One of the things that I find the hardest about my career as an online entrepreneur is motivation. I think it’s because many assume that if you’re an online entrepreneur, you’re automatically motivated. Well, to be honest – I’m not — at least half the time. This is a huge chunk when you consider that I make my living completely online (I’m a freelance writer).
Before I go on let me say, I was a little hesitant to write this post because I felt like I was disclosing some deep, dark secret; like I was complaining when I have no right to complain. But I think think this is probably the #1 dark secret that many online entrepreneurs have — but never discuss. After all, making money online — from home — is supposed to be fun, right? And if you’re doing it, what do you mean you’re unmotivated?
“So many strive to be exactly where I am – ie, making money from home as a freelance writer.”
You see, I realize how lucky I am. So many strive to be exactly where I am – ie, making money from home as a freelance writer. I don’t have a boss, I can work in my jammies and I decide how much I make. Cushy, huh? So, why am I unmotivated half the time?
Online Entrepreneurs: How Do You Spend Your Time?
To be honest, it’s because I spend 25-30% of my time on tasks unrelated to writing. There’s invoicing, marketing, filing taxes, debt collection, blog redesigning, etc. Some days I look at my list of things to do (I’m a prolific list keeper) and I want to close up before I even turn on my computer.
Couple this with the fact that I spend another chunk of time – probably 30-40% – writing on subjects I have no interest in. Add it all up and this means I spend between 55-70% of my time on tasks that I don’t want to be doing.
When you’re a solo online entrepreneur, you pretty much do it all. And, it can be draining. Not only physically, but emotionally as well. When you’re drained emotionally, it takes a toll on your motivation. So how do I find the motivation to keep going? Following is how.
Online Entrepreneurs: How to Find – and Keep – Your Motivation
Plan. Plan. Plan. This is the only thing that keeps me going. And when I say plan, I mean I have a life plan; a place I want to be in three years, five years and seven years (haven’t mapped it out beyond that).
Goal: Work from Home and Never Have a Boss Again
When I first started out as a freelance writer, all I wanted to do was to be able to make a living from home and never have to work for someone else again. I didn’t have a timeline – it was an abstract goal. Probably three to five years into my career, I started to set more concrete goals. But, those goals were centered around money, as in, I want to make $X this year.
I never thought about my life plan. I think this was because I was in my late twenties/early thirties. At this stage of life, most of us don’t realize how fast time is passing and how critical it is to have a plan for where you want to be three, five or 10 years down the road.
Goal: Make Enough Passive Income to Live on for Life
Once I realized that I’d reached my goal of never having to work for someone else again, my goals changed. I started to focus on making passive income. That’s where I am now. I make some passive income, but not enough to sustain me without taking on freelance writing projects.
That’s the plan I’m working now – making enough passive income so that I don’t have to write for a living. Every time I see an e-Junkie “Notification of Sale” email, I know I’m that much closer (I write and sell ebooks on freelance writing).
By now I hope you see that the secret to finding and keeping your motivation is to have a life plan. With your life plan in front of you, you will be able to write 20 SEO articles in a day, file those pesky tax forms and get out those marketing queries – even when it’s the last thing you want to do.
Life Lesson on Success from an Online Entrepreneur
You see, success rarely comes all at once — it usually comes in stages. This means you have to do a lot of what you don’t want to do to get where you want to be. At least, that’s the lesson I take from where I am right now.
Holding Onto the Freedom of Never Having a Boss Again
I remember how free I felt when I realized that I’d never have to dust off my resume again. I hold on to this feeling in my darkest hours, knowing that my next goal – making enough passive income – will be that much sweeter.
Are you an online entrepreneur, or want to be one? What’s your motivation when you roll out of bed each morning? Do you have a life plan?
Ideally, you should grow to the point that you have a client list so big, that you can cherry-pick projects you work on.
As far as invoices, filling taxes, etc.. it's a necessary evil, no way around it. Though I do have an accountant that takes care of most of my things. If you look around you can find some at a decent price.
Same goes for the other things you don't like; outsource them. Theoretically you should then be able to take on more freelancing work, which should offset the cost.
This was a great post. I think too many online entrepreneurs do not write enough. I think the more you write the better off you are.
Thanks for sharing. Although I work from home I work way more than I ever did at a traditional job. The hardest part for me – my dark secret – is focusing. There are so many distractions at home.
working from home I find my most comfortable spot is the couch … in front of the TV .. which can sometimes be distracting