In 2004 we started out in Nottingham in the business to business sector. The very first client we represented was the energy provider, NPower.

In 2006 we relocated in Derby and began working with household name-brand charities and insurance providers. Our offices were above what used to be the Varsity pub. We loved it!

2010 was a big year for Pure. We moved into a new office next to Nottingham Castle and recruited several new sales teams. We also added a new administration team. Derby was a huge turning point for us and it gave us the status we needed to move into a prestigious part of Nottingham and start working on a larger scale and representing a larger portfolio or house-hold name-brand clients. We generated around £3 million for our clients and won a Best Service Provider Award during this time.

We moved into our new Head Office at Barker Gate in Nottingham in 2018 ready to expand the business. As our business continued from strength to strength we looked to expand to more offices in the UK and we are on track to have over 20 offices across 5 countries by 2025.

2019. At Pure we are all about hitting goals. Client goals, personal goals and our business partner’s goals. This year has been no exception, with a new office open already. LoCo-Motive International Ltd is a brilliant addition to the Pure family and we’re sure there’s more to come from them as we roll towards 2020.

2020 – 2021. This period was an unprecedented one for all businesses, not just ours. With the SARS COV-2 virus causing businesses to shut for months at a time, including ourselves, we have all had to find a way to keep moving forward and adapt in order to be successful this year. We’ve renewed our working practises to make sure we safely operate within new guidelines, and we’ve moved into partnership with clients in the renewable energy sector.

2022 was a better year for the Organisation than I had hoped for. Not just in financial terms, but we hit and surpassed our goals following the Pandemic which was a testament to the strength of the new team. The teams in both offices have grown exponentially through the year and we are very excited for the next one. 

Looking ahead to 2023, we aim to not only open up a second office here in Nottingham, but to open further offices in Derby and York as well. Furthermore, LoCo-Motive International will be expanding with another office in Liverpool also. 2023 looks set to take our Organisation to five offices nationwide.

Morning routines of highly successful people (and how to create yours).

Take a leaf out of the books of those who know how to make their days productive.

The way you start your day can set you up for success. It can also do the opposite! 

No matter what happened the day before, a good morning routine can set a vibe that will boost your mood and productivity for the day ahead. 

A big part of a good morning routine is mindset – getting you into the right frame of mind for a positive and successful time. It’s also practical, getting things done and out of the way so you can focus on other things.

A great way to determine an effective morning routine is to look at those of highly successful people. 

Many are very adamant about sticking to their good habits. 

British business magnate Richard Branson writes on his blog for example that he likes to get up around 5 am and do some exercise first thing. 

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, has also mentioned a very early wake-up time and morning exercise as an important part of his day. 

Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post, ensures she doesn’t pick up her phone immediately upon waking, preferring to spend some time breathing, being grateful, and setting intentions for the day. 

Oprah told Harper’s Bazaar that she has a series of spiritual exercises she does every day, including meditation, before her physical workout. 

There are many tips and tricks that we can glean from those who clearly get stuff done.

Taken from the routines of these successful business people and others, here are a few practices and habits which might help you get your days off to a great start. 

Each person is different – so testing, mixing and matching these things will help you to put together your own personal magic morning routine. And remember, one small tweak to our daily routine can make a big difference, so choose one to start and see how it goes! 

1. Get up early

This one’s not for everyone – there are many successful people who are night owls and rise later than 8 am or whenever they wake up naturally. 

However, for many others, the morning hours are the best time to get things done. If you find yourself whiling away the evenings and then sleeping in late, consider changing up your schedule and taking advantage of those often-productive early hours.

2. Exercise

There are many benefits to exercise, physical and mental. 

Morning exercise can be particularly beneficial: a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that a morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise improved cognition and memory during the day for older adults. 

It has also been shown that exercising before breakfast can increase fat burn, and that morning exercise reduces the risk of post exercise hypoglycemia in diabetics and also improves sleep quality. 

Getting your sweat on before starting work, school, or your other daily tasks is also great for your mindset – it’s nice to know you have done something positive and healthy before the day has even begun!

3. Meditate

If it’s good for Oprah, it may be good for you, too. 

Meditation looks different for different people but essentially it is a form of mental exercise which involves relaxation, focus, and awareness. 

You might just like to spend ten minutes clearing your mind and breathing deeply or follow along with one of the many meditation apps out there.

Meditation not for you? Try breath training instead. Click here to learn how to relax your brain with deep breathing.

4. Make a plan

Spend some time in the morning thinking about what you need to get done that day. 

Prioritise your tasks, whether they be work-related or personal, and plan to get the most important things done first. 

Benjamin Franklin’s schedule included a note to “contrive the day’s business and take the resolution of the day” in the early hours, and it’s a good way to kickstart productivity – go into things with a plan of attack!

5. Make a healthy breakfast

As with exercise, healthy food first thing in the morning is a great way to get you into a positive mindset – and of course, it’s beneficial to your body. 

Some people don’t like to eat in the early hours, and that’s fine. But if you do eat breakfast, put in the effort to make it nutritious. 

Blend up a smoothie with lots of spinach, get in some protein with eggs on wholegrain toast, or make a hearty porridge sweetened with fruit. 

Starting on the right food food-wise is the way to go, and the earlier you rise the more time you will have to put together a decent meal.

Mostly, a morning routine is about self-care; it’s doing things that are good for you both physically and mentally to get your day off to a good start. We learn what is good for us by testing things out, so start by picking something you think might work for you. Over time you’ll figure out the best way to start your day!

Every year we take time out with some organised R&R at a fabulous location to recharge and network with other businesses working within our industry.

This year was no different as we spent 4 days at the Bless Hotel in Ibiza catching up on some well deserved downtime and recharging for the rest of the Summer.

We even found time for some friendly competition with some Go Kart racing. The weather was fantastic and we can’t wait for the rest of the Summer.

We always believe a team with a great bond is a strong team. A strong team is always a team that will grow and achieve great things.

With that in mind both our Offices took a trip to Ninja Warrior in Nottingham. Not only was it great to have both teams have some well-earned fun together, it was a brilliant opportunity to to network together and share our thoughts and experiences between the two groups.

Work Smarter, Not Harder, This April

More hours doesn’t always equal better results

The moment you step up to true leadership is the moment you decide to no longer tolerate obstacles. You become an alchemist, deeply committed to transforming anything that stands in your way. A talented leader sees obstacles as impermanent and is an expert at clearing the way to success for themselves and their organization. Some of the trickiest roadblocks to remove are those on the inside—the self-inflicted obstacles.
 
Relics of the industrial era and cultural programming still have us putting in long hours—as if more work equals better work.   Especially when budgets or ratings tank, it’s easy to react by shifting into “work harder” mode.  Everyone is familiar with the cost of this approach, as well as the Law of Diminishing Returns.  Adrenal fatigue, burnout, loss of creativity, resentment, attrition, divorce…you know.
 
1. Better Results, Not Longer Hours
Break the cycle by slowing down and working smarter, not harder.  Results aren’t tied directly to hours, and results are what you should be after.   Moreover, if you feel pressured to work long hours, chances are your team does too.  Create a work environment that truly prizes results.  One way to do this is by letting your team optimize their own schedules so they work when they are at their best.  When they do deliver the results you’re looking for, make sure they know they are appreciated and take note of what worked.
 
2. Plan to Think
It’s also important to block out time each day to think.  This means strategizing and contemplating the purpose of each item on your to do list.  What value do they all add?  Do they build toward your desired results?  An overworked leader may not think she has time to devote to contemplation, but this is what separates good leaders from great ones.  Allow your team to make time each day for activities that compel them to think and strategize.  Not only will this make them more creative, you will learn a lot about each person you work with and how they solve problems.
 
3. Lead by Example
Above all, always lead by example.  When results are elusive, leaders are susceptible to others’ fears and can start demanding results at all cost.  The wise leader does not drop into fear—she is aware of it and rises above it.   The wise leader gives her team what they need to think big and to produce quality deliverables.  In tough times, you must be the calm in the storm.  When you work smarter and create an environment conducive to working smarter, your team will do the same.  The results will follow.

There’s just something about spring that radiates new beginnings. You’ll put away your coats and scarves, open all your windows and spring clean your home–so shouldn’t you do the same for your business? Here are four spring cleaning tips to get your business ready for the season.

Evaluate your staffing needs

With the hustle and bustle of the new year behind you, take a moment to consider how many employees you’ll need this season. Is spring usually a busy time for your business? Look through sales data from previous years to estimate how many customers you can expect. The information will help you predict the staff required. (It might also tell you if now’s a good time for a sales promotion to encourage customers in the door.)

But before making any decisions on hiring or letting go of staff, ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you have any temporary employees who are moving on at the start of the season?
• Are there any part-timers looking to go full-time?
• Are there some exceptional workers you want to promote?

You may just need to reshuffle some of your current employees to meet your staffing needs without going through a hiring process or losing valuable staff.

Refresh your marketing strategy with email

Are you using email to market your business? It’s a powerful way to connect with customers and share what’s going on at your business. You can promote the new classes you’re offering, feature promotional codes, or advertise any end of winter discounts.

It doesn’t have to be a chore. There are affordable email marketing services that do a lot of the work for you. The right combination of software allows you to group customers by spending habits and send them tailored messages. For example, if your Pilates studio is offering a bonus for purchasing classes in bulk, you can target those customers who bought a prepaid package last year. Or you can send a renewal email to those who are about to use up their last class.

If your marketing strategy already includes email, take this time to clean your subscription list. A great email marketing campaign isn’t effective if you’re getting little to no engagement from your subscribers. Inactive email addresses and spam filters can make your subscription list stale and diminish your efforts.

Jump into spring with an event

With the warmer weather approaching, host an event, and bring your customers together to celebrate. An event is a great way to bring your customers together, create a sense of community, and get a better idea of what they’re interested in. Think about holding a photo contest to give your business exposure. Keep it simple and encourage guests to snap a photo during the event and post it to their social media. Then have them tag the location and your business, and pick a random winner to get a free class pass. The more photos shared, the more eyes are on your business. 

And don’t forget about those who aren’t able to make it to your in-store event. Hold a virtual one on your website and offer similar promotions. For example, if you own a cycling studio put a special price on midweek classes that aren’t filled to capacity or offer discounted rates for booking classes in advance. Consider creating an ebook on proper form—you can request an email address before allowing visitors to download it, then add those contacts to your email marketing campaign.

Deep clean your space

A clear space equals a clear mind. So, head into spring with some good energy by doing a deep cleaning and decluttering of your space. Spend a day washing windows, overused machines and those muddy floors left neglected during the colder months. Get your employees involved and make it a party with some music, food, and drinks. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get your staff together for some team building and bonding.

If you haven’t done so already, take spring cleaning a step further by going paperless. Moving from paper to digital is not only practical but it means less clutter. It’s good for both the planet and your chakras. You can set class calendars and staff schedules using cloud services like MINDBODY–so there’s no need for paper in your life.

So, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Taking the time to spring clean your growing business may seem intimidating, but these simple tips will set you up for a season full of new energy, more opportunity, and less stress. And that’s great for your business, your customers and your peace of mind.

Consider what business new year’s resolutions could set your business up for success in the next 12 months.

You may not have been able to meet many of the goals you set for your business in 2021, a tumultuous year that brought a lot of the same challenges as 2020. Regardless, there are still ways to get back on track and prepare for a better 2022.

Not sure what resolutions should make their way onto your list? Keep reading for 10 new year’s resolutions for business professionals.

Small business new year’s resolutions for 2022

These resolutions should help you brainstorm how you can give your business operations a bit of a refresh this year. Think carefully about what day-to-day and overarching problems you want to solve and how you can create better habits to make them happen. Also, consider what larger projects will make the biggest impact on your business.

1. Create realistic organizational processes

While it may seem like the whole point of setting business resolutions is to be super ambitious, sometimes it can help to take a more realistic approach. While many people like to organize their homes during the new year, you can choose to organize your business. And the key to any good organizational system is to create realistic processes. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a fresh new year and to have your sight set on major changes. But for an organizational system to be sustainable, it needs to be realistic.

Take a good hard look at what did and did not work for you and your staff over the last year. What processes seemed to be more trouble than they were worth? Which did you have to refresh repeatedly because the system was too hard to keep up with? Use your findings to update your processes for 2022.

2. Update your business plan

Hopefully, you wrote your business plan as one of the first steps of starting your business. A good business plan can serve as a roadmap to success when you need guidance. It can help keep you organized and on track. If you decide you want to take on a new partner, a business plan can also act as a tool to illustrate your business’s worth to outside parties.

In other words, a business plan is crucial to your success. But it isn’t meant to be a one-and-done document. We’re willing to bet your business has changed since you first wrote your business plan. Now is a great time to revisit it and update your plan with the latest financials, goals, competitor research, marketing ideas, and more so your business will continue to grow in 2022.

3. Expand your network

When you’re swamped with work and trying to check off your must-do list, it can be difficult to visualize adding anything that won’t have an immediate impact on your business to your already overpacked schedule. This is why a good resolution for 2022 is to continue expanding your network.

If you make an effort to make a new connection once a week or monthly, you improve the odds of finding a new business lead, learning some valuable trade intel, or creating a strong professional relationship. The more you network, the more results you’ll see. Schedule networking on your calendar like any other to-do to ensure it becomes a priority and not an afterthought.

4. Identify customer service missteps 

Customer service matters. In fact, 93% of customers reported they are more likely to become repeat customers at companies that offer excellent customer service.

When it comes to customer service, people remember the really bad experiences as often as the really good ones. Identify what your biggest missteps were in 2021 and outline how you and your employees can avoid them in the future. At the same time, highlight what went well and how you can build on those experiences in 2022.

5. Prioritize company culture

If your small business relies on the work of your employees, then focusing on building a good company culture is a fantastic resolution for 2022. Employees that feel engaged and inspired at work are 125% more productive than simply “satisfied” employees. Having a strong company culture that makes employees feel appreciated, respected, and as if their career development matters is a great way to boost employee engagement and loyalty.

Consider surveying your staff on what changes they would like to see culture-wise. Then work toward developing a company culture that reflects your business’s values and prioritizes the needs of your staff. Happy employees are good for business, after all.

6. Build a website

If your business doesn’t already have a website, now is the time to invest in building one. A good business website can do wonders for audience growth, brand recognition, and recruitment.

A good business website can at the very least allow new potential team members to find you via search engines, share examples of your work, and provide contact information to anyone who may want to work with you.

7. Beat burnout

It can be rather exciting to return from a leisurely holiday break with the energy to hit the ground running in January. It’s great to capitalize on the energy that comes after taking time to rest and spend time with loved ones, but before you dive headfirst into work in 2022, consider creating a plan for beating burnout this year.

It’s no secret that many small business owners work themselves to the bone. Burnout is not good for you, your business, or your personal life. Setting clear boundaries, knowing when to take a break, and learning when to ask for help are all great ways to beat burnout. We all have different thresholds for how much we can work and varying ways of coping with stress, just make sure you’re running your business in a way that is good for you.

With the holiday season coming into view, it’s tempting to take your foot off the gas and cruise towards the year’s end. Don’t. These last few weeks are when you should be making the most of those lessons learned and preparing for the year ahead. So, rather than just watching the clock wind down by going Secret Santa shopping and taking bets on who’s going to photocopy which part of their anatomy at the office party, finish your year strong!

Here are your practical tips to make the most of what’s left of the year and end on a high note.

Review your year.

Write down your biggest success and shortlist the actions you’re going to take to replicate that success next year.

Do the same for your biggest failure, and write down what you’ve learned. Shortlist the preventive actions you’ll take to guard against a repeat. You might be disinclined to dwell on the year’s lowlights when you’re feeling all festive and frothy, but bite the bullet and do it or you’ll miss out on the wisdom to be gained.

Arrange a year-end wrap-up with your manager to get their feedback on how you’ve performed and to establish objectives for next year. Sure you may have covered some of this ground already; nevertheless, go for a final sit-down to make sure you’re on the same page and that your priorities are aligned going forward.

Review your relationships.

As we all know, having strong professional relationships is key to business success. Some connections come naturally and easily; others don’t and take more work. Year’s end is an opportune time for some relationship housekeeping. Here’s an exercise to try:

• List the stakeholders whose contributions most directly impact your performance.
• Then, identify the relationships that are misfiring and not delivering their full potential.
• Find time to talk to the individuals concerned and share your thoughts with them. Be clear on what you need from them in order to improve collaboration and performance. Don’t assume that anyone already knows or shares your priorities. Let them know about what matters most to you so that you can either align goals and thinking, or you’re at least clear on each other’s priorities and can work together more effectively.
• Ask how you could better support your teammate, and what they see your part is in improving the relationship. Positive teamwork is always a two-way street.

Finish strong as a team.

If you manage a team, ask them for their highlights and lowlights of the year and get their ideas on what they’d like to see new or different next year. Do this as a group exercise rather than a succession of one-on-ones. You could take a long pre-holiday team lunch—or find somewhere away from the office where people can engage in more frank, free-flowing dialogue. This is a great way to set your team up for a more positive work environment in the New Year—and a productive one, too.

Ask your team what they’d like from you in the New Year, and what you can do better or differently to improve their work life and performance. To encourage team members to feel comfortable giving you honest feedback, try asking them to jot down a few bullet points anonymously and drop them in a suggestions box you provide. And then share the results. The team will appreciate your transparency and the commitment to change—and they might even help/nag to keep you honest!

Say thanks! Maybe you’ve done a grand job of recognizing hard work and good performance through the year, but now’s a great time to reiterate that and show your appreciation.

If you’re a team member, get together with the others on the team and review the good and the not-so-good of the year. Remain focused on how collaboration can be improved to deliver team success in the New Year. Agree and record at least one takeaway action per team member. Distill your broader good intentions down to specifics that team members can take ownership of and deliver against.

De-clutter—mentally and environmentally.

Make a concerted effort to whittle down your to-do list. The shorter that list is, the more you’ll enjoy your holiday. Clear the decks of any I-really-must-get-round-to-doing-this.  Delegate whatever you can. If there are tasks on your list that have been there a long time, consider whether they’re worth doing at all and if not, donate them to the trash bin. After all, if they were really going to add value, you’d have already done them, right?

Any gnarly tasks or difficult conversations you’ve been putting off? Get them done. You’ll feel so much better starting the New Year without these waiting for you. Plus you may find a difficult conversation goes smoother than feared with most of us being in good spirits ahead of a break!

Tidy desk = tidy mind. Unless you really are inspired by those ever-growing piles, get rid of them. Clear out that desk draw; clear off your desk top. The same goes for your inbox, other electronic documentation, computer files, etc. Do whatever you can do to start the New Year journey with as little baggage as possible.

Write it all down.

Record those lessons learned, good ideas, objectives etc. Don’t just try and “remember to remember.” Otherwise, chances are you’ll forget something along the way. Especially if you have a really, really good holiday. And losing those hard-won lessons is like letting gold spill out of your pockets.

Plan for next year.

Set your goals and objectives. Business objectives might already be determined for you and your team, but look to your own values and set a short list of your personal improvement targets. We can all get better at something.

Think S.M.A.R.T. You need to plan the How not just the What.

Don’t turn up unprepared and let the New Year just happen to you. Decide what you want out of it and plan how you’re going to get it. Then, go get it!

You may have sacrificed a steady job to become the master of your professional destiny. Having entrepreneur motivation was easy, natural, and energizing in the beginning.

So, why are you struggling to stay motivated now when you need it most? Your business, after all, isn’t going to build itself.

Nearly everything in life experiences cycles. The solar system, hormones, your washing machine—and yes, even motivation. Movement is inherent in cycles. If you stop moving, your business simply grinds to a halt, and you may find yourself looking for a job after all.

The mere threat of stagnation should be enough to get your entrepreneur motivation mojo back online. If that’s not enough, here are eight ways for staying motivated as you build your business.

1. Recognize That Business Motivation Doesn’t Last on Its Own

Ironically, the first step in staying motivated is realizing that motivation doesn’t last—at least not without some effort. Think of the verbs associated with motivation, such as “incite,” “stimulate,” and “inspire.” They all speak to elevating something low.

Highs and lows, ebbs and flows, are all cyclical. There are days when you have so much you want to accomplish that you won’t have the hours. On others, you may struggle to even get dressed. As does every aspect of your business, motivation requires constant care and feeding. So, don’t despair during those times you feel bottomed out. Recall the almost manic thrill you get when your entrepreneur motivation seems to be unstoppable and concentrate on recapturing it.

Motivation neither just happens nor lasts. It takes focus, drive, and a conscious effort. When it lags, roll up your sleeves, choose a task, and get back to the business-building at hand.

2. Expand Your Network

No business or entrepreneur can operate in a bubble. Connection to customers, vendors, employees, and other entrepreneurs is vital to growing a business. It’s also motivational. I find that one of the things that makes me most energized about my business is the connections I make while networking.^[1]

Networking effectively is about give and take, which means you only get as good as you give. Be generous with your thoughts, ideas, and connections, and others will reciprocate.

These days, there are myriad networking channels to choose from. There are the tried-and-true conferences, industry and professional organizations, and even your local Chamber of Commerce. But the internet and social media have vastly expanded the opportunities to connect with other empire-building, ambitious people.

If you aren’t networking because you didn’t think it was worth your time, get out there. Not only will you pick up some great ideas, but you’ll also find yourself reinspired. Few things are as motivating as encountering other people’s enthusiasm for your business.

3. Focus on Your Goals

We all know that goals are important. If we fail to set them, how do we know when we have achieved something? In business, as in life, we need targets.

For me, having a goal focus is intrinsically motivational. Have you met all the business goals you set previously?^[2] Then, it’s time to set some new and even more ambitious ones than before.

Keep in mind that business goals can be moving targets, as circumstances change and reality sets in. What you must avoid is allowing yourself or your business to be paralyzed by indecision.

As Yogi Berra said, “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

The mere exercise of setting goals is energizing, so use the process when you’re in a slump. Make sure you set realistic goals—neither too high nor too low. Once the big ones are in place, establish mileposts so you know your business is on the right path.

4. Stay True to Your Mission (or Find a New One)

Unlike goals, the mission of your business should not be a moving target. While a mission can and should be reassessed periodically, it must, nonetheless, remain a constant for a significant period of time. That’s because it should be driving everything you do.

The world changes quickly. Customers, technology, markets, workforces, and supply chains are in a constant state of flux. In my business, the challenge has always been to respond to change while remaining true to our mission.^[3] On this point, Jim Collins’ Hedgehog Concept is spot on.^[4]

According to Collins, your mission can be found at the intersection of three key truths about your enterprise:

1. What you’re deeply passionate about
2. What you can be best in the world at
3. What drives your economic or resource engine

You should find motivation in the mission of your business. If you don’t, perhaps you aren’t passionate about it, can’t be the best in the world at it, or aren’t making money delivering it. If that’s the case, find a mission that intersects, and you’ll rediscover your entrepreneur motivation.

5. Celebrate Wins and Learn From Losses

Too many times, business owners fail to celebrate wins and learn from losses. That’s unfortunate because both wins and losses are two well-known secrets of entrepreneur motivation. If you aren’t treating them as the motivators they are, you should be.

Go back to those goals you set when you started your business. Have you achieved them?

If you did, have you taken the time to celebrate those wins with your stakeholders? If you haven’t reached them, figure out why, make adjustments, and try to turn them into wins. Wallowing in losses instead of learning from them and moving on is a sure way to lose motivation.

Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins as well. In my company, we ring a gong every time we land a new client so the small victory reverberates through the office. Doing this builds our confidence, generates enthusiasm, and motivates our team to aim higher. I recommend finding your own way to acknowledge the small wins that are necessary to achieve those major victories your business needs to flourish.

When a lack of motivation sets in, take stock of everything you have accomplished. Pat yourself on the back and bask in the glow of achievement. That pause may be all you need to motivate you to achieve more success.

6. Identify Your Disruptive Powers

When you launched your business, were you just joining the pack? Or did you want to fill a gaping, empty market niche? Odds are, you believed you had a solution to a problem that no other business was figuring out.

Take Uber, Netflix, and Blue Apron. They disrupted the taxi, movie, and food industries by putting a revolutionary spin on the traditional way of doing business. In doing so, they solved problems the market wasn’t even aware it had.

The business you’re building may not be the next Tesla, but that doesn’t mean it can’t disrupt an industry, a sector, or just your local business community. You might discover a new customer service paradigm or a way to use technology that no one else has.

You can’t be innovative without being motivated, and if you aren’t motivated, your business will only achieve the status quo. So, start imagining ways you can disrupt your industry to kickstart your motivation. Even little ripples can turn into serious waves.

7. Spend Some Time Away

Building a business is exhausting during normal times. Throw in the stress and radical changes accompanying a global pandemic, and life can become overwhelming. This can lead to depression, indecision, paralysis, or even sheer panic.

You can’t control the world, but you can control your response to what’s happening. Start by stopping your attempts to do it all and set some priorities instead. When overwhelmed with life, one of those priorities must be yourself.

Spend some time away from work to recharge. A bit of respite is the only way you can replace the energy and inspiration sapped by a turbulent world. Work to overcome the feeling that your business can’t run without you, especially when your lack of motivation isn’t doing it any favors anyway.

A little rest and relaxation may be all you need to return to the office reinvigorated. If your break involves travel, exposure to different places and cultures might even spark new trains of thought. You will be motivated to pick up where you left off and get back to growing your business.

8. Remain Customer-Centric

Whatever widget or widget service you sell, you have customers. Your lack of motivation does a disservice to a market looking to your business for solutions. When your business motivation wanes, think of those customers counting on you to succeed.

Keeping your eye on your customers isn’t a distraction from building your business. The most successful companies in the world are extremely customer-centric. Think about Apple’s uncanny ability to anticipate customer needs or Google’s cloud-based growth stemming from empathy for the challenges facing their customers.

Perhaps, there is a relationship between your lack of motivation and customer neglect. Remaining vigilant about their needs will determine whether or not your business is successful. To conduct surveys, read customer reviews, and do market research to discover those needs. After all, if you aren’t solving their problems, what are you doing?

When the noise from the daily demands of running a business gets too loud, tune it out. Listen to what your customers are saying about you and what they’re asking for. Responding to them will require focus, as you are motivated by your dream to build a successful business.

Final Thoughts

Motivation is movement, action—a driving force of human nature. Although it waxes and wanes as naturally as the lunar cycle, restoring business motivation can require a concentrated effort. It’s an effort you’ll want to make because a prolonged lack of motivation is deadly.

If you lack the motivation to eat, you starve. If you lack the motivation to drive in your lane, you crash. If you lack the motivation to build your business, you fail.

You are obviously a highly motivated individual. If you weren’t, you never would have started a business of your own. Entrepreneurs are, at their cores, a rare and uniquely inspired breed.

So, when your entrepreneur motivation flatlines, don’t give up. Whether the spark comes from a personal connection, a new goal, a brief vacation, or a customer comment, there are ways to get yourself back on the business-building track again.