I have been accused of being a bit of a Pollyanna, the one with great faith in possibility … but not so much lately.
Recently, I found myself wanting to curl up in front of a good Netflix series or take long mid-day naps to ignore important activities and avoid decision making … a bit more like Debbie Downer.
And then, I started noticing a theme in conversations with people … an overall weariness and loss of passion for the business that typically fuels them – we were losing our mojo.
Losing your mojo – that belief in yourself and your company – can happen at any time to any business, especially in the middle of a grey winter when there is still a tone of uncertainty in the air.
If you feel as though you’ve lost your mojo lately and you want to get it back, try some of these tried-and-true methods to restore your energy and your belief in yourself and your business.
1. Set realistic boundaries: Set some boundaries for yourself and go the extra step of telling others what those boundaries are so they can help you honour them. Make working weekends the exception rather than the rule. You don’t want to become resentful about your business.
2. Get a business buddy: Accountability is motivating and helps brings focus. Schedule a regular 10-minute “stand-up” call every day OR a breakfast meeting weekly or bi-weekly Zoom cocktail. Here’s an article on Business Accountability Teams.
3. Remember your dream: Give yourself the gift of a decadent solo-lunch or a walk in the park and remind yourself why you started your business. Reflect on the vision you set for yourself and your business when you started. Is it still relevant? Do parts of that vision need to be tweaked. Acknowledge yourself for your accomplishments to date. Re-align yourself with your purpose and re-set your focus.
4. Set yourself some small wins: Break your goals into smaller more manageable pieces. Several years ago, researchers worked with children ages 7 to 10. Half the kids were told to set a goal of completing six pages of math problems per session over 7 sessions, while the other half were told to set a goal of completing 42 pages of math problems over seven sessions. Those who had smaller sub-goals completed their work faster and more accurately than those who were given one large goal. Try it! See if it works for you.
5. Walk and talk: Making major decisions by yourself every day can be a daunting task. Do you have someone you trust who you can go for a walk-and-talk with? Someone who will simply listen with compassion and let you talk it through? There is something meditative and rewarding about walking it out. When you are walking there is a sense of going forward. The combination of walking and talking is powerful.
6. Enjoy your victories: Treat yourself as you would a friend or a client. Compliment yourself and tell yourself how good you are. Write down 5 things you are proud of every day. I have a “brag book” and any time I receive a complimentary e-mail or thank you card, I put it into my brag book. Whenever I am lacking confidence or questioning what I am doing, I peruse that book to lift my spirits. It works every time.
7. STOP 🛑: STOP comparing yourself to others. STOP trying to get it right all the time, just do it. STOP worrying about the past – concentrate on the present moment.
What do you do when your mojo is a no-go?
Please share your “bounce back” techniques. We’d love to know what works for you.
