Anyone who starts a business begins the journey full of inspired ambition. After managing day-to-day operations for a while, though, it isn’t uncommon for the initial intensity to subside. Waking up one day to realize you’re beginning to feel differently about running a business you’ve poured so much of your time, energy and self into can be a disorienting experience.
The day will likely come for every entrepreneurial business leader when the original excitement and enthusiasm they felt start to wane. Here, 10 members of Forbes Coaches Council each weigh in with their advice on the No. 1 thing business owners must do the moment they feel themselves losing the passion they once had for running their business.
1. Build A Complementary Team And Do What Energizes You
When a passionate person loses their drive, chances are they are doing too much of something that drains them instead of what energizes them. Being an entrepreneur is not as glamorous as movies make it seem, unless the leader is able to build a complementary team and a scalable business model so they can refocus on what they really love doing, which is probably what they are the best at. - Csaba Toth, ICQ Global
2. Stop, Assess, Recalibrate And Realign
Why did you start the business to begin with? What role are you playing now versus then? What role do you want to play? What does your perfect day look like? What are you doing currently? Who are you doing it with? What are you working on? Go in-depth; stop, assess, recalibrate and properly realign the role you are playing and the players you have in other roles. - Shelley Smith, Premier Rapport
3. Find Others Who Are Passionate
Find and associate with others who are passionate. Passion is contagious, and it will reignite your fire. Take a moment to reflect on the reasons why you have lost motivation and the journey so far. Look for a mentor who can help inspire and provide motivation. They can help you assess your objectives and help you course-correct. - Stuart Andrews, SMA Consulting
4. Establish A Quarterly Routine
The day-to-day grind can wear anyone doing anything down. I recommend establishing a quarterly routine to combat these feelings. Establish a two-day motivational conference for yourself and your team. Day one is motivation- and development-focused, and day two emphasizes planning review and development activities. Do this every quarter and you’ll stay motivated. - John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises
5. Ground Yourself In Your Truth
Leaders should ground themselves in their truth and, most importantly, why they do what they do and why they started their journey. A lot of times, we get so busy performing daily routines that we lose ourselves in the process, our passion takes a back seat, and we lose our motivation. Vision boards are constant reminders of our journey and can reinvigorate us when we lose our way. - Sahar Andrade, MB.BCh, Sahar Consulting, LLC
6. Put Someone Else In Charge Temporarily
Put someone in charge for a while. Take a short break. When you return, talk to your top 10 customers about their experience with your company. Ask your most tenured staff why they have stuck around for so long. Review your mission/vision statements. If you still feel uncommitted, set a timescale to rediscover your passion or go find something else to focus your attention (life) on. - Antonio Garrido, Absolute Sales Development
7. Tune Into Your Values To Discover A New ‘Why’
People evolve and change. Thus, it’s quite normal for your passion for your business to change as well. When this happens, it’s important to discover a new reason to feel excited about your business. One way to do this is to assess what you value and how your business can link to those values. Shift your perspective and get re-energized! - Cheryl Czach, Cheryl Czach Coaching and Consulting, LLC
8. Go Back To Your Original Vision And Mission
When this occurs, go back to your vision and mission that you had when you started the business. Coaching leaders, I have seen this occur on multiple occasions when the day-to-day has taken over. Ensure you carve out time to consistently revisit that passion so that you can keep it alive and regain it quickly when feeling overwhelmed. It will assist you in regaining your vision of success. - Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space
9. Find Joy And Perspective In An Unrelated Activity
Simultaneously find joy in a new activity unrelated to the business while revisiting what the business is doing for you and others. It’s important to gain a fresh experience and perspective on the business by doing something new while reviewing what purpose the business serves for clients, staff and yourself. Through these activities, you can discover a renewed passion for the business. - Lisa Rangel, Chameleon Resumes LLC
10. Take The Lead On A New Revenue Product Or Service
You have the company, but you may need to refresh your offerings. Instead of delegating this work, you can take ownership of this new profit center, bring in others from the inside or outside, and get buried in the chase for something exciting. Is your company doing well? Then innovate. Does your company need a new stream? Create the river. - John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.
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Expert Panel® Top business and career coaches from Forbes Coaches Council offer firsthand insights on leadership development & careers. …