Lay Out Short Term Goals

Set up a series of hoops for you to jump through.  Think back to Super Mario.  You didn't just beat King Coopa in the first level.  You went through a small army of Mini Coopas and a whole lot of coin mongering before finally achieving your goal of saving some princess.  Click here for a great link on setting your business goals.

 I would like to think that running a business can be a bit like this (without the sound issues).

Take A Break

Taking a break once in a while is vital to your momentum.  You would think that it would be the opposite, but it is all in HOW you take your breaks.

Take very strategic breaks when you feel that you have enough momentum to carry you into the next sprint (a short term period of work).  This leaves you something to come back to and maximizes the effect of the break.  If you have a battle plan for your next sprint, strategic breaks will cut down on your mind wandering and will help you compartmentalize your work from your life.

The key is: LEAVE YOURSELF SOMETHING TO COME BACK TO. 

Don't Bring Yourself Down

Step back, make a decision, and move forward.  Second guessing yourself can be a good thing, but third and fourth and tenth guessing yourself will slowly kill the project.  Any decision you make should be considered final.  Things change, so there are exceptions to this rule, but that's where the second guess comes into play.  

I reiterate:  Step back, make a decision, and move forward.

Stay Positive

Just lost out on a contract or forgot to back up your business plan?  You must see the silver lining in this or wave goodbye to your business.  It is not that hard, just make sure you take care that your silver lining is a truth.  If you can't find the silver, ask yourself if the issue is even worth worrying about.

Keeping with the Super Mario theme…Every time Mario dies, at least you go back and collect more coins!

Don't Live and Die by Success

Every step forward is (at the very least) A STEP FORWARD.

It gets a little spiritual, but sometimes that's OK. If you are doing something you enjoy, then the success becomes a secondary notion and pressure is lifted off your back. Most of us started our own business because we believed in something. Look back and remember why you started. Was it saving lives or increasing efficiency?  Was it doing something you enjoy or the flexibility of working from home? Use that memory to carry you forward.