How to Power On When the Going Gets Tough

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"My first six years in the business were hopeless. There are a lot of times when you sit and you say "Why am I doing this? I'll never make it. It's just not going to happen. I should go out and get a real job, and try to survive."
-
George Lucas




Did you read the quote above? If not, take a few seconds and read it. Where would we be today if George had gotten a real job?

It would mean no Star Wars!

Star Wars aside, being an entrepreneur is never 100% easy. Few things are perfect all of the time. When your plans don't go well, and your new business faces delays or obstacles, it can be tempting to throw in the towel and give up. After all, you gave it a shot which is more than most people can say. This is a common trap.

Here are a few tips to stay strong when things go wrong:

  • Stay optimistic

Before you begin your business venture write a list of reasons you have to be optimistic that it will work. Include the advantages you have over your competitors and anything that sets you apart from them. Make sure you have more than one item on your list, or you will be left with nothing if that particular reason falls through.

Whenever things go wrong and you are tempted to give up, reread your list and remind yourself why your business is going to be successful.

  • Maintain your enthusiasm

You might find yourself working long into the night, doing difficult or mundane tasks that don't fit at all with your idea of being a successful entrepreneur. Before you start to think about giving up, try to attach a positive meaningful outcome to the task in hand. Think of every task you do as a step towards a successful business.

Take the example of nursing mothers. To hear them talking about the pain, frustration and exhaustion of breastfeeding, people may wonder why they bother. Well the answer is they know that that tiresome task will give their child a happy, healthy start in life, and what could be more meaningful than that?

  • Establish your integrity

Throughout the process of setting up your own business, you will undoubtedly come across ways in which you can make a quick profit or take a few short cuts that you are not sure are entirely ethical.

Discovering elements of corruption or deceit in your field can be disheartening at best, and a deal breaker at worst. As long as you make a personal commitment to doing the right thing, you shouldn't give up just because you come across dishonesty amongst the people you work with. Before you make any decision, ask yourself three questions:

·Is it legal?
·Is it fair to everybody affected?
·How will I feel about myself if I do it?

Answering these questions will allow you to retain the integrity of your business and yourself personally.

  • Have courage

When you need to make a decision that involves taking risks, it can be tempting to play it safe, or to quit while you are ahead. Having the courage to take calculated risks is an essential part of moving on with your business.

The best way to find the courage to take a risk is to imagine the worst case scenario, and plan how you would deal with it. Suddenly all other scenarios will seem much less scary. Risks seem much worse when you try to ignore them or don't identify what they are.

  • Apply patience

When you experience setbacks and delays, it is easy to overreact and take issues personally. Impulsive responses to problems you encounter are rarely positive, so take some time to assess the situation before you react. Here are some things to remember when your business encounters problems:

·There is nothing you can do about delays that are not your fault. Try to build time into your plans for possible delays, but if you have not done so you will just have to alter your plans.

·Take time to think before you respond to an issue. Write a draft e-mail if you wish, or write down how you would like to respond. Then take a half hour break, go for a walk or get something to eat. The chances are that when you return you will want to react in a much milder way.

·You will probably have to wait some time for your business to start achieving good results. Set your targets high but your expectations low for the first few months.

  • Stay calm

Eliminating stress and worry from your business life is never easy, but there are ways to avoid it.

Try to tackle the task you are dreading most at the beginning of the day. This will prevent you worrying about them for the rest of the day, and will give you a positive lift as you feel you have achieved something.

Learn to recognize your own particular signs of stress. Do your muscles become tense? Do you get a stiff neck or shoulders? Employ relaxation techniques and take a short break as soon as you begin to notice these symptoms of stress.




  • Remain focused

As your business begins to take off, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of you. The key is to focus on one priority at a time. Make sure you finish one task before you start on another. Empty your mind of thought that do not relate to that task. Write these thoughts down if you are worried you will forget them by the time you need them.

  • Remind yourself of your belief

Belief is a crucial part of positive thinking, and it helps to remind yourself what you believe in when you are tempted to give up on your business venture. Your beliefs can take a variety of forms:

·Belief in your own ability
·Belief in the quality of your business plan
·Belief in your original business idea
·Belief in the lifestyle that your business can give you
·Belief that your dreams can come true
·Belief that there is more to life than a monthly paycheck



"They say a year in the Internet business is like a dog year...equivalent to seven years in a regular person's life. In other words, it's evolving fast and faster."
-Vinton Cerf


Staying on your toes is imperative to succeeding in internet business. Motivate yourself to work from home, something that most people have to do when they start their own online business.


Ashish Patel
Internet Marketer and Blogger
#entrepreneur mindset #motivation #power #tough
  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    inspiring post...thanks mate.
    Signature

    Blogger at RicherOrNot.com (Make Money online blog but also promoting ethical internet marketing)

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  • Profile picture of the author tobyR
    great post and just so true - keep it up, you cannot fail to gleen something from your post a real mantra for success
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian Kerr
    Good post.


    When things get tough, I fall back onto my written out goals, clear and concise. I re-envision what I want, and feel why I want it. Then my motivation comes back through.
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  • Profile picture of the author ThomScott
    Great post!

    I have also found that having "burned the boats" with no viable option but forward to success is highly effective as well.

    Well into my middle-age period, I have been self-employed for so long that I'm pretty much unemployable. So, when I hit a nasty turn of events a few years back that left me starting over, I really had no option but to move forward and succeed despite the obstacles.
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    • Profile picture of the author AEC
      Oh so true and yet oh so hard to remember when things get really tough.

      Great post... keep it up.
      Signature
      If you place good service ahead of making money... opportunities to make money will present themselves.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kenrick C
        Also counter negative thoughts by exercising and giving back (such as volunteering). Also break up your ultimate goal into many steps and reward yourself for completing each step along the process.
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  • Profile picture of the author William Veasley
    Hey Ashish,

    Thanks for the very, very, inspiring post!

    Man this was a great read I would have to start out by saying. Every single point on here was right all the way to the core in my belief. These are exactly the things you should do when the times get tough, because the fact is they most surely will. We all have to face the tough times.

    What really matters most is how you handle those tough times when they come, because there will be knocking on the door. You should start out by applying each and everyone one of the above mentioned methods to you lifestyle. That would make a huge difference off top.

    Applying patience & staying calm are too EXTREMELY important tips to never forget. I mean neeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrr! Always do your best to remain calm, because you think best when your not stressing yourself half crazy. Your mind is able to focus on what's really important in that time period.

    With patience anything is within reach!

    Thanks again!

    God bless,
    William Veasley
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    • Profile picture of the author Tolin
      Very, Very good mate.
      99% of people who take a challenge to build online business, gone through the same process. The only people will succeed, who will find that power within. When I was going through bad time I use to watch videos which I saved in my YouTube channel and now
      I show it to my students to give them that little inspiration they need it.

      Thanks for the post.
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    • Profile picture of the author tonyB222
      great post, luv this stuff
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