One of the very first things you need to determine before starting any venture is... what is your why? Why do you want to start? Why now? Why not? Why? For some people its family. For others it's a specific person or a very specific reason or goal. Whatever your why, that's what you need to think of when you need a little encouragement to try something new or the motivation to when you're "too tired". When things get tough or you're starting to feel discouraged when success doesn't happen as quickly as you'd hoped, remember why you're doing what you're doing. This isn't just business, it's every day.
Why do I get up early and watch the sun come up with my cup of coffee every morning? So that I can have a few minutes of quiet time to gather my thoughts and admire the beauty of the sky before I start the chaos of the day.
Why do I shower in the middle of the day on my lunch break? Because I find it's a nice way to relax and recharge for the last stretch of my work shift. (The perks of working from home) Again, quiet alone time.
Why do I blog late night? I enjoy the stillness. It helps me to wind down and let my mind slow before bed. This is like a silent meditation for me. I start this process around dinner time. Sometimes it takes me hours to write just a few paragraphs for ya'll. Not because I don't know what to say, but because sometimes it takes me that long to edit everything to feel less scattered and to make sense.
In the warmer months, after the 9-5, I go out and work my 6-10. I set up The Lemon Jar and make lemonade and engage with my community. Now that the seasons are changing, I've started making candy in the evenings. And designing and developing a "clothing line" geared toward the cat rescue community to keep the profit sharing flowing since I'm not out working the stand. I've also got to make time to get out and help with the garden. It's cold crop season, after all, and with the addition of the greenhouse, we're hoping to eventually produce year-round.
The real point to all of this is MY why. Why do I do it? I do it because, I have a plan for the future and it's a plan that is greater than me. I (we) want to change the world. It may sound a little hokey to you, but what we're working toward makes perfect sense to us. I don't want to build "just a brand". I want to build a lifestyle. I want to build something so big, that when you see it, you feel it. You know who your tribe is. You see it and you feel at home. That's why I do it. All of it. The late nights and early mornings. The little things throughout the day. My (our) vision is clear and the end goal is the same. To build a life we don't need to vacation from. To build a community through movement that supports and encourages, that feels safe and adds value to the world.
Once you figure out your why, it will all fall into place. It will become such a natural thought to you, that you won't ever question it and you won't ever stop until you get it.