jonathan Meads from Illuminated Mind has some inspiring and practical tips – and is well worth a read!)

Personally, I’ve found it hard to get things done when I haven’t had a plan. (This is my achilles heel, as I’m still working to oppose my natural feeling that planning = ultimate boredom!) However, experience has taught me that unless you have some kind of plan in place (it can be as simple as one page, or a series of bullet points) for the next week, month, quarter, or year, you have no clear direction for your attention.

[At this point, I took a break from writing this post, to put together a bullet pointed list of what I am going to work on in the next month. It really WORKS when you focus and get started].

Inspiration to keep going (having faith in your business)

Without this you may as well pack it all in right now. (Dramatic statement I know, but confidence in your business – which necessarily includes yourself if you are offering a service – is essential if you are to keep motivated). Sandi Amorim from Deva Coaching wrote a wonderful post on this very subject (another “must read” for equal measures of inspiration and feet-on-the-ground practicality).

Connect with what drives you – the “Why” of what you do. Find inspiration to keep you motivated on a daily basis – subscribe to the blog of someone you admire;  keep an eye out for small bit of wisdom that resonates with you; or simply do something fun that takes you away from “burying” yourself in your business.

So, in summary:

• Get support – helping you keep your eye on the ball
• Write a plan – and follow it through
• Keep the faith in “Why” you are doing what you do – re-connect with something that inspires you every day

What are your tips for keeping motivated and on track? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section below…

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