Working as a solo entrepreneur can be an effective and profitable way to make a living. However, it can also be a lonely life.  After all, there’s no one else to motivate you. You’re on your own.

Even though money can be a motivator, it’s surprising how easy it can be to slack off. That’s (obviously) not good for business.

So here are some ways to make sure you’re on track all the time.

#1 Set a Daily Income Goal

Take a look at how much you made last year and create an annual goal for this year’s income. Then divide it by 365 days. That’s how much you want to earn daily. Print this number out in a large font and hang it over your desk.

#2 Track the Money

Hang a dry erase board on your office wall. After you complete a project, write down the amount of money you’ve earned on the board. Track it for the month and keep a running tally. If you’re money motivated, watching that number grow will help you stay busy.

#3 Take a Day Off

This may sound contradictory; however, one habit that many solo professionals have is to work seven days a week. This leads to burnout and work apathy. Take a full day off each week to recharge yourself. Better yet, take off at least two days a week. Don’t think about work. Don’t check email. Just enjoy the day.

#4 Build Your Business

If you’re doing the same thing day in and day out, it’s easy to lose joy and motivation. Spend time each month planning how to grow your business. What is working for you? What isn’t working? How can you attract more of your ideal customers? What new service can you provide that offers value to your customers and excitement or interest to you?

#5 Create New Habits

One of the reasons motivation can falter is if you’re in a rut. For example, you get up every morning, drink your cup of coffee and check your email. You then get right to work. Why not change your morning habit? Before you check your email and get to work, do something creative or physically active. Changing your habits and routine can add life back into your day. Freelancers are often creative people and a rut can drown your creativity and motivation.

You’re in control of your life and your income. If it’s not working for you and you’re feeling unmotivated, you have the power and the wherewithal to make a change. Find your motivation and enjoy the solo entrepreneur lifestyle once again.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Business Building, Mindset and Personal Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.