3 Keys to Self-Motivation for Entrepreneurs

“The lesson here is simple: when you focus on helping others rather than helping yourself, you draw upon your deepest sources of motivation. It frees your creativity and energy while simultaneously developing both empathy and patience.” 

We all need it. We need it to survive in business. We need it to influence our life so that we live life to the fullest!  It’s the difference between achieving success – whatever you determine that to be – and failure.  

It’s the quality that causes some people to leap out of bed and face each day with a positive attitude and a joyful heart.   

The factor that influences the results in various areas is Motivation. 

What is Motivation? 

Business Dictionary defines motivation as, “Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal. 
 
Motivation results from the interaction of both conscious and unconscious factors such as the (1) intensity of desire or need, (2) incentive or reward value of the goal, and (3) expectations of the individual and of his or her peers. These factors are the reasons one has for behaving a certain way.” 

Sometimes we hear others say that they’re motivated by this or that, and someone times we say that as well.  I know I have. The reality is that while external things can serve as motivators, true motivation has to come from within.   

That’s alluded to in the definition given above, which speaks about internal and external factors providing stimulation.   

Is your source of motivation internal, external, or both?   

What is self-motivation? 

Self-motivation is sometimes referred to as intrinsic motivation, which is really just a fancy way of saying that a self-motivated person has the ability to do things that need to be done without the influence of external stimuli; whether people, places, or things.  

The person who is self-motivated will willingly perform tasks and strive to accomplish their goals because they always have their own internal reasons and resolve. 

An important factor is becoming aware of your triggers – the things, thoughts, and desires that motivate you to perform tasks and achieve goals, especially when these become challenging and the temptation is to give up and give in.   
 
Of course, you may find that as you go through different stages in life, your source or sources of motivation change.   

Interesting discoveries are being made which reveal results some may not have necessarily believed in previously. In an article on Inc.com, contributing editor, Geoffrey James noted that, based on research as well as interviews he’s conducted, the greatest source of motivation comes from an unexpected place.   

“The lesson here is simple: when you focus on helping others rather than helping yourself, you draw upon your deepest sources of motivation. It frees your creativity and energy while simultaneously developing both empathy and patience.” 

While these findings may not be a surprise, especially to heart-centered entrepreneurs, managers and executives have long held on to the belief that employees are motivated purely by external factors like money and promotions.  These clearly play a role, but the real source of self-motivation comes from a higher purpose. It comes from within. 

In addition to your source, the following are three keys to self-motivation for entrepreneurs. 

The 3 Keys to Self-Motivation for Entrepreneurs 

Identify What You’re Passionate About 

‘Finding your passion’ has been used so frequently that for many people it may just be a cliché.  

It really is important to know what you’re truly passionate about so that you will stay the course when the inevitable challenges arise.  This is what will drive and excite you and help push you to limits you may never have realized even existed within you. 

This quote from Drew Houston, Founder of Dropbox says it well,  
 
“When I think about it, the happiest and most successful people I know don't just love what they do, they're obsessed with solving something that matters to them. They remind me of a dog chasing a tennis ball: Their eyes go a little crazy, the leash snaps and they go bounding off, plowing through whatever gets in the way. “ 

While I’m not advocating “obsession”, you get the point. When something has deep meaning to you, it provides the fuel you need to pursue your objective. 

What are some ways to discover your passion? While there are complex systems and assessments you can do to discover what your behaviors, values, and personality style are telling you, here are some simple ways that can help. 

Think about the things that you do on a regular basis.  Is there any specific time, task, place, or activity where or when you feel inspired, invigorated, or truly alive?  

Is there something about traveling, connecting with other people, creating something or solving certain types of problems that make you feel more alert and enthusiastic? Or, conversely, are you more motivated in your own private space? 

Is there something that you always look forward to doing and that you always hope you will be able to do more of? Try answering these questions and you will eventually figure out your passion in life.  

Finding your passion is finding what gives you that indescribable drive for what you constantly crave doing, not because you are being paid for it but mostly because you love doing it. This is what defines “a life worth living” for you.  

Stay Motivated By Setting Small Goals 

You may be asking, ‘Why small goals specifically?”  How many times have you greeted the new year or new month with enthusiasm and set lofty goals that you can never seem to find the time to achieve?  How does it make you feel when your established time-frame arrives and you’re not much closer to completing the goal? What if you were to break down those goals into small, easily achievable steps that you could complete and check off? 

Huge tasks can seem overwhelming. As you complete each smaller step, it gives you confidence and engenders a desire to move to the next step. According to Harvard Researcher, Teresa Amabile, it is our small, daily progress that serves as the most powerful motivator at work. This means that if we want to be motivated on a daily basis,  we have to see to it that our goals are achievable day by day. Also, for these sub-goals to be achievable they may have to be divided into even smaller chunks.  

Commenting on the outcome of research she conducted, Ms. Amabile noted, “When we think about progress, we often imagine how good it feels to achieve a long-term goal or experience a major breakthrough. These big wins are great—but they are relatively rare. The good news is that even small wins can boost inner work life tremendously. Many of the progress events our research participants reported represented only minor steps forward. Yet they often evoked outsize positive reactions.” 

As you learn that you are capable of achieving one goal after another, you are more likely to repeat that process in order to feel the deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment all over again. This is why setting easier and achievable short-term goals is much more effective in helping someone achieve the bigger, long-term goals they seek.  It helps to keep you self-motivated. 

Avoid Procrastination  

Procrastination is a killer of motivation. It’s like a parasite that sucks the life out of the host – whether a person or a thing.  Sounds a bit harsh?  Think about it for a moment.  When you procrastinate, you put off what needs to be done, and will often bring you the greatest results, in favor of what’s easier and may give you short-term satisfaction. 

Procrastination is created by a belief that what is pleasurable gives more satisfaction, and because of this you can actually hold yourself back from moving forward in your business.  

The importance of avoiding procrastination is closely connected with the need to discover what you’re passionate about.  When you’re passionate about your goals and your vision, you’re less likely to allow procrastination to rob you of your motivation to stay the course. 

Does that mean all is lost? Not at all.  You have the power to re-wire your brain. One way you can do this is by keeping a positive mental outlook.  This includes training yourself to have a more positive view of certain tasks so that even if you don’t actually enjoy them, you appreciate that they’re essential. You resist putting them off. 

Many people find affirmations and powerful quotes helpful in reinforcing positive elements and reducing negative thoughts and perceptions. 

Thomas Edison said that the most surefire road to success is always to try one more time. Is the task too difficult, too tedious or too complicated? Try doing it differently, one more time. Are you too frustrated to do any task? Give it a try, one more time. He knew only too well from his personal experiences how important it was not to let seeming failure or negative results allow you to procrastinate or give up. 

To maintain self-motivation takes work and regular assessment. If you feel your self-motivation waning, rather than thinking you’re losing interest in your business or your desire to fulfill your dream as a successful entrepreneur, look at and into yourself.  Sometimes it’s as simple as acknowledging that you may need to refill your internal reservoir and remind yourself of what you’re passionate about.   

You may also need to take a well-deserved break and practice some self-care.   

Personal levels of desire and self-motivation will vary, but those who make a habit of success do so by taking steps to remain motivated. Success and self-motivation are circular – each feeds and strengthens the other. When you are motivated from within, success happens much more automatically, with less effort on your part. 

Create the habits that will make self-motivation a driving force from within that will carry you towards fulfilling your vision and dreams.