When starting your own business it’s often easy to get yourself  started, but a lot harder to keep yourself going when things get  tougher. Whether it’s a slowdown in the market, increased competition or  the pressure of work, staying committed and maintaining a positive  focus in your business can be a challenge. Here are ten tips to help you  stay committed.

1. Set goals. Without goals, there’s really not much reason for you to  be in business.  If you want to stay connected to your business, it  helps to make yourself realize why you’re in business to begin with.

2. Keep goals in mind. You started your business for a reason.  You  need to keep that in mind so you don’t get weighed down by the  day-to-day of your work.  Keep little pictures or other memorabilia  around that remind you of why you’re doing this is the first place. 

3. Be flexible. There’s not a one-size-fits-all method to success; you  might have to try a lot of things before you find what’s right for you.   The key is to be flexible and willing to try new things when things  aren’t working for you.

4. Be persistent. While you may want to change when things aren’t  working, you can’t give up on everything so quickly.  You have to be  willing to keep trying and keep going even if things don’t go well.  Remind yourself of the reason you are in business and understand that  the success you are looking for could be just around the next corner.

5. Make it fun. We all want to do things that are fun, and shy away  from things that aren’t.  Make sure the avenues you pursue are not only  profitable, but enjoyable to you.  If you have stuff you need to do that  isn’t as fun, try turning it into a game, just like you probably do  with your kids to get their chores done.   

6. Find supportive people. It’s a lot easier to stay committed to  something if there are people on the sidelines cheering you on.  Take  time to talk to people who are supportive of your business.  If you  don’t have many, try finding people like you online and at local classes  so you can encourage each other.  

7. Get help. Starting your own business is a big job, and it’s  perfectly normal to need a little help or guidance. Maintaining and  growing an existing business can also be a challenge so getting the  right help during this stage of your business makes practical and  financial sense. Look for a mentor, coach or advisor who has the ideas,  knowledge and experience you need.

8. Review what you’ve done. If you’re feeling like you want to give up  or just feel beaten down, take out a pen and paper and write down what  you’ve accomplished since you started your business.  Even if it’s just  little stuff, write it down.  By the time you’re finished you’ll  probably feel better realizing how much you’ve accomplished.  Then keep  the list and review it and update it every so often to keep yourself  going.

9. Expand yourself. You’ve probably found that when you have a new idea  or project, you get very excited about it.  Try to constantly expand  yourself by going to seminars, reading eBooks, getting newsletters, and  doing other things to keep yourself coming up with new ideas and getting  new projects.  The more new things you do, the more excited you’ll be  about just doing your work.

10. Stay positive. A positive attitude goes a long way in keeping you  motivated.  Take steps to keep yourself looking on the bright side of  life and work and it will be easier to keep yourself going. 

Averil Maher is a Business and Success Coach dedicated to empowering business owners to reach their dreams. You can reach her at averil@averilmaher.com