Being an entrepreneur is the American dream. It’s all about defining your success, paving your way, and living life the way you want. Many of us walked out of a comfortable job because we no longer wanted to be rats in the maze of an employer who manipulated us into fueling their dream. We wanted to create and follow our dreams. But sometimes there are days when you can’t seem to find the motivation to move forward, and that’s when you need a little boost in thinking.

One thing to remember is that there is no “magic solution” for success as a business owner. Every entrepreneur must find their way to create, manufacture, produce, and sell their products, services, and ideas. The way that you find yourself doing this may not be as unique as the concept you have for your business. That’s okay, as long as it works for you and creates the result you want..

As entrepreneurs, we are in a constant state of “flux.” We must always be evaluating, analyzing, and measuring our metrics and our success. We are often in competition with others, but we are always in competition with ourselves. We should always strive to be a better version of ourselves and our business than we were yesterday.

Every successful entrepreneur will tell you that the “daily grind” is what results in wealth and success. The dream is the glamorous part as it’s what keeps you looking toward your goals and keeps you working hard.

Nonetheless, for those days that the daily grind seems hard and your energy wanes, try these 5 tips to stay motivated:

1. Remember the goal and keep your eye on the ball

I like Mark Cuban’s analogy of entrepreneurship being like the game of basketball. In his book, How to Win in the Sport of Business, he points out that having a business is like winning a basketball game. You must always be watching what your competition is doing while keeping your motivation high. Keep your eye on the goal.

2. Do something every day that moves you forward

One of the frustrations of entrepreneurs is that they feel like they are not moving their business forward fast enough. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. So just make sure you’re at least doing one thing daily that moves you closer to your goals. It will give you a feeling of accomplishment when the going gets tough.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

3. Write down no more than six things to do each day

People sometimes overwhelm themselves by planning too many things to do in one day, and then they feel let down when they don’t get them done. If you limit your primary goals to six things per day, you are going to be more likely to achieve them.

4. Connect with other entrepreneurs and learn their tricks

This is not to say that you need to copy what others are doing, but simply get a sense for what keeps them going and motivated and share ideas. It can help you feel like you’re on the right track with support from others like you with similar goals.

5. Think of yourself as a captain

You are the captain of your ship. You’ll come across crashing waves, massive storms, rocks, and iceberg, but the way you maneuver around them will determine your fate. Always keep your eyes on the harbor and take pride in the fact that you’re in the top 2% of the country by sailing out on your own as an independent business owner.

“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jen Sincero

A few other things to take with you on your journey

As an entrepreneur, the goal is what you’re working for, day-by-day, week-by-week because you’ll get there a little at a time. It’s about more than the goal because it’s about the journey. Life is a journey and so is entrepreneurship. The challenges we face as entrepreneurs only serve to make us stronger and better able to handle the storms we face on the sea of entrepreneurship.

Remember the payoff is incredible! It’s the biggest gamble of your life but when it pays off, it pays off huge! Remember the movie, “The Perfect Storm,” starring Richard Gere? He talked about being a swordboat captain and about how few people choose that life, yet the ones who did loved it. They enjoyed the solitude, embraced the challenge and it’s what kept them going.

How do you stay motivated on a daily basis? Let us know by commenting below!