Relationship Marketing | Build Your Online Business

I was recently asked what methods  I used to keep myself motivated in my business.  It should have been an easy answer because even while working in the corporate world, I had a successful skin care business while working with a number of women to build their own business.  Later I had a Customer Service home-based business for two years where I had to schedule my own hours, and have now been working in my online business for over one year.  The answer did not come very easy though, because there were times I did not feel motivated and there were times when I wanted to give in and give up.

After thinking about it a while I realized that there has been a common thread through all my experiences: support from like-minded people.  When I did not feel like making those three customer calls per day, or leaving my home to do a Beauty Show or call my team members, all of which were important aspects of my direct sales business, I would call a peer who was managing her business successfully or my Sales Director, or even listen to a motivational tape or CD.  Those conversations served to energize me and help me get my thinking back on track.

Moving forward to my online business, there were times when it felt like I was moving further away from my goals rather than moving towards them especially since no one in my direct circle was involved in an online business.  However, relationships that were built during online classes allowed me to stay in contact with some Mentors and classmates as we have communicated with each other through Skype, e-mail and the telephone.

Interestingly, over the past month through the first 30-day challenge I've met and am coming to know some incredibly supportive  people, and this has continued through to the current 30-day June challenge and is expanding.

My recommendation as one way to keep yourself motivated is to find and connect with like-minded people.  These will sometimes be networking groups in your community, or if yours is an online business, in online groups as well.  People want to be able to relate to others and have a natural sense of wanting to be part of ‘something.'  When you find people that you share common interests and goals with, this can go a far way to help you keep yourself motivated in whatever you do.

How do you keep yourself motivated in your online business?

Today marks the end of week 1 of the 30-day blog challenge by Dr. Jeanette Cates although it's actually just 5 days since the challenge began.  It has been challenging for me to write everyday, not because I don't know what to write about, but because of the number of projects on and offline I'm involved in as well as other  activities unrelated to business.  This is nothing unique to me as I'm sure if we did a survey of most of the participants we'd find that very few people have a lot of  ‘spare' time.

The recommendation was made to write two or three posts each day and schedule them for different days and I believe that is an excellent suggestion.  Unfortunately I've only been able to write one each day.  My goal for next week is to select a day on which I will write at least three posts.  In this way if unforeseen circumstances arise I wont fall behind.

Here is a recap of the articles I wrote this week.  My objective for the 1st two weeks is to help persons who want to, or have recently started an online business to recognize that before they start to worry about the technology aspect of their online business, they need to get their mind and inner person ready in order to succeed.

Day 1:  Starting Your Internet Business – Knowing Your Why

Day 2:  Starting Your Online Business – What Is Your Purpose?

Day 3: What Motivates You?  Is Your Motivation From Within?

Day 4:  7 Questions to Self-Check Your Motivation In Your Business

Thanks to all who read and commented on my posts this week.