When you’re running your own business, sometimes you may feel a bit lost. You may feel that you lost your aim and your objectives. It’s normal to feel like this at some point in our careers. Everyone has eventually felt tired or demotivated.

But, do not panic! It’s time to step back and see why we feel like that and what we were doing in past when we were all motivated with our businesses. As you all know at this point, I’m obsessed with analysing and planning everything. And yes, motivation is something that can also be planned. Let’s rediscover our motivation together!

• Why do you do what you want to do?

For me, this is the first step. Before setting up your own business or work on your first project, you must know why you do what you do.

Every business out there knows what they do. Some of them have even thought about how they do what they do. However, how many of you have ever thought about why you do what you do?

In my case, I know that I offer translation, interpreting and copywriting services. I do this by focusing on my clients needs and specialising in business, law, finance and marketing. However, why am I doing all this?

This is a question that I asked myself a few years ago when I was starting up. And I turn the answer to this question into my USP and got it published on my website not to forget what I am working for:

“I am aware of how languages can influence professional environments. Honing communication between two cultures has become crucial in today’s globalized world. And that is what I do by means of my translation and interpreting services. Small and medium enterprises and individuals can now spread their messages through cultural and linguistic barriers and make a big impact on an international scale.”

My passion was (and still is) helping businesses out there to expand in other marketplaces.

And you? Why do you do what you do? I’d love to read some of your answers to that question. Leave a comment below or drop me a line!

If you’re interested in this approach of doing business, I can’t recommend enough this video:

• Why do I need to find my passion in business?

When you are starting your own business, you must be aware that there are already business out there that are doing the same that you want to do and they are probably doing it better. However, both of you won’t probably share the same passion with each other. That’s something that makes you unique and stand out of the crowd.

1. To work with people that believe in what you believe.

A couple of years ago, I decided to stop bidding for translation/interpreting assignments (and I’m sure that all translators and interpreters that are reading this post know that it’s a very common way of doing business in the industry.)

Some people may think that I’m closing doors to new business opportunities and even losing money. However, people that post jobs for translators to bid on don’t share the same objectives than me in business.

They probably look for the cheapest translators out there. And fair enough if that’s what they want. However, all my clients care about quality for their businesses. They know that by hiring me, their assignments will be focus on the success of their businesses, because that’s my passion and they are well aware of that.

[Tweet “Work with people that believe in what you do.”]

2. To build a loyal community.

When a business is looking to hire a freelancer, they also look for people that share the same views than their businesses. When the vision of two businesses connect, you’ll be more likely to gain a loyal client that will rely on you for his assignments.

3. To split up your passion in small goals and elaborate an action plan.

Here comes my obsession for planning everything. When you’re sure about your passion in business, you know where you want to get. Now, we’ll have to analyse how we want to get there.

You can start asking yourself the following questions:

• Where do you see yourself in 6 months?
• Where do you see yourself in 1 year?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Each answer can be split up in monthly goals, and all these goals can be divided in weekly goals. Then your action plan will be ready to be implemented.

4. To be motivated.

Bear your passion always in mind. Every time that you think that you’re lost or you’re lacking this motivation, come back to your passion and evaluate what happened.

Maybe you should do some changed in your passion to redrive your business, or maybe you simply forgot why what you do makes you happy.

What about you? What’s your passion in business? How do you keep being motivated with your business? I’d love to hear about you. Leave a comment below!