Let’s talk about motivation and how to keep it. The motivation is that excitement, energy, and the “I can do anything attitude.” It’s what we need to create our vision. Sometimes at the beginning of a project, this motivation is unbridled, bold, and unorganized. This type of motivation is often uninformed, and we jump in ready for anything. The business cycle can be analogous to a roller coaster ride. Cameron Herald the former CEO of 1-800 Got Junk defined Entrepreneurial motivational as:
Stage 1: Uninformed Optimism: At this beginning stage everything is fun, there’s all this excitement, you’re full of creativity, you pop right out of bed ready to go “NO COFFEE NEEDED” type of day. The future is unknown, and honestly, we don’t know what is coming next, and we really don’t care we are just going for it. This is a great time for us to be creative, be networking, and explaining what we are going to build. This is the time when our passion and excitement are spilling all over. In this stage, we are invincible.
Stage 2 Informed Pessimism: In the business cycle this cresting at the top of the roller coaster a little bit of reality starts to come through, we have gathered information, and we become a bit more nervous, and we wonder “do I have what it takes to do this”? At this stage, it’s time to start getting our ducks in a row and create systems within our business. That translates into intake procures may I suggest you walk yourself to the process. When we first started, I sat in the reception chairs and just looked around. I asked myself how does it feel, is the office comfortable, what’s the vibe, what would I need to feel safe? I would call the office and listen to the voicemail; how did it sound? Did it identify the business? Was it clear when we would call back? When we hired people to answer the phone, I called in and had them tell me the information just as if I was a client. Also, in this stage, we created “canned emails,” emails that we would customize but the bulk of the email was answering the same question. We created our vision and wrote our business plan. (Please do not skip tan his step) A good business plan will help prepare you for those unexpected bumps in the road.
Stage 3: Crisis of Meaning: This stage, it’s easy to become paralyzed. Fear and self-doubt take over. The not helpful “what if” questions start to run through your mind over and over again. This is a time when you are at the bottom of the cycle. Maybe a time when you do not have enough clients, or you lack referrals sources, or maybe you need to hire staff. This is the time step back, breathe, and regroup. This stage is normal, and it will pass. Use this time to go back to your company’s values, mission, and set small doable goals. Maybe you send out the physician letters, leave the office; go visit referral sources, create a new class. I want you to know that this up and down cycle is totally normal, and it’s even bio-chemical if you were in stage 1 all the time you would burn out physically. This is also a good time to check our self-care. This stage can lead to burn out and even the closing of our businesses if we are not in this process for the long haul. At this stage, a good business coach or an empowering colleague can help. Pull that tenacity hat out, put it on, and hang on tight. Do remember this stage will pass.
Stage 4: Hopeful Realism/Informed Optimism: You have made it and weathered the storm. You are relaxed and can realistically make plans for your business’s future. This may also mean that you have added more resources to your business like, a virtual assistance, an electric medical record, a biller, or more therapists. Emotionally is you feel good, strong, and ready to take on the next obstacle that comes your way. In this time, you have energy, and you will be moving your business forward. A good lesson to learn is to keep a log or Journal of things that are going really well, maybe a client says this was a really great session or a colleague appreciates you supporting them, or maybe you hear from a PCP doc that they love how you take care of his patients. Any moments that record the little things in our business life will help sustain you when you’re having one of those low moments. Just remember motivation or lack of it, is a moving process. Just hang on it will come back. Have you had this happen to you? I would love to hear your story.
Check out also my video on The Business Motivational Cycle