Get Your Business Started – You’ve Got This!
You’ve got a great business idea, but you’re hesitant to take action. It could be nerves, fear of failing or simply not knowing where to start. Whether you’re looking to start a small business out of your home or incorporate, it’s essential to set yourself up for success from the start.
Entrepreneurs are their own boss and don’t have anyone above them pushing them to achieve goals and meet deadlines. They’ve got to be self-motivated and challenge themselves to do these things on their own, without anyone else actively pushing you to go forward. There are a number of ways you can become more organized, motivated and disciplined to help create and maintain a solid foundation for your business.
Have a plan in place
You can’t get where you’re going if you don’t know how to get there. In the same way that you need directions to help you drive to a destination, your business will need a roadmap of where your business is going and how you’ll navigate along the way. Of course, plans cannot generally be set in stone, and there should be some room for adapting as circumstances change. The main goal of having a plan is to lay out what you aim to accomplish and how you plan to achieve those goals.
Establish a routine
The hardest part of getting motivated is actually just getting started. Procrastination can take over and unexpected things can appear as obstacles. But, when you have a routine that you regularly follow, it’s easier to stay on track and keep motivated. Establishing a routine is a great way to help create those new habits you want to put in place that will help you continue moving towards your goals.
Keep yourself on track with reminders
Without a set schedule, it can be difficult for many people to stay on track with their plans. Even with a schedule this can still be difficult. Setting reminders for yourself throughout the day can help you refocus your attention, if it’s managed to veer off course. There are a number of time wasters that can grab your attention and steal away time that you could be putting towards your business. Social media platforms are great for promoting your business, but it’s easy to get off track and spend too much time with them. Set an alarm for yourself or a reminder to get back to work if you find yourself getting distracted. There are even some great productivity apps you can use, like ToDoist, to keep you on track.
Create your personal mission statement
Your mission statement is the definitive purpose of your business and puts into words the vision for the company, helping to direct and inform the business decisions you make. For this same purpose, it’s important to have a personal mission statement. This would outline the reason why you’ve become an entrepreneur and put into words your personal vision for the yourself as an entrepreneur. Keep this mission statement with you, read it often, and stick it on your computer or wherever you’ll be working on your business.
Put time aside for yourself
You may want to dedicate every waking moment to your business – Don’t. Getting caught up in your business and neglecting yourself is a recipe for burning yourself out, getting overwhelmed and losing motivation. It’s absolutely essential to set aside time for yourself that isn’t work and business related.
Set milestones and reward yourself
Everyone loves being rewarded for a job well done. And, even though it’s your own business, there’s no reason why you can’t reward yourself when you accomplish a new goal. Set milestones and prepare a reward for yourself when you hit that milestone. Little rewards along the way can make a huge impact on your motivation and keep you going to the next achievement.
Get your friends and family involved
Don’t hide your new business from your friends and family – Tell everyone you know about what you’re doing. It’s a good way to keep yourself motivated, because the people around you will help keep you accountable and working towards your goals. Encourage them to be engaged in what you’re doing and to continue challenging you towards accomplishing your goals. Fun apps like Make Me can keep everyone engaged in an exciting way.
Do something that inspires you
Inspiration comes in all different forms. Find something that ignites inspiration in you and use it to keep you motivated. Whether it’s a daily walk through the forest, listening to music or doing yoga, do something that inspires you.
Keep a positive attitude
Things aren’t always going to go as planned, and it’s easy to become discouraged when this happens. But, just because something didn’t work out once, or twice, or five times, doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Trying to keep a positive attitude can help keep you motivated to keep going. Take a look at what did actually work and what didn’t, and make adjustments where you can. Keep moving forward with a positive outlook, and don’t let setbacks derail you from seeing the positive end results that are waiting for you. In the great words of Arianna Huffington “Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of the success.”
Get some sleep
Burning the candle at both ends may seem like a good way to get extra work done and utilize every hour of every day. But, a good night sleep can never be underestimated. Nearly everything you need or want to get done can wait until the next morning to do, and it’s almost never worth neglecting your sleep to try to do as much work as possible. Sleeping helps not only let your body rest and recover, but your mind will also be rested making tasks easier to accomplish.
When you are ready to get your business started, Ontario Business Central can assist with the registration process if you’re looking to register in any of the following provinces:
If you’re interested in Incorporating, you can do so through the links below:
BRITISH COLUMBIA INCORPORATION
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our staff for additional information and assistance.
inquiries@ontariobusinesscentral.ca
Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913
Local: 1-416-599-9009
Fax: 1-866-294-4363
Office Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday – Friday E.S.T.
Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended, when you have legal or accounting questions that you speak to a qualified professional.
