Finding Your Motivation to Succeed

During the month of April my client work slowed down a bit. I wasn’t upset because after running crazy for the two months prior, I welcomed the break. But during this break I started to contemplate: why I was working so many long hours, isn’t there a better way to run things, how on earth can I develop a passive income if I’m so busy doing client work, why can’t I turn off the computer when the kids come home from school…

Basically, I was starting a pity party for myself.

But because I had more free time, I made a special point of joining the Mom Masterminds Breakthrough Call. This is a special Monday morning call for Mom Masterminds members to discuss a particular topic and how it affects your business. The course of the conversation differs every week, depending on the topic at hand.

Last week’s topic was about inspiration. What inspires you to continue on in your business? I felt especially pitiful as I listened because I had not been inspired - then or ever. I started my business as a means to make money, with no real plan in place. My success still continues to surprise me but was I inspired?

Nah.

Then the next question was: If you haven’t been inspired lately, where are you seeking inspiration? What? Seeking inspiration? I always thought inspiration was a surprise knock on the head, that you’d know it when it hit you.

How on earth does one seek out inspiration?

As luck would have it, I discovered my inspiration last week and I think it all started on Twitter (I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast just a few hours ago; don’t ask me to remember details from 4 days ago!)

Someone in my twitter stream posted a link to the Metromom’s Telesummit and, because I’m a sucker for checking out suggested links, I clicked. For two straight days you could have your choice of 18 audio interviews to listen to, all from amazing and successful women.

With 18 interviews to choose from and a family who wanted all of my attention, I was hard pressed to choose what to listen to first. But I was drawn to Beth Schneider’s talk about developing company processes to make your business run more smoothly. One of my client is in the process of doing this and it makes all the sense in the world so you can simply hand off an action list to a VA and go about making more money.

But did I - little ol’ me who doesn’t have a team - really need processes and policies?

You betcha!

Rather than writing out the same email to potential clients who ask about pricing, I need a standard form letter. Instead of figuring out a price and then ditching the email, never to be found again, I need a proposal form and filing system so I have access to the exact job specs and what pricing or special requests were made.

Shoot, maybe once I got my own system set up this could be a specialty to help other clients set up THEIR systems. Yes, the wheels were starting to turn…

I was gung ho…and still had 17 more interviews to hear!

Next I ventured to hear Traci Long, a branding expert, talk about how important it is to have a kaliedoscope plan for your business. Figure out all the different aspects you want to have or to offer in your business, no matter how wild they might seem, and then make a taskline for yourself so you know exactly what you need to do to accomplish it all.

Talk about getting slapped on the head!

Instead of just dreaming of bigger and better things, I’m taking action to make them happen. Granted, this was not “new” information but I think I was paying closer attention in this new and unfamiliar venue with all these brand new experts (to me, anyway).

And I think my mind and soul were ready to hear the information being shared.

Now I’m excited about work again. I’m not feeling desperate to fill the gaps in between my other clients’ work. I’m dreaming of bigger things for my business, different ventures I want to try.

You could say I’ve been inspired.

VA Tip of the Week: When work gets you down, delegate the boring tasks to a VA and look for inspiration outside of your comfort zone. Network with a new business group, visit new online forums, join a new social networking group. Stretch yourself and try something new.