Stoking the Entrepreneurial Fire

It might have happened yesterday or ten years ago, but at some point, you felt it.  As an entrepreneur you have – perhaps many times – felt that spark of inspiration and the rush that goes with it.  That feeling that tells you in your gut that you’re onto something, and nothing’s going to stop you.  Still, no one ever said starting and running a business was easy.  Even first-time entrepreneurs recognize that challenges and obstacles are part of the deal when you’re in business for yourself.  Indeed, these trials are exactly what many of us thrive on.  The ability to overcome barriers and persist when others would quit is what makes entrepreneurs a special breed.  But what happens when that initial spark starts to become a fading memory as the challenges mount?  Whether you’re trying to get on track or stay the course, we can all use a little help sometimes to make the magic happen.

Use these tips to keep your fire burning strong:

1. Plan your work, and work your plan. Much of the discouragement that entrepreneurs face, especially while starting their business, or during a period of sudden growth, can come from feelings of being overwhelmed.  With some businesses, this is seemingly constant.  For example, if you have a business where strict deadlines are the norm, you might feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.  One way to avoid, or at least greatly lessen, the pressures that might be dampening your entrepreneurial drive is to stick to a plan as much as possible.  This isn’t about your business plan – although you’d better have one of those too.  It’s about a daily action plan that will keep you focused, not only on the details of your day, but on the big picture as well.  A great way to devise such a plan is to look at your BHAGs (Big, Harry, Audacious Goals) and work backwards.  Ask yourself, what do I have to do on a daily basis to achieve my objectives?  Once you have the answer to that question, build your daily plan around those activities, and hire out or delegate as much of the other stuff as possible.

2. Embrace change. The only thing that never changes is the fact that everything changes.  No matter how well-thought-out your business plan is; no matter how sure you are you’ve thought of every contingency, the unexpected will arise.  Whether it’s a turn in the economy or a new technology that changes the face of your industry, sooner or later something will happen that you did not plan for.  Often, the difference between thriving and withering in these situations is an ability to embrace change and make it work for you.  So rather than feeling beaten when things don’t go as planned, think of how this new or different set of circumstances can work in your favor.  When you approach change this way, you’ll be surprised at what you can come up with.  It might even ignite a new spark you would never have recognized otherwise.

3. Guard against negativity – from within and from others. It is difficult, if not impossible to keep any spark alive while drowning in negativity and cynicism.  Unfortunately, it’s often our own friends, family and peers who are guilty of feeding us negative energy.  The answer is to think for yourself, stay focused on your dream, and get away if you need to.  It’s a matter of priorities.  No one is suggesting you turn your back on a life-long friend and never speak to them again; but if they’re the type of person who only focuses on the negative, you have to decide if it’s worth spending less time with that person in order to stay in the frame of mind necessary to reach your goals.  Or just keep in mind what James Cook said: “Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.”  If it’s in your own nature to look at the world through pessimistic eyes, go to the next paragraph…

4. Fortify your mind. The self improvement movement has been in full swing in our culture for 35 years now.  Out of that has come enough material to keep you surrounded by positive words for the rest of your life.  A search for the term “self improvement” on Amazon.com yields over 60,000 books, not to mention DVDs and audio programs in MP3 and CD.  If books and audio aren’t enough, you can find countless seminars, retreats, workshops and camps, all designed to infuse your mind with positive energy and purpose.  The point is, you have an opportunity to control what goes into your mind, and if what you choose to focus on is positive, uplifting, and motivating, you’ll be able to overcome obstacles more easily, ignore the negativity of the world around you, and keep your spark alive.

5. Let history guide you. Every successful person, from the Wright brothers to Walt Disney, to Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, and even Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have experienced setbacks, disappointments, and internal doubt.  And if any of them had given up, our world would be a very different place.  The great part?  They weren’t special.  What they had, more than anything else, was a belief in their dream, an ability to focus on their goals, and, most importantly, a sense of perseverance that pulled them through when they needed it most.  And none of those qualities are reserved for a select few.  We can all access them.  Whatever you need to do – whether it’s reading an inspirational book, staring in the mirror and giving yourself a pep talk, or sitting on a rock meditating – as often as possible, try to get back to that original feeling you had when the spark first hit.  That will keep you going through any challenge you face.  No matter what the world throws at you, you do have the power to push through.  Now, go do it!