When you first start your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll likely be full of passion and excitement, ready to take on any obstacle. But as time goes on and you fall into the day-to-day routine, you might feel that spark starting to fade.
Businesses and careers go through phases, and sometimes, you might find yourself running low on motivation. Don’t let yourself lose sight of why you started. To find out what works, we asked Young Entrepreneur Council members the following:
Q. What is one thing people should do periodically to renew their feelings of confidence, positivity and grit?
1. Help Others
Very few activities boost my confidence, positivity and grit as much as helping others. While helping others is indeed an end in itself, a happy byproduct is a boost to my own joy. Nothing gets me out of my own head as much as helping at a homeless shelter, volunteering at a local religious group or just bringing dinner to a friend. What we put out in the world tends to boomerang back to us.
2. Do Something That Triggers Positive Feelings
Want to renew your feelings of confidence, positivity and grit? Listen to a song that gets you amped up or watch a movie that gets those competitive juices flowing. For me, it’s watching old Rocky movies that does the trick. It reminds me to challenge myself every day. There’s something about hearing a song or watching a movie that triggers certain feelings, especially when you need to reboot!
– Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc.
3. Spend Time in Nature
Sometimes spending time outside is just what you need to be reminded of the bigger picture. Spring is around the corner. The weather is starting to turn nice, flowers are blooming and it’s the best time to be outdoors. Rent a kayak or go on a hike to re-energize yourself. This will help you remember just how small your problems truly are and how new and exciting the world still is.
4. Unplug for a Weekend
Sometimes it takes more than an hour-long gym session or a 10-minute meditation to reset. I try my best to schedule a few weekends a year to really unplug.
5. Challenge Yourself Outside of Work
Find a way to challenge yourself and get used to pushing yourself beyond your limits. For me — an adventure junkie/adrenaline addict — that means playing on professional paintball team Viper Six, Tough Mudder races, learning to fly airplanes, fighting in the Ediroc Invitational Boxing Series, rafting in class V rapids with my best friend Gary. Build character with something that scares you.
6. Join a Success Group
If you are feeling uninspired or simply just need to energize your confidence, I suggest joining a success group. Being part of a success group that consists of fellow entrepreneurs will not only bring positivity to your mind, but will also keep you accountable. Being part of YEC itself has given me an extra boost of confidence, and motivated me to work even harder as I see my peers crushing it!
7. Learn Something New
Continuing to learn can really help renew your feelings of confidence, positivity and grit, especially if you’ve been stagnant for a while. Take an online course or attend a local workshop. Learning a new skill or improving upon your existing skills will give you a sense of accomplishment, as well as give you the boost in confidence you need to perform better in your job.
8. Practice Self-Care
Practicing self-care is great for renewing your confidence and increasing positivity. Whatever self-care means for you — whether it’s getting a haircut, exercising, getting a massage, etc. — spend time doing something just for you that makes you feel good about yourself. Even a small act of self-care can boost your mood dramatically.
– Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
9. Meditate
There are a number of different ways you can meditate, but with meditation comes self-reflection and the opportunity to regain perspective you may lose in the heat of the battle of a busy day. Meditation allows you to become in better touch with yourself and your surroundings, and, in turn, can help you renew feelings of confidence, posititivity and grit that may have lapsed.
– Adam Mendler, The Veloz Group
10. Reflect on Your Past Accomplishments
You can’t win them all. When times get tough, think about how far you’ve come in your career, team members you’ve helped and clients you’ve made happy. Then, get creative and think of ways you can scale or repeat those experiences in your current situation.
– Karlo Tanjuakio, GoLeanSixSigma.com
11. Catch Up With Your Support Network of Family and Friends
Solitary reflection time can do wonders to a person’s mindset, but when a person is in a bad place with their confidence and motivation, they often need comfort and support from loved ones. It’s amazing what a good chat with parents, siblings or your closest friends can do to your mindset. Reconnecting with your support network can boost you back up and continue the good fight.
– Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors
12. Do Some High-Intensity Exercise
If you’re starting to feel down or doubtful of your ability to succeed, I recommend getting into a rigorous exercise routine. Weight training, high-intensity interval cardio or Crossfit can be excellent methods of proving to yourself that you are able to accomplish tasks that require substantial effort on your part. This will then reinvigorate you in other aspects of your life.
– Bryce Welker, Crush The CPA Exam
13. Remember That ‘Humble and Hungry’ Feeling That Got You Here
To summon my inner grit, I have to focus on being humble and hungry. Busy can take the place of progress in so many areas of life. Finding a way to dig in and remembering how bad I wanted to “get the job” helps me remember how much I will fight to keep pushing to thrive in it. To develop that grit, I have to stay centered and remember my humble beginnings. Don’t take anything for granted.
– Will Robins, Manscaped, Inc.
These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.