When you started your business, you were passionate about it. You couldn’t wait to get to work every day, and you loved sharing your vision with everyone who would listen.
Over time, though, passion can wane as you get caught in the day-to-day realities of running a business. You may find that as your business grows, you spend less time doing the work you love and more time managing the business. Or maybe your business hasn’t changed, but you find yourself stuck in a rut, doing the same old thing, day after day, as if you had a J-O-B.
Here are some things you can do to get the passion back and get excited about your work.
Learn something new. Whenever I find myself getting bored or stale, I look for something new I can learn. Perhaps it is a new skill I can use in my business, or acquiring knowledge and insight I can share with my clients. Take a class, read a book, or just dig in and do something you haven’t tried before.
Play to your strengths. What made you want to get in to the business you are in? If you are doing less hands-on work with clients because you are busy with administrative work, find someone else to handle the tasks you do not enjoy and get back to what you love to do.
Refocus. Has your business gotten off track, with lines of business you didn’t plan but just seemed to happen? Especially in the early days of a business, entrepreneurs will jump at any opportunity that comes their way because they are desperate for work. That may have taken your business down the wrong path. If so, now is the time to drop those parts of your business that are not part of your core mission.
Bring in partners. You may want to bring a partner in as a co-owner of your business or you may just want to find someone with whom you can partner on a project, such as creating a new product.
Use your mastermind. A mastermind group can be great at spotting opportunities in your business that you do not see. Align yourself with other smart, successful people and get their advice.
Recharge. Take a break now and then. You need to get away from work in order to come back with more energy and vitality. Take a vacation or just turn off the computer and the phone for few days, take long baths and read those (non-business) books you have been wanting to get to.
Each of these things can bring back the passion you felt when you started your business, and get you excited about your work again.
Thank you Cathy for the encouraging words. I think all new business owners get “stale” and need a boost.
Peggy, it is always good to stir things up a bit and rejuvenate yourself!