Self-Employed Motivation

Russinating

Russinating

Russinating

Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2005
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Bristol
So I've been self-employed for about 14 months with a 7 month stint at a company in the middle (while continuing my own ventures).

My problem is that I find it really hard to get motivated when I'm my own boss. My alarm goes off at 8am and it's basically "I could get up now... or I could not and it'd make little difference".

When I'm employed it's fine - I work my ass off every day in order to impress, and of course getting out of bed is easy because if you don't you get fired. And you can't just play a game or browse some forums instead of working when you're in an office... but I'm in my bedroom.

Does anybody have any advice at all? I know what I probably need is targets, but what targets exactly? All my current ones are medium to long term and so don't really help. And how do you stick to targets (again, nothing bad would happen if I didn't meet them)?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Does the one about getting up early actually matter? Does a certain amount of work have to be done early in the day?
You know yourself if the work is being put in, and the results will probably reflect this so littel anyone else can do or say =/.
 
Motivation should be that if you don't get up and make some money, then you won't have any. You'll starve and won't be able to afford the internet...
 
The Craig said:
Does the one about getting up early actually matter? Does a certain amount of work have to be done early in the day?
You know yourself if the work is being put in, and the results will probably reflect this so littel anyone else can do or say =/.
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Well it's a bit of a catch 22. When I'm in bed I feel sooo comfy that I just want to stay there forever. But when I get up early I feel much fresher and healthier and (obviously) the day is so much longer.

I don't have work that needs to be done early, but I do have a phone to answer occasionally.

Naamiko_O said:
Motivation should be that if you don't get up and make some money, then you won't have any. You'll starve and won't be able to afford the internet...
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True, but why today? I can make the money tomorrow. Also, most of my work is paid for upfront.
 
rghjones said:
Well it's a bit of a catch 22. When I'm in bed I feel sooo comfy that I just want to stay there forever. But when I get up early I feel much fresher and healthier and (obviously) the day is so much longer.
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Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier then :p


rghjones said:
True, but why today? I can make the money tomorrow. Also, most of my work is paid for upfront.
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If you clear the job today you can start a new job tommorow, have you ever thought this through :confused:
 
How about finishing off your website!! nothing I hate more then websites that have Coming Soon.... Just looks unprofessional and that you can't be bothered, which from the tone of your question, seems to be true?!

Are you able to setup "office" in another room of your home? That way you have to get your lazy butt outta bed and physically go to your working area. Maybe set your self daily targets - ie. Today I WILL finish my website, Tomorrow I WILL Market myself and cold call some companies....

Rob
 
The Craig said:
Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier then :p
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I don't go to bed late because I have the best intentions (usually 11.30). Today I'd planned to go for a run at 8am... alarm went off at 7.50, looked at the weather and to cut a short story shorter I didn't get up until 11 in the end.

The Craig said:
If you clear the job today you can start a new job tommorow, have you ever thought this through :confused:
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Yes, I'm unmotivated not stupid :p. It's not quite as simple as that though - for a start I know I've got 3-4 weeks to do something that would take 3 days of straight working. Secondly it's fairly creative so sometimes I'm just not in the right mind frame to start at all, other times I work for 10 minutes and have to stop because I'm not happy with how things are going.
 
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Set yourself small, achievable goals and write up a To Do list. Much more satisfying to know you've done something than to not even try in the first place :)
It doesn't have to fill up a whole 8hr day if you don't feel it needs to, just something so that you're getting somewhere.

It'll be hard at first but if you like your work, it'll make it a lot more enjoyable in the long run and easier to do.
 
I know this might seem a strange strategy but have you got any where you could set up a small office (at a friends or relatives) for very little - no rent, but somewhere you feel less comfortable than at home.

The problem with working at home, is the temptation to relax, you're used to being there and not working so it's not the best environment.

If for example you had a 15minute walk/cycle to a relatives and set up in their office for set hours say when they're at work, and you have to be gone before they come back - then you're setting yourself stricter guidelines, and working somewhere else.

It might sound stupid, or not be possible - but the lack of familiarity and routine may help, and not be too much of a cost-cruncher as renting a desk/office space at a local company.

gl.
 
Totally agree, but unfortunately it's not feasible - I need my PC as well as two monitors, printer, external drives etc every day, as well as the need to answer my landline business phone.
 
Does anyone have any advice on becoming self employed and where to start? There are just too many sites around and it's becoming a little confusing?

Maybe a guide with all the details on and also infomation on business taxes and vat?

Thanks in advance ;)
 
I’ve been in the same situation as the OP twice now both times with an online shop.

Motivation is a difficult one working from home and will usually depend on your personal financial situation and long term goals.

If your business is growing and you have increasing work and sales you shouldn’t need to be motivated as such because you have to get up to do the work.

To Do lists I always found good for the mundane stuff like book keeping new suppliers etc.

Do you have much work at the moment?

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Be organised.

I learned this the hard way, but you really do just have to take the time to sit down and plan what you're doing.

Getting up at 11am is fine providing you've got all your work planned out and ready. (Not that I get the luxury these days)

Routine is your friend here. I tend to get up, have breakfast, do any other essentials, then take a 15 minute walk.
When I get back, straight into doing my work until it's done then wind down / go to customers.

Motivation is the hardest part of running your own business / being self employed.
I'm a *HUGE* procrastinater, but eventually you learn to manage it, rather than stop doing it.
 
BiGT- said:
OP what kind of work do you do?
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General media work. The majority of income at the moment is wedding videography. Myself and my colleague are also launching a more generic media agency to deal with corporate video, web design, photography and copywriting. I also run a camera hire company with brings in enough to cover the rent per month.

Dutch777 said:
Do you have much work at the moment?
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Yes and no. Income wise I'm earning more than I was at my previous full-time job by doing three weddings - but that's about 7 days work in a month including the actual shoots.

Most of my work for this month is internal, ie no customer to work for. We're doing the national wedding show in October so I've got to design/source/buy everything for that.

vonhelmet said:
Isn't putting food on the table enough motivation for you?
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Actually, no, not really. I know I'll always be ok for food and basics like rent as even the smallest amount of work will cover that. I tried to motivate myself by sticking a picture of a TVR next to my monitors but... it hasn't :p
 
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