It can be hard to concentrate and stay motivated at this time of year, right? I’m hearing it from a lot of my clients – they’re frazzled after a big year, they need a break, the smell of Christmas ham, pine needles and festive drinks are proving too distracting. And I get it. It’s hard to stay focused on business day in, day out – particularly when your to-do list is starting to resemble programming coding – very confusing. After spending 40+ hours at work, it can be a challenge to stay focused and enthused about it. Especially if you’re a bit of a one-man band or feel you can’t brainstorm or bounce ideas off someone else. But you have to take steps to correct this. Once you become slothish or lazy, your business will slide.
I was talking to a lady the other day who said she had “food fatigue”. After cooking for two kids, her husband and herself pretty much every night, she was over it. She was sick of her usual reportoire, she couldn’t face banging about the pots and pans to create the usual suspects, and she’d started to dread the end of the day when she’d have to start thinking about the evening meal again.
While she was speaking, I started to realise that her food fatigue could be solved in much the same way as our declining motivation in the workplace.
For example:
* She could buy a food magazine or two to look for new and exciting recipes to try. Likewise, we could buy a business book by someone who will inspire. Have you read Richard Branson’s book yet? If anyone can encourage you to not give up, it’s this guy.
* She could ask a friend to share a favourite meal that she could then try, as we could get together with a business-minded friend for a catch-up, advice and new outlook on things. Nothing gets you motivated and inspired like talking to someone whose opinion you respect, who you feel you could learn from.
* There’s plenty of cooking classes out there that she could try (Milly’s Kitchen have some good ones – plus they’re an awesome Business Changing client!). In the same vein, there are a few business courses out there to check out, whether you want to upskill or just refresh your knowledge. Don’t be put off by the time it takes – there’s everything available from evening courses to day courses to ones that run over a weekend courses. (Have a look at The Icehouse.)
* She could go online and search for new recipes, in the same way that we can easily jump online and hunt out relevant research, webinars and knowledge to inspire and educate and therefore motivate.
* She could write down all the recipes she knows. Sometimes, you just need a reccie to realise what it is you know, what you need to work on and what you can use that you’d forgotten about. For us in business, this may take the form of reviewing your business goals from the start of the year. Reflect on what steps you’ve taken towards them. Remind yourself of why they are important to you and what the end picture means to you.
* She could join a foodie group, where they swap ideas, recipes and reviews on a regular basis. We could join a business circle: meet with people who energise us, who have new ideas, good enthusiasm, similar or better business experience. People who will mull ideas over with you, bounce a few your way, who want to hear about your business and offer an unbiased (but hopefully somewhat educated) view.
* Unfortunately for my foodie friend, I can’t think of a comparative example for my best tip of all to staying focused and motivated and on-track: hire a business coach. I’ll keep you accountable and enthused (guaranteed ha ha)! zac@businesschanging.com
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