It’s a tale as old as time and a song as old as rhyme.

When you started your online business you had a boundless drive and endless enthusiasm.

But then all of sudden (or through the daily grind), your faith starts to waver. You’re not as consistent in updating your blog. You start to feel burned out. You begin to question if continuing on with your business is EVEN worth your time.   

Uh, oh.

You just hit the “wall” my friend. 

The “wall” is that space in your business where your motivation starts to slow down. When the going gets tough, it's super easy to lose sight of WHY we started our businesses in the first place. 

The “wall” could be the very demise of the business you’ve worked so hard to build up if you’re not careful. 

So, how do YOU beat the “wall” and show it who’s boss?

By remembering that your business is like a relationship. In order to succeed, you need COMMITMENT. 

Here are my handy-dandy tips for not only staying focused but also motivated during the tough times.

Write your mission statement

A mission statement describes the purpose of your business and what it stand for. Many online business owners skip over doing this because they feel it’s too corporate. This is a mistake because having your mission statement will help you remember why started your business in the first place.

Set goals

I know, I know. Goal setting can feel like a chore. But if you don't have something specific to work toward, it's going to be hella hard for you to stay motivated. My advice? Set challenging yet attainable goals. You’ll also want to make sure you can MEASURE your progress with these goals. Trust me, by setting goals you’ll increase your chances of succeeding whether you meet them or not.

Don't overwork yourself to death

As you’ve probably figured out by now, starting and running a business is hard work. It's so easy to into a cycle of endless 18-hour days and long nights (guilty!) 

This well-intentioned but misguided use of commitment to your business will result in burnout. Don’t do this to yourself. Sure, in the beginning, you’re grinding hard. You’re writing, networking, marketing, promoting and making things happen. But honestly, it doesn't hurt to take a day off every now and then. Taking these breaks will keep you refreshed, grounded and energized. 

Outsource the tasks that bore or frustrate you the hell out of you

You (like every other small business owner) has probably fallen into the trap of thinking you have to do everything yourself.

This belief stems from thinking we can’t afford to outsource or from the personality trait of being a control freak (no judgment, here).

Regardless, by bogging yourself down with tasks you hate doing, you’re tying up precious energy and time that needs to spent elsewhere. You’re also, you know hating your business. So, stop that. Hit up Fiverr or post in your social media network for help. 

Take a step back

If you've hit a rough patch, perhaps a change of pace is in order. Assess the state of your business.  You may need to change your offerings, evaluate your marketing strategies, or upgrade software or equipment. By taking a step back you’ll be able to isolate what’s not working. And thus be able to fix it. 

Like in any endeavor, sometimes it's hard to maintain that same level of commitment you initially had in the beginning stages.

By keeping my tips in mind and remaining focused, you’ll be able to keep your motivated and happy in your business!