Opinion: 4 tips for staying motivated every day

Do you ever feel like a windup doll? And that you have to wind yourself up every day?

Well, you do! And if you don’t, who will?

It takes discipline. People often comment about my energy level. I have a lot, and it’s because I do things that energize me. Before a tough day becomes a tough week, you might pause and make a change or two. Here is a countdown to my Top 4 Tips for renewing your passion for your business:

No. 4. Work up a sweat. You know working out is good for you, but it’s also good for business. There is nothing like physical exercise to clear out the cobwebs, reduce stress, come up with a great idea and improve your morale. Do something every day, anything, that causes you to break a sweat. It could be as little as 10 minutes of running, brisk walking, climbing stairs or a few situps and planks in your office. Do it even when you most don’t feel like it; you will always be glad you did. You will never wish you hadn’t.

No 3. Let them go. How much time have you wasted fretting about whether to let an employee go, when you know in your heart and gut that it is the right thing to do? Clear, written expectations and systems make it easier for both of you to know if the relationship is working. Put in the systems, and listen to your intuition. You have the right to go to work without a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach. And you are wasting so much time – yours and his or hers – when you keep a bad relationship going. It doesn’t make you or them bad people. Sometimes it’s just not a good fit, so let them go. You will feel better.

No. 2. Listen to good news. What if you just didn’t watch the national news? What if you didn’t click on the news blogs first thing every day? Instead, what if you clicked on TED.com and listened to 18 minutes of a bright, mind-expanding presentation? I suggest you search for Simon Sinek or Maya Penn, or take a chance on a fresh voice. Don’t listen to talk radio. If you are so inclined, read the Bible or your favorite religious tome. Drench your mind with powerful, positive thoughts. The energy is contagious and motivating.

No. 1. Have a weekly meeting with you. Take an hour, once a week, and ask the big questions. What do you want? What do you want your company to be? To look like and feel like? What are your sales goals? What is your bottom line? How can you be of the most service? How can you best express your unique gifts? How can your company help you serve your highest purpose? Review your to-do lists: what you have to do, what you want to do and what you could just not do.

Then, block out specific times in your calendar for the week. Include time to work on projects that will move you in the direction of what you really want. Don’t worry about making the wrong decision. The more certain your intention, the less effort required to bring your vision into reality. Nice, right?

I close with a quote by Henry David Thoreau:

“I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Ellen Rohr is an author and business consultant offering profit-building tips, trending business blogs and online workshops at EllenRohr.com. Her books include “Where Did the Money Go?” and “The Bare Bones Weekend Biz Plan.” She can be reached at ellen@ellenrohr.com.