6 positivity tips for entrepreneurs

0
Dec 12, 2016 / by
6 positivity tips for entrepreneurs

As Elon Musk once said: “Starting a company is like eating glass and staring into the abyss”. While there are famous stories of new business owners making millions in short periods of time, for the vast majority of entrepreneurs, achieving success is an agonising struggle.

There are usually numerous obstacles and periods of working long hours with absolutely no tangible rewards. During difficult times, it’s easy to become despondent and lose your sense of motivation.

Even entrepreneurs who appear to be highly successful are not immune to bouts of depression. Rand Fishkin, founder of Moz, spoke openly about a very dark period in his life when his business goals were not being achieved. If you’re serious about becoming a successful entrepreneur, maintaining a positive mindset is paramount. Here are some tips for achieving this.

1 – Exercise regularly

Exercising on a bikeBalance and entrepreneurship do not normally go hand in hand. There are going to be periods of time when your sole concern is getting your business to the next level, to the complete detriment of every other area of your life! However, to work effectively, you’re going to need a lot of energy, and it’s hard to stay focused for long periods when you’re in poor physical condition.

Also, when you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins, which help to lift your mood. Exercise can help to stave off depression, improve your self esteem, give you the motivation you need to break through plateaus in your business and relieve stress. It’s always worth making the time to work out a few times a week, especially if your schedule is hectic and draining.

2 – Take a break from social media

If you’re just starting out as an entrepreneur, you’re likely to take a dip in income and it can feel as if everyone has a more fulfilling life than you. Looking at pictures of your friends enjoying their lives and taking vacations can quickly create a downward spiral in your mind. It’s important to remember that you’re walking your own path and you aren’t in competition with anyone else. Taking a break from social media can really help you to stay connected with your personal goals as an entrepreneur (not to mention stave off possible procrastination issues).

3 – Be inspired instead of jealous

If you witness the success of other entrepreneurs, it’s easy to become envious. This is a great way to destroy your motivation. But it is also a choice! Always be conscious that whenever you see someone more successful than you, it’s an indicator of the great things that are in store once you get to their level. Always choose inspiration rather than envy.

4 – Avoid people who don’t support your mission

If you’ve made the decision to become an entrepreneur, it’s likely you will have mixed reactions from your peers. This can cause some difficulties in your social life. Some people may think that your entrepreneurship endeavour is weird, while others might be actively negative. Always be careful of the people you spend your time with, and don’t be afraid to jettison those who don’t support your goals. Negative energy is infectious, and you’re going to need to avoid it if you want to make your business successful.

5 – Find a mentor

One of the best ways to keep yourself in a good headspace is by talking to a mentor. Also, regularly communicating with someone who has attained the level of success for which you’re striving will do wonders for your mindset. This will reinforce the fact that your mission is achievable and that other people have done it too. By keeping your goals firmly in the realm of reality rather than fantasy, you will find it easier to achieve them.

Writer Jeff Goins states:

Don’t just find someone who has a job you want or a platform that you covet. Find someone that is like you, someone with a similar set of strengths and skills you want to emulate. Otherwise, you’ll just end up frustrated.

6 – Don’t be afraid of failure

Every aspiring entrepreneur wants to identify themselves as successful, so when their goals are not achieved it can be difficult to cope, as this negatively affects their sense of self. The vast majority of successful entrepreneur have encountered spectacular failures. Beating yourself up over failures is just one decision you can take. Another is committing to learning a lesson from every failure and keep moving forward. If you want to achieve your goals, viewing failures as feedback is incredibly important!

Tags: / /