All small businesses have goals that are to be achieved in a limited amount of time. Owners monitor these goals systematically to maintain the business strength. They work hard to have their small close knit team motivated and to keep marching towards achieving results. However, at times in the journey, it is normal for business owners to lose interest and enthusiasm.



More so, it occurs when things are not favorable and the results are falling short. It is that point where business owners are required to put forth more efforts. But alas, the motivation and the interest is at its low ebb when one needs it the most.

Consultants being external resource to the organization, can be of immense help in such situations. A success story is in making if the business owner and the consultant try hand in hand to reverse this trend.







Endurance vs Motivation!



People believe that only those who stay motivated and energetic throughout the course of action are able to accomplish their goals. Many a times, owners lose confidence thinking that successful business leaders have some sort of unstoppable passion in them that they seem to be lacking. But the reality is somewhat different.



Be it business, sport or any other profession, there comes a phase when things are moving slow and confidence seems to have disappeared. It is during this period when business owners and managers lose motivation and give up on their goals. Having worked with a number of people across multiple organizations, consultants are well aware that it is just a temporary phase.



Consultants can help business owners to adopt a realistic outlook in such situations to stay grounded and remained focused on their objectives. All successful business owners go through ups and downs but what sets them apart from the rest is their endurance during the times of turmoil.



Like every other individual, successful business owners too feel the same level of boredom and lack of interest during these lows. But their persistence and sticking to the schedule help them achieve what they set out to achieve. They have their emotions quarantined and not let them affect their performance.







Working when Boredom Takes Over



What separates top achievers from those who fail is the aptitude to trek along when the terrain is really difficult and progress is slow. I came across a research report, which suggested that 3 out of 5 people will stop working when bored. When business owners have a sluggish attitude towards work, it is likely to have an adverse affect on their staff and organization as a whole.



Anyone can perform and work passionately when he is motivated. But when results are not favorable, it is normal to lose interest and give up hope. The role of Consultant comes into play when he coaches the business leaders and managers on maintaining their work enthusiasm. An expert consultant helps business owners learn to cope with these ever occurring transitory phases that disrupt flow of operations and slow down the progress.

He guides the business owners and their workforce to keep pushing themselves even in the state of boredom, when their own mind refuses to think actively. All success stories of accomplished business owners speak about not giving up on their dreams, despite losing confidence. The setbacks that they faced did not dissuade them from pursuing their goals. All of them had one thing in common; they seem to have trusted the golden rule: “this too shall pass”.





“A Good Traveler is not intent on Arriving”

The above famous quote by Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu is true in all aspects. Life is about a journey and not the destination. May be, we are too often busy looking for reaching the goals that we miss all invaluable lessons that the journey has to offer us. Everyone thinks of success as a destination that can be attained and completed.



Considering above, in case of business owners it's all about dedicating oneself to the journey (the process of work) and not the destination (results). Once business owner starts to fall in love with the journey, the results will automatically take care of themselves.



Here, a Consultant's job is not only to help business owners change their work process but also change the way they look at it. He should cite examples of successful and influential business leaders who are consistently achieving their goals. Neither the results nor their achievements make them different, it's their attitude and commitment to work which determines success more than skills.



All successful people religiously follow their schedule, not because they have to but because they live each moment of their journey.





On the whole, it comes down to keeping alive the devotion in oneself, despite countless obstacles and lack of interest & enthusiasm. Using their experience, consultants can act as a helping hand in these situations. They can guide business owners and their staff to acclimate themselves with adverse conditions that are likely to arise at a certain stage in each project.





About the Author



Anand (@ananddamanica) is a Serial Entrepreneur and Startup Advisor with over 20 years of experience in the Manufacturing Sector, International Trade, Custom software, Web & Mobile App. Development. He has provided IT integration guidance to over 200 SME & Startup Clients across the globe. A Chartered Accountant by education and an Entrepreneur at heart, Anand has a knack for simplifying 'complex' problems. He shares his expertise in business and management, and also writes about his passion– Yoga, in his blog: www.ananddamani.com/blog



He believes Yoga is not just exercise for mind & body but a Philosophy, that should be applied in life as well. You can reach him at: anand@ananddamani.com.