Where do you get that drive from?

[JoyDivision]

One of the reasons I am struggling atm is I am lacking any drive. Despite the fact I am now suffering from financial hardship I am I don't have any drive to do something about it.

A few years back I wanted to take over the world, I left university with so many ideas, now I just feel like my brain is dead.

Has anybody got any tips to overcome this?

 

[Jon236]

The biggest drive you can have is being stuck in, or the fear of being stuck in, a mind numbing 9-5 job where you work your nuts off for someone else to take the credit. I work in the industry I've always wanted to work in, doing a job which is right up my street and uses a wide variety of skills in my skill set.. but it doesn't satisfy me, working for myself (as I do on the side) is where the satisfaction comes from for me, and gives me the drive to work all day, then come home at night to work on the business.

 

[telemax]

Hi

I think this is something deeply personal, people have drive for many different reasons. There have been times, especially in my 20's when I had no drive, and simply drifted through doing minimum wage jobs for quite a few years.

Now in my mid 30's, I got a huge amount of drive, I think it's having a family now, wanting to give my kids a better future, mixed in with a small amount of wanting to prove a lot of people wrong.

Financial hardship is actually a good way of getting motivation, there is no reason why you cant get yourself out of it by working hard. Ask yourself do you really want to be in the same situation in 10 years? Imagine looking back and cursing yourself for not being motivated enough at this point to do anything.

Jonathan

 

[borobabe]

I think it's having a family now, wanting to give my kids a better future, mixed in with a small amount of wanting to prove a lot of people wrong.

This has to be what does it for me too, my grandfather worked hard (admittedly for someone else) all his working life to provide for his family, now he is gone this has been passed down to my mum and I don't want to be stuck without something to give my children. I also want to have a working profitable business for my girls to work in should they want. I already have my 10 year old niece standing by to work for me when she is old enough.

 

[stender]

Are you working at present or are you in a crap job?
You sound young so the world is your oyster. Think about what you enjoy doing rather than money and get some training in that area or get a job in a relevant company in that area even if it's at the bottom. Just get your foot in the door. Or do some work experience. I'm in a well paid job but hate it. Unfortunately I can't afford to take a pay drop and retrain but it sounds like you can. My only way out is to start my own business which is something I work on in my spare time. My motiviation with this is being able to resign and work from home!

 

[JoyDivision]

I do run my own IT support business but I have just not had the energy to fight the change in economic circumstances. There is two ways of running a business, one is to go out and find the customers, the other is to wait to they come to you and I am sadly doing the latter .

People close to me are saying to forget business and get a 9-5 but my heart is in business and not 9-5 which is why I never get the job if I go for an interview because it probably shows!

Everytime I come up with a new business idea I just dismiss it for being too much hassle .

I am 25 btw.

 

[AdamJ]

I have a chuffing huge pile of bills and am getting stern letters from my mortgage company as it would appear that they don't appreciate not being paid. That gives me all the drive I need!

 

[stender]

I've come up with many a web idea and thought nah! only to find someone else does it and makes a success.

 

[JoyDivision]

A wannabe entrepreneur comes with the ideas but shys away, where as a real one executes them ideas .

I am very much a wannabe.

 

[NVCY]

One of the reasons I am struggling atm is I am lacking any drive. Despite the fact I am now suffering from financial hardship I am I don't have any drive to do something about it.

A few years back I wanted to take over the world, I left university with so many ideas, now I just feel like my brain is dead.

Has anybody got any tips to overcome this?

This happens to ALL of us in one way or another.

What drives me;;;

Taking my son and daughter out at the weekend, not being worried what my wife spending.

Making sure the bills are being paid and the Fi plans are in place.

Keeping on the RIGHT side of the bank manager...

And having a cold Keo Beer at night when it still in the 30c's after 9PM

 

[Mister B]

A wannabe entrepreneur comes with the ideas but shys away, where as a real one executes them ideas .

I am very much a wannabe.

Cobblers if you don't mind me saying so.

From what I have read of you to date, you are a gifted young individual who wants to succeed but for one reason or another, you have hit a minor hurdle.

You need to pick yourself up and drive yourself forward. It won't be easy, but the rewards will be worth it in the end. The only regret that I have is that I didn't have the balls to go on my own when I was your age. By doing what you do now you have already proved the point that you have balls-you just need to use them there balls to build on what you've achieved so far.

One thing that does strike me though, is that you are maybe a little close to the situation now and may benefit from some time out away from the problems. Take a few days off and come back rejuvenated.

Sorry if I appear a little harsh, I just say it how I see it

Mister B

 

[stender]

And having a cold Keo Beer at night when it still in the 30c's after 9PM

If I lived in cyprus I wouldn't need motivating! My ideal job is renting out the sunbeds on the beach in protaras.

 

[spigwell]

If I lived in cyprus I wouldn't need motivating! My ideal job is renting out the sunbeds on the beach in protaras.

See things cant be that bad, you have already smiled twice so far in this topic.

 

[deniser]

My drive comes partly from my personality - I always want to be the best at what I do - and secondly from not wanting EVER to go back to my previous career and a very stressful job with long hours. The fact that I can run my business around my children is the most important thing to me.

 

[ZHopps]

If you really feel as if you have lost all your drive and 'zip' it might seriously be worth getting a health check - anaemia and thyroid problems can both cause constant background tiredness and you may find that something simple may give you back your energy.

 

[Write My Site]

I was going to post the exact same thing. JoyDivision, you should have a higher opinion of yourself. You've done the hard bit, which is taking the plunge and setting up your business. It sounds like you've just become a bit bogged down in it all and you're feeling demoralised. Mister B is right: what you need is a few days away to clear your head so you can come back to the business feeling positive and refreshed.

Good luck

Cobblers if you don't mind me saying so.

From what I have read of you to date, you are a gifted young individual who wants to succeed but for one reason or another, you have hit a minor hurdle.

You need to pick yourself up and drive yourself forward. It won't be easy, but the rewards will be worth it in the end. The only regret that I have is that I didn't have the balls to go on my own when I was your age. By doing what you do now you have already proved the point that you have balls-you just need to use them there balls to build on what you've achieved so far.

One thing that does strike me though, is that you are maybe a little close to the situation now and may benefit from some time out away from the problems. Take a few days off and come back rejuvenated.

Sorry if I appear a little harsh, I just say it how I see it

Mister B

 

Drive is very much a personal thing, but in your case what I think you are lacking is PLANNING.

I like to sit down from time to time and set goals, then set out how I intend to achieve those goals. Once you have something to work towards, it all becomes a little clearer.

I have said this before, but I still take it as gospel....

One of my first customers was a self-made well-to-do local businessan, now semi-retired. He told me to 'keep my head down' for 3 years, and only then would I really know if my business would succeed, or if I had the gumption to continue it. He suggested that I go flat out for the 3 years, and see where it takes me, then make the decision on whether or not to continue. Anything less than that, he would consider it only 'playing at it'. He considers 'keeping your head down' as working extremely hard, and putting your 'all' into the business, wherever that takes you.

You need to get yourself some sort of marketing plan tbh, as I already said. It will cost a few quid, but nothing compared to how it brings in customers.

You need to take as little out of the business as possible, and live on thin air, so you can reinvest as much as pssible for the 3 years, to allow your business to grow.

If you want to chat over some specifics on how I go about things, feel free to give me a call sometime next week, when it is a little quieter (hopefully) and we can see if there is anything you can be doing in the short-term to pick business up a little.

When the quiet periods apear, it is easy to sit back and worry. What you should really be doing is getting out there and bringing some new customers in.

We all have the 'I'm giving up' thoughts - but they need to be beaten with a stick, then dumped. From what I know of you on here, you have the capability to do a decent job, you just need some direction on how to proceed.

Good luck with it all
Mark

 

[Cornish Steve]

I've always wanted to change the world, and I've always put my all into everything I do. It's probably a personality disorder of some sort. Still, when you're older, wouldn't you want to look back and see that you actually made a difference, that you achieved something that few others could do, that you wouldn't want to do anything differently?

Spend a few days reading the biographies of some famous Brits. My favourite biographies are of Henry Stanley (an orphan, fought on both sides of the American civil war, famous for finding Livingstone, reported the events in Khartoum, became an MP, and more), Oliver Cromwell (a man who achieved so much while sticking to his principles), and William Wilberforce (who never let go of his dream to abolish slavery). Then there are people like Lloyd George (overlooked as a great leader) and Lord Grey (a brilliant foreign secretary a century ago), Churchill, and Gladstone, and the explorer Richard Burton, and a host of others. If their lives won't spur you to action, nothing will.

 

[JoyDivision]

Thanks I guess the solution would be to get a loan for about £1k and spent in on some professional marketing advice and printing but before I do that I need to know there is still money in this business in my area, which I guess involves some kind of research.

Everything in my business is now low rent due to cash flow problems and I guess this is the image I need to turn around.

 

[Esther]

Why not get some free advice first from the Business Link? I realise that you're not a new business but in the two meetings I've had with these guys they've been really useful and I've come away very motivated and with a massive 'things to do' list which I've chunked and ploughed my way through.

Sometimes just talking over your concerns is enough to reignite that spark.

Alternatively book yourself onto a one day marketing course, you might find that most of the work you need to do can be done yourself.

 

[dataferret]

What an inspiring thread. Thanks to all who commented - I did not realise it until after I read some of the posts in here how much I needed encouragement for myself. I originally thought I would be the one making inspiring comments but damn - you guys and gals just beat me to it

 

[glencooley.com]

JoyDivision

We all have off days and weeks where everything seems like hard work and the sucesses all seem minor. But and this is a big but for all the will in the world even doing the thing that you most want too is hard work. Look at David Beckham in the 98 world cup.......I bet he was not enamoured with football for a few months, training would of been something he'd rather not face let alone a match day or reading the paper.

The thing is every small business and business has to work hard and through the times of low motivation and hardness. Money doesnt make itself you have to pick ya self up by the scruff of the neck and ask your self "do you want to idle along until you are broke and feel even worse" or do you really want to make ago of it. Its all about mind set and moving on metally from the bad days and just learn from in and try not to repeat it.

Business is sometimes the most rewarding thing in the world but can be one of the most stressful and depressing as well.

The main thing is to remember why you are doing it.

Money.
Self worth.
Flexibility.

Anyone in business is really the master of their own destiny and no amount of depression or over zelousness will change the fact that you can only take out what you put in.

Times are hard for you at the moment, use that to motivate you for tomorrow. Its the greatest challenge to succeed in business and there is even more kudos in doing it through bad times (economy, clients, personal drama's). Only you can rise to the challenge and from the look of it you know you can do it you just feel a little disenchanted.

Aim for the stars and settle for the moon.

I am 28 by the way

 

[Matt1959]

One of the reasons I am struggling atm is I am lacking any drive. Despite the fact I am now suffering from financial hardship I am I don't have any drive to do something about it.

A few years back I wanted to take over the world, I left university with so many ideas, now I just feel like my brain is dead.

Has anybody got any tips to overcome this?

I noticed a post on this thread asking about personal health. I don't think your problem is anything to do with lack of marketing plan etc etc etc its deeper than that. Maybe a bit of depression? Do you drink? if so how much, how often? (serious question) Sounds like this is more a character/ well being thing rather than a "business that needs fixing kind of issue" and by the very fact that you have posted this topic in the way you have suggests that you think that too so thats the area I'd be looking at - get that right and the business progress may follow. So, for me, I'd be looking at your personal life (is it making you happy and content) at your health (are you fit and active) at your diet, booze consumption if any, at your social life (are you surrounding yourself unwittingly with negative people) do you take time off to enjoy yourself? and the list goes on! see where I'm coming from here

 

[sm1]

Sorry - I haven't read all of the thread, but wanted to try and offer a bit...

I tend to find when things aren't going well, to read the success stories of others and especially young business people that do particularly well and I find that so inspiring. All below are brands that I find inspiring and have doe so well for themselves, it makes me want to setup in business and do well for myself and be proud of what I've achieved.


http://www.lingscars.com (sorry to set off your Google Alerts Ling)
http://www.glassesdirect.co.uk
http://www.virgin.co.uk
http://www.spinvox.com
http://www.texperts.com
http://www.pimlicoplumbers.com
http://www.skinnycandy.com
http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk

Hope it provides some inspiration - you've just got to go out there and do it! Others have done it, so it is possible.

Sorry for the waffle

Cheers

 

[maxine]

Hiya

I would second what Esther said about Business Link as their advisor who came to see me gave me a very well deserved kick up the behind when I needed one I know some people havent had good experiences but for me it pulled out a handful of areas for me to get my teeth into.

And on a general down day think - plan the work, work the plan

If it is temporary financial hardship that is getting you down then perhaps a short term contract might be an option to give you a financial and confidence boost and a bit of breathing space and you will know after a few weeks which option you prefer

Good luck

 

[An Oasis]

I do run my own IT support business but I have just not had the energy to fight the change in economic circumstances. There is two ways of running a business, one is to go out and find the customers, the other is to wait to they come to you and I am sadly doing the latter .

People close to but me are saying to forget business and get a 9-5 but my heart is in business and not 9-5 which is why I never get the job if I go for an interview because it probably shows!

Everytime I come up with a new business idea I just dismiss it for being too much hassle .

I am 25 btw.

Lots of very useful comments already, I think Matt is probably the closest but I could be wrong. You are feeling flat and have no drive due to a number of reasons.

Only you can know why, I'll say that it is down to mild depression. I'll also guess that you have put your heart and sole into a business but it has not panned out how you thought it would and that has hit you hard. At this point you are sitting reading and there are no bright lights at the end of a tunnel only problems and everything seems bleak.

You are at the lowest point that anyone in business can be. You have a simple choice bail out now and do something else or...find the way forward and enjoy life.

HOW?

You need to find some one with knowledge of your industry and sit down with them and talk, that's it, sit down and talk and find out where you are going wrong, only then will you be able to go forward.

Sorry no magic wand just experience I've been there I lost a business, a house and lots of material things at the age of 26 due to not finding the right advice, i.e. not talking to the right people. One minute I had a business, a house (with no mortguage), two cars, a van, thousands of £s of musical equipment... the next I'd lost the lot. WHY? Because I did not talk to the right people I talked to the wrong people, I never found out where I went wrong. With hindsight I know exactly where I went wrong but that is too late.

 

[sm1]

The forum is great for bouncing ideas - and as An Oasis says, you speak to the people who are specialists in the areas where you are weak.

Cheers

 

[JoyDivision]

Thanks Oasis

I know exactly where I am going wrong, I am a lazy idiot at times but it is because I know there is fundemtnal flaws in what I am doing which means I have no motivation which means I get lazy.

A few years I ago I had two family memembers die and I think that hit me hard, things haven't been the same since then.

At the same time I believe I have a good sense of business and have done a lot of things right, most repair guys give up after a few weeks and I go back to their full time job, at least I have managed for getting onto three years.

My biggest mistake was that in the first 18 months I was increasing trade each month, I was getting more regular customers and suddenly the credit crunch came and this regular customers suddenly started using me less so that customer I visited once every 2 months became once a year. Believing that I would earn more and more each month I got cocky, paid my tax bill in cash, bought a cheap car with cash, bought a nice SLR, bought a new amp, went on holiday to Berlin, spent £60 a weekend on nights out and lived the life of riley.

What I didn't do is think what if my income dried up, it did and ran out of money for marketing when I needed it most, in Febaury I knew I should spend my last spare £200 on marketing but I already had a trip to London booked to see Morrissey (just 3 months after returning from Brixton for a sex pistols gig) so hoping thinks would pick up I went away and suffered ever since.

However I am not sure what the route of all this was and that is what I need to fix.

 

[glencooley.com]

Thanks Oasis

I know exactly where I am going wrong, I am a lazy idiot at times but it is because I know there is fundemtnal flaws in what I am doing which means I have no motivation which means I get lazy.

A few years I ago I had two family memembers die and I think that hit me hard, things haven't been the same since then.

At the same time I believe I have a good sense of business and have done a lot of things right, most repair guys give up after a few weeks and I go back to their full time job, at least I have managed for getting onto three years.

My biggest mistake was that in the first 18 months I was increasing trade each month, I was getting more regular customers and suddenly the credit crunch came and this regular customers suddenly started using me less so that customer I visited once every 2 months became once a year. Believing that I would earn more and more each month I got cocky, paid my tax bill in cash, bought a cheap car with cash, bought a nice SLR, bought a new amp, went on holiday to Berlin, spent £60 a weekend on nights out and lived the life of riley.

What I didn't do is think what if my income dried up, it did and ran out of money for marketing when I needed it most, in Febaury I knew I should spend my last spare £200 on marketing but I already had a trip to London booked to see Morrissey (just 3 months after returning from Brixton for a sex pistols gig) so hoping thinks would pick up I went away and suffered ever since.

However I am not sure what the route of all this was and that is what I need to fix.

JoyDivision

I am sorry for your family losses but the customer thing is a load of toss.

You know you struggle to get motivated (lazy) then flipping sort it. You know your business cant survive on just a few customers. You wanna run a business you need to learn to sing for your supper mate.

I have a mortgage have to pay, loans relatives dropping like flies but you know what through the hard times i knuckle down and sort it. You have to kiss the babies, shake the hands and beat the street. You dont own ebay or google so kick yourself up the backside and make it work or go get a job. Its what the rest of go through everyday so sort it.

Self pity is good for reflection and hindsight is always 20-20 but mate you either go all in or you piss about on the fringes. Hell it may not grow like the way you want put you are ALL IN. Depression aside, which although debilitating doesnt mean you dont work it just means you do awesome work when on the ball and plough through the other days.....trust me i know.

So no more rubbish talk hey, go find some more clients monday, a cheeky email to a pa/secretary, a quick hi my name is at a few office places.....But the self pity has got to go.

 

[JoyDivision]

And that is the big problem I just don't know how . Part of the problem is I have forgoton how to sleep which obviously causes me to loose productivity in the mornings.

My problem is when I am busy I work very hard at the business and do put a lot of effort in, its the quiet times when I loose all that energy.

On the plus side takings have been back to average this week .

 

[glencooley.com]

However I am not sure what the route of all this was and that is what I need to fix.

Mate, your business.......regardless of marketing or fixing you need to be infront of people building trust as everyone is precious of internal IT.

You need to learn how to sell its the only way any business survives.

 

[JoyDivision]

Haha well when I worked at Dixon's my most common catch phrase was "Go to Maplin" I spend more time giving customers directions to Maplin than I did selling stuff, but then I did have moral issues with selling USB cables for £15 which is why I left.

I think my marketing skills are ok but the idea of cold sales frightens me and this is probably a hurdle I need to get over.

 

[glencooley.com]

And that is the big problem I just don't know how . Part of the problem is I have forgoton how to sleep which obviously causes me to loose productivity in the mornings.

My problem is when I am busy I work very hard at the business and do put a lot of effort in, its the quiet times when I loose all that energy.

On the plus side takings have been back to average this week .

JoyDivision

Get a hold of your self FFS, i have started at 4:30 every morning for the last 6 weeks to make sure i am, DOING, SELLING, PAPERWORK, and prospecting.

Mate there is no excuse for you feeling the way you do, it is hard work and you work long hours selling, accounting and doing but this is for the longer term greater good.

If your friends are saying pack it in.......they know you better than some randoms on a forum. But unless you land the job from god its gonna be early starts and output regardless of how "you" feel or how tired "you" are.

 

[glencooley.com]

Haha well when I worked at Dixon's my most common catch phrase was "Go to Maplin" I spend more time giving customers directions to Maplin than I did selling stuff, but then I did have moral issues with selling USB cables for £15 which is why I left.

I think my marketing skills are ok but the idea of cold sales frightens me and this is probably a hurdle I need to get over.

Rubbish. You either want to eat and have money in your pocket or you dont. Marketing and people skills arent channelled to "what is comfortable to you" if you have them then use them, go to a nice pub and start talking, give a business card to everyone. What frightens you?

 

[Matt1959]

JD, I see you've neatly sidestepped answering any of my questions in my last post to you - perhaps you think I was talking rubbish, perhaps its easier for you to ignore what I said. Whatever, you've given enough away in this thread to confirm what I thought. Just not being able to sleep in itself is enough to wreck your everyday motivation. If you add to that even one drink a night, thats enough to dull you totally and if this is the case, no wonder you're struggling. I would say though that some people do get by on 5 hours a night and copious amounts of booze etc but these people are incredibly driven - you don't seem to be and I reckon its sapping you. Make big changes to your lifestyle for 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference. This isn't a difficult thing to do and is a way of YOU helping yourself. And, if you work with PC's all day long, don't use one for leisure - do something else - Forums are addictive and can be sapping also. Good luck!!!

 

[stockdam]

Ok I'm a lazy a** at times too so I know how easy it is to let things get on top of you.

Your family loss may have hit you more than you realise and maybe you just need to talk about this to somebody close who will listen.

I think you feel directionless so here's what I'd advise.

Sit down and write down what the main things you need to do to become successful.........those are your main activities that you need to do. Break each of these down into small chunks........weekly or daily goals. Don't try to do too much but each step should take you back along the right path. By doing small achievable things then you'll soon find that you have progressed.

Don't get side-stepped into time wasting activities (that includes surfing the web).

Write down the things you need to do. Break these down into "first steps" - what do I need to do next to start doing these things. This is all basic time management but it works if you do it daily.


Speak to a mentor - ask them what you are doing wrong.

 

[JoyDivision]

Thanks . Matt I wasn't ignoring you and I think you do offer good advice.

I don't drink anything in the week just at weekends but I am addicted to to caffeine and sugar which is probably why I am always up so late, it is a habit I have never got out of since university.

I wish I could just have a few days off the problem is I do work 7 days a week as you can imagine with computers its very hard to tell a client I won't be able to fix their internet for another 5 days.

 

[Stephen Berry]

To add some amusement to the thread ....... as well as looking to the successes to inspire you (the carrot) - here are some of those who should have been stunning successes but failed to capitalise on their success (the stick) - some people's whose business acuman we would do well to avoid! Application ..... urgent and practical strategies to make sure that your great ideas don't fall into the redundant file where others can pick them up and make them successful ...... Don't be a Durand! - enjoy

• Food canning – patented by Peter Durand in 1810 but he was hampered in maximising the potential of the invention as the can opener was not invented until 1858.
• Powered flight – not by the Wright brothers in 1903 at Kittyhawk, North Carolina but by John Stringfellow in Chard, Somerset in 1843. He achieved a flight of 10 yards but failed to capitalise on his innovation. Fellow Brit Percy Pilcher furthered this with a powered triplane in September 1899 but again failed to bring it to the market adequately as he regrettably died in a flying accident. He was gliding his ‘Hawk’ aeroplane on 30 September 1899 immediately before fitting the engine, when structural failure caused a catastrophic fall from which Pilcher died 2 days later.
• Pedal cycle – produced by Kirkpatrick MacMillan in 1839 but, as he failed to patent it, others pedalled into the market, into wealth and into history.
• The motor car – Karl Benz gets the credit for the invention in 1889, but Christopher Holtum was demonstrating his horseless carriage in Covent Garden, London in 1711.
• Photography – not Frenchman Louis Daguerre in 1838, but by Thomas Wedgewood and Humphrey Davey who published their ideas in 1802 but failed to take advantage and sprint into market development. Daguerre furthered their work.

America – not Columbus in 1492, but Welsh prince Madog ab Owain Gwynedd in 1170. The memorial tablet at Mobile Bay, Alabama records the discovery. Regrettably his descendents failed to diversify throughout the country, remained in their fort based settlements and were wiped out by smallpox in 1837.

 

[kayak]

Hi JD,

Thought I would come into this thread and offer some of my thoughts mainly because I can see some similarities in myself! Some good advice here, but varies hugely.

To give you a little background on myself, I am 22 and graduated from uni a year ago in an unrelated subject to my business. I am now self employed and work alone from a shop front office in a competitive business.

My drive varies hugely and it is hard for it not to in the early stages of business unless you have something that I don't!

I have to work long hours, and if I was on the minimum wage I would make more money with the amount of hours I work than I do presently and rarely I am temted to do that!

For me, it is all about working out what makes me do what I do and maybe unlike a lot of people on here, it isn't about money, it is about controlling what I do. I am probably obessed with creating a future for myself and the only way I feel I can really do this is by running my own business.

What I have realised in the last six months of business is that time off is crucial. A weekend off recharges me and I am sure that my business will grow quicker, rather than my initial thoughts of that time off was lost money.

I have no idea on your personal circumstances but I feel inclined to agree with Glen a little. A times you won't be able to sleep, you will dream about your business going well/badly, feel like crying/cheering and it doesn't particularly mean something is wrong with you (unless there is something wrong me too!), but it is business.

Work out why you are doing business, and what your goals are and then ask yourself if you want to achieve them badly enough to put yourself through it, because to be honest, in my experience business isn't really that much fun all the time!

Like I said, these are my thoughts from a young person with a new business so don't necessarily reflect the views of a person with lot's of successful businesses behind them!

Anyway, must go and play with my new iphone (motivation building!).

Kind regards,

John

 

[Subbynet]

Its hard to advise really but here goes...

1) Set a working day. I know others in this thread have said you need to just "Get on with it" which is partly true, but you're the engine of the business, and it needs time to relax and repair. I know all about working 16-18hours a day 7 days a week - I done it for a good few years and I never really found enough time for family/friends. It also meant my self-imposed "deadlines" were pretty much fluid, because I'd say to myself, I'll do that tonight - and before you know it, its 4am in the morning.

This year I made a change, I don't "work" full weekends - taking at least 1 day off, and I've imposed a working day, which I admit can slip by a couple of hours but compared to before is so much better.

Whereas I use to feel tired, and maybe a little drawn out constantly battling in the world of IT, I now feel refreshed, sharper and more ready for work.

I'm a natural night-owl, just ask Cornish Steve lol, so I fully understand what you mean about not being able to sleep - but you need to recongnise that this is bad for business. I now don't touch a drop of tea, coffee, Coke'a'cola or anything with caffine in it after 6pm, as I know I won't sleep. For heavens sake fill the fridge with beer, at least you'll sleep and awake the next day bright and early.

I've also diversified my interests, as yes for sure for many years IT was my game, but I made a decision after much thought that it didn't really "make me happy". It just became too repetitive and IT customers as you know can be a PITA. My new interests in other business areas mean customers come to me WANTING, no need to explain for a hour to each customer the benefits of this that and the other and then to hear no more from them.

2) Push yourself our of your comfort zone. Have you got anything you really wish to do, but are just a tad unsure of? Instead of thinking and thinking and thinking about it - just pick up the phone to someone and see where the conversation takes you.

Maybe Cold Calling - I know at first I was so scared of making a right tit of myself on the phone that I felt Cold Calling was hard work - not anymore tho. For absolutely sure a few calls went down like a lead brick, but you just need to laugh and think the next one will be better.

3) I know what its like to be a lone IT ranger, it can be a lonely existence and the daily grind can put the brakes on any plans you do wish to implement. Think about getting a business partner. You're only one man, and its just impossible to do everything yourself, and everyone knows the old saying "Two heads are better than one" and its sooooooooo true. It also helps alleviate the "lone ranger" existence I speaked of above. So let go of the reins on the business and let it be free because sometimes business owners can be blind to the damage they do by not accepting offers or allowing anyone a share in the business. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing!

Anyways, hope that helps for starters... I'll no doubt drop by this thread again.