Leon Edward asked:
What are the three keys to self-improvement and motivation in Business?
1) INSPIRATION
You need inspiration to keep you motivated and intent on improving yourself. If you are not as interested in your business as you should be, your motivation level will be lower than it can be and you will not be able to sustain interest for long periods.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? Many people choose to go into a business because on paper, it looks profitable, but when they actually go into it, they find it does not interest them.
If you are one of these people, you will grow weary and uninterested quickly because you have no inspiration or passion to sustain you during the difficult times you will encounter as a small business owner.
If you do not like your work, not to worry. There are probably ways that you can re-focus your small business to match your interests and thus develop a passion in it, which will help you stay inspired. Think of ways to do this, and if you truly can not, consider making a clean break and starting something new. You might be able to sell it if it is reasonably well established and could turn a profit for someone who is interested in it, so you might be able to recoup some of your investment this way. But do not try to stay with it if you just have no interest and can not turn it into something you can be passionate about, because without inspiration, you will not be motivated to even try self-improvement.
2) SET GOALS
Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you do not set goals, you have no definite purpose and no clear path to take. It is impossible to be motivated if you are not sure about the direction your company is taking.
Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than putting goals, strategies, implementation plans, and a budget in writing. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually.
Include mini-goals that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days, or weeks. Include more ambitious grand-goals that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.
Can a business plan really help motivate you? Of course! Written goals will make you feel more professional and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.
3) NETWORKING
Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is to network with other small business owners and collaborate with those who have expertise you do not. You can not possibly know all the information you need to understand every facet of your business, at least not at first. Use expertise of others to build on your own. You will conquer challenges you could not have alone, and you will likely help others do the same.
Networking also helps offset the solitary working conditions many entrepreneurs face as well. In fact, working alone can be one of most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. You can never truly succeed without the help of others, and you will need to return the favor and offer your own assistance, too. Mutual support is motivating.
Make life easier by connecting with others either within your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.
Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of their business. When a networking group works together, it can help its members generate more qualified sales leads, for instance, and solve problems faster and more efficiently.
Sharing ideas, expertise, and experience is also an invaluable aspect of motivation and self-improvement. Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem too much.
And with your networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process!