15 Things to Do to Stay Motivated and Positive As an Entrepreneur

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As entrepreneurs (and that includes anyone who has ever started on a new and meaningful business venture) we get frustrated sometimes. We get frustrated by the seemingly slow pace of our progress, repeated failures and lengthy delays in our entrepreneurial efforts.

Frustrations are inevitable in an entrepreneur's success journey, but it's important to consciously balance out all the negative thoughts and experiences you encounter on the journey with positive vibes. Challenge negative thoughts that loom large and remain positive throughout when operating your business or startup.

Maintaining a positive mindset helps you keep your eyes on the price and not get distracted by "sideshows." You are able to see lessons in challenges and opportunities where others see failure. You become unstopable on the journey towards achieving your dreams.

Become Unstopable on Your Entrepreneur's Journey

Addmittedly, there times you will feel exhausted, down in the dumps and unmotivated on the entrepreneur's journey. But, it is during those inevitable trying times on the journey that you need to be strong and keep pushing forward towards your dreams.

Check out some basic things you can do to stay motivated and positive on your journey as an entrepreneur.

1. Remember your vision.

You had when starting out that prompted you to choose to become an entrepreneur. Was your vision to help people in some way? To improve your own life and those of people you care about? Or was it because you love what you do and are good at it? Whatever it is, remind yourself why you became an entrepreneur in the first place – your vision and mission. This can really help you put things in perspective and realize that you can’t allow some of the challenges or concerns you’re facing stop you.

2. Look back and acknowledge your progress.

Sometimes we don’t realize just how far we have come. Take some time to look back at your business and acknowledge your progress. It can be a huge motivating factor. If you’re able to see how far you’ve come and what's going well, it can encourage you to keep moving forward.

3. Express gratitude for the far you have come.

No matter what challenges arise, when you know how far you’ve come — you can be grateful. And when you are grateful, it helps your brain to remember and register the positive and good things in your life and business. This can help you balance out negative bias.

4. Take a break from social media.

While social media is a great tool for growing your business, it can cause you to fall into the comparison trap if not checked. Take a break from social media now if you find you are constantly using it to compare your progress to that of other entrepreneurs and businesses.

5. Interact with other entrepreneurs.

Seek out and connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs. Talk and share your entrepreneurial experience with them. This can help you clear your mind, get things that are troubling you off your chest and draw needed inspiration. Other entrepreneurs can relate much better than family and friends.

6. Speak positive affirmations to yourself.

The more often you hear a message, the more likely you are to believe it. So, why not let that message you speak be positive? Pick two to three affirmations that represent your values and goals and repeat them to yourself, such as “I can handle whatever comes my way,” or “I'm getting better every day.” By repeating positive affirmations with conviction several times each day, you are training your brain to believe them. Over time, you'll start to internalize the affirmations and the positive attitude will follow.

7. Challenge negative thoughts.

Each time a negative thought pops to mind, picture it as separate from yourself. Imagine it as something you can observe and deconstruct. This will help you identify and challenge negative thoughts that are unfair and self-deprecating. For example, if your business doesn’t get the traction you hoped and a thought comes that tells you, "You’re a failure." Look at it objectively and you’ll realize that’s not true. You might have worked really hard but didn’t account for a quirk of the product, so you were disappointed. That, however, only means you can try again more informed and succeed.

8. Talk to a mentor.

Just like talking to fellow entrepreneurs is important, talking to a business mentor (or two) is important. A mentor who has been there, done that can be invaluable. He or she can offer some much needed perspective, especially during business struggles.

9. Write down what’s happening.

Writing down what is happening in your business and life, as well as how you are feeling about it all can bring a soothing and healing effect. It can also put everything in perspective and enable you to discover correlations that help you come up with a better course of action going forward.

10. Change your approach.

If you discover something isn’t working, change it or change your approach on how you use it. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Take a different approach where applicable to improve your situation and your results.

11. Read/watch motivational content.

If you need immediate motivation to change or improve yourself and others, try reading inspirational books or watching motivational videos. There are great stories out there about successful people who overcame great odds to succeed. Look at their stories and take it as proof that you too can succeed.

12. Get enough sleep.

Studies show not getting enough sleep can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and depression. So get enough sleep each night (6-8 hrs). You’ll wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, positive and ready to take on the world. Also consider taking a nap. A midday nap of even 10 minutes improves your cognitive function and decreases sleepiness and fatigue.

13. Reward yourself.

You work hard on a daily basis to grow your business, and have surly come a long way. Celebrate your progress in some way and reward yourself whenever you get things accomplished or just for starting. It will help you to stay positive and motivated throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

14. Get some exercise.

Physical activity is an excellent stress-buster and it provides other benefits as well. Regular exercise helps the brain release endorphins, which improve your mood and self image. Even short bursts of exercise a few times a week can make a big difference in helping you stay positive each day.

15. Step away from work for a little bit.

Take a break. Go for a walk. See the trees, the birds, some nature. A 20-minute stroll can increase blood flow to the brain and boost mood and creativity. Also spend quality time with friends and family, and consider going for a vacation. When you take a break and allow yourself some down time, it makes you happier, more focused and productive. You’ll also avoid exhaustion and burnout.