Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
I was asked if I thought entrepreneurs are made or born. Entrepreneurs are born with a passion that results in a way of life.
Entrepreneurs are important because they are the leaders who imagine, create, and release new products and services to society.
Most entrepreneurs go into business so they can have control over their lives, their business aspirations, and their schedules.
While controlling your destiny and independence is a wonderful thing, it does come with some challenges.
An astonishing 90% of startups fail so an entrepreneur needs to be aware that failure is part of the process.
Once a business owner is managing the day-to-day operation of their dream, it doesn’t take long before their battery (passion) starts to wane.
Often, this is because this person now carries the weight and has sole responsibility for the business.
Bringing customers in, managing the finances, and dealing with human resource issues can take its toll on an entrepreneur.
An entrepreneur can experience a sense of loss and may miss the social aspect of working for someone else.
There is no longer the team that was available to support daily tasks.
The business owner is now in a situation where they are stuck.
There is no longer the option of quitting – like someone who works for another organization.
This new reality can be very challenging and, if not managed, can result in the beginning of the end.
9 Things Entrepreneurs Can Do To Keep Their Passion
1. Join A Professional Organization
There are countless professional organizations for every kind of interest or business, and it is important to get involved and participate.
Professional organizations offer all kinds of benefits and connections to people who can be a help and offer support.
Encouragement comes with interacting with people who share the same passion and challenges.
Networking and sharing ideas are how businesses grow and flourish.
2. Develop A Network
Develop a network of like-minded business owners. This can be done by getting involved in a local chamber-of-commerce organization or mastermind groups that share business ideas.
These relationships can offer support for the day-to-day challenges that come with owning and running a business.
There are also countless connections that can be made to expose your business to the community.
3. Continuing Education
Life is fast-paced, and information is evolving all the time.
Become a life learner so you keep up with current industry trends and changing technology.
Seek out training in your field and attend seminars and webinars.
Try to attend at least one (good) conference a year.
A change of scenery and new perspectives can be healthy, therapeutic, and extremely motivating.
4. Find Or Be A Mentor
Being mentored, or being a mentor, can be a very rewarding experience.
Learning best practices from others who have been successful and learning tricks of the trade can be very beneficial.
Mentoring someone else can also be encouraging in that when you pour into someone else’s life. You uncover the wisdom that can sometimes get lost in the day-to-day.
Sharing this wisdom often activates dormant ideas and thoughts that can be recaptured and put back into your business.
SCORE is a great organization to connect with whether you need mentoring or have an interest in mentoring other young business owners.
Learning and sharing with other people is a feel-good that ignites creativity and passion.
5. Get A Hobby
Find a hobby that forces you to think about something else.
Hobbies often use a different side of your brain, which helps you keep a balanced perspective.
Hobbies can also be an expression of yourself and provide much-needed relaxation.
I recently took up the game of golf and cannot believe how addicted I am to it. It has become a very therapeutic refuge for me.
6. Volunteer
Just like mentoring others, volunteering for an organization that you believe in can also be very therapeutic and encouraging.
Schedule time and give back to your community.
Find something you believe in and share your time, talents, and resources to help make the world a better place.
Volunteering can also result in new friendships and sometimes business leads.
7. Find A Confidant
We all deal with confidential issues that cannot be discussed with other people.
Everyone needs at least one person they can tell all to.
Someone who they trust and can be completely honest with.
For instance, if you are dealing with a difficult employee, use your confidant to bounce ideas off of for how to help correct poor performance issues.
Having that one person you can confide in allows you to get things off your chest, which can be a very therapeutic exercise.
8. Work-life Balance
Business owners often struggle with work-life balance and find it difficult to call it a day and go home or stop working (in the case of someone who runs a home-based business).
This can be managed by keeping a daily schedule and routine.
Getting up at the same time, working set hours, and limiting work past those hours can be a good way to establish boundaries.
Everyone needs to work additional hours once in a while, but it should be limited to those rare occasions.
9. Celebrate Along The Way
When we go through the motions day after day, we tend to lose sight of the big picture.
Take the time to stop and acknowledge the progress you have made.
Stop once a year, assess your strategic plan and business goals, and take the time to celebrate how far you’ve come.
Learn to celebrate the successes along the way.
Being in this for the long haul requires pacing yourself and celebrating the successes along the way. If you don’t do it, no one else will.
There are countless benefits to being an entrepreneur with passion.
However, when you find yourself a little discouraged, take the time to network with others, improve your skills, give back to others, keep your life balanced, and celebrate your success! These are some of the tips that the 10% who make it know!
What are some other ideas you have for keeping your battery charged?