What are the three keys to self improvement and motivation?
1. INSPIRATION
Inspiration is critical to staying motivated and improving oneself. If you are not interested in your business (whether as the employee or the owner), your motivation level will never be high and you will not be able to sustain interest for very long.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest them in the least.
These individuals will grow weary and uninterested pretty quickly because they have no inspiration or passion to sustain them during the difficult times they will encounter regardless if they are an employee, a corporate executive, or a small business owner.
If you do not like your work, then think how you can re-focus your energies to better match your needs. Or consider making a change in business and/or profession entirely. Without inspiration, you will not be motivated to even try self improvement.
2. SETTING GOALS
Short and long-term goal setting is vital for everyone. If you do not set goals, you have no definite purpose on which path of self improvement to take.
How could you possibly be motivated if you are unsure about the direction or stability of your company?
Take the time to put your goals in writing. A personal business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than goals, strategies, implementation and a budget. 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 as well as the more ambitious “grand-goals” that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.
But can a personal 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 networking with other professionals, however not necessarily of similar subject matter expertise. No one person knows everything and holds all the knowledge.
When a number of people begin working together the challenges will be there just waiting to be conquered.
The isolation of working alone is of one the most difficult aspects of an entrepreneur or single-source department member. You can never be on your way to self improvement without the help of others. Mutual support is motivating.
Make it easier on yourself by connecting with others either in your professional community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.
Many successful professionals report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of the business. Working together, a networking group can help its members 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 professionals will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your department or business seems too much.
With a networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time potentially experiencing additional enjoyment and inspiration in the process. Very simply you feel motivated to accomplish self improvement when you know you are not alone.