Persevering As An Entrepreneur
“Keep Your Head up, Keep Your Heart Strong”
Shalene Flanagan
How hard will you work to reach your goal? At what point do you throw in the towel and give up?
Many people think that finding success in their business or their life comes from a special talent or innate ability. Talent and ability certainly are important, but the most significant indicator of success is perseverance–the ability to not give up.
Not quitting can be difficult if you don’t find that sweet spot of success right away. When I want to give up, I find that reading about someone else’s determination in the face of failure helps me to stay motivated.
Success Story
One of my favorite success stories is the story of Shalene Flanagan. In 2017, at 36 years old, she was the first American woman to win the NYC Marathon in 40 years. Shalene is a professional runner who has had much success in her running career, as well as major setbacks.
Prior to her success as a marathon runner, she competed in marathons inNYC and Boston, unable to win either one. Then, she broke her back, nine months before she was supposed to run the NYC marathon. Most people would give up at this point, but instead of quitting she came back stronger for the historic first place win!
How does this relate to our daily life? You may have heard the expression “running a business is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” There will be many ups and downs, but it’s about staying focused and motivated during the down times.
Keep the Big Picture in Mind
How can you persevere when you feel like you keep losing? Keep the big picture in mind. Remember your WHY–the reason you started your endeavor in the first place. When you know that you’re following your heart, it makes it easier to stay the course.
You may find it helpful to post your WHY somewhere you can see it every day.
Remember the Victories
When you feel like you’re not moving in the right direction, it helps to remember all the accomplishments you’ve had. This might mean looking back over your calendar from the last six months and note every meeting or interaction where you felt you did a great job. Or take a look at the last year and give yourself credit for how far you have come and what you’ve learned.
Get Help When You Need It
One drawback to starting or running a business can be a sense of isolation. As an employee, direction comes from your boss, but on your own, you often have to be your own self-motivator. This can be hard when things get tough. Finding a coach, mastermind or networking group of like-minded people can make all the difference. By having someone else to bounce ideas off of and to support you when you’re feeling low, you’ll be able to shake off those feelings of uncertainty and get back on the track!
I would love to hear how you stay motivated even when things get tough!