Imagine that you are a supervisor and you have to manage and motivate someone exactly like yourself. In our home businesses, we can get stuck in a rut and, without someone spurring us along or “managing” us, we might slip into apathy or get stuck. But, imagining just what works to keep you motivated and energized might give you a whole know lease on your business operations.
So, while imagining that you are that supervisor and you are motivated an employee just like YOU–what would you do? What sort of work environment, challenges, projects, incentives, etc. would get someone like YOU motivated? Do you work well with deadlines and “to do” lists? Do you need other people around to give you surges of energy and excitement about your work? Do you need to be working toward time off or a vacation? Do you need to be recognized or feel appreciated for your work? Without any judgment, think of yourself compassionately as you would another colleague or coworker and identify what really gets you energized–then you can start to focus in on ways to make your home business just the sort of work that you can sink your teeth into.
For many of us, we assume that just the fact that we are working to support our families will be motivation enough. While this may keep us committed, it might not be enough to really get our creative and excitement juices flowing. To really energize ourselves about our work, we need to tap into those very personal things that we respond to. I tend to get more energized when I can interact with other people and when I feel as though I am really accomplishing things. Slogging along all by myself without other human contact can really get me down. So, as someone who spends a lot of time working alone, I have to get myself out for lunches or brainstorming sessions with mentors and then I inevitably come back to my desk energized.
So, what really gets you energized?
See Also: Do You Need More Recognition? and Personal Growth and Lessons From Our Work