This post is one in a series of tips designed to help small business owners better-navigate the challenges of today’s startup environment and is sponsored by Canon MAXIFY – the printer lineup crafted to help small business owners increase productivity so that they can focus on everything else that matters.
A recent article in the Journal of Personality featured a 2013 study on self-control conducted by Wilhelm Hoffman. The research found that those with better self-control are happier than other people because they are able to more effectively avoid conflict and promote balance in their lives. Instead of allowing their choices to be clouded by immediate wants, they make rational decisions that lead to less stress later on.
While self-control isn’t quite the same as self-discipline, it is closely related. Self-discipline is, in a sense, the ability to leverage self-control in the achievement of a particular goal. High self-discipline is essential for entrepreneurs because there is no one looking over their shoulders insisting they buckle down and invest enormous time, energy, focus, and resources in their businesses. Because no one cares about the start-up business as much as the founder, the entrepreneur must be able to draw on an inner drive to make things happen.
Fortunately, although traits like conscientiousness tend to be innate, self-discipline is a skill that can be learned with practice and constant reinforcement. Here are some tips:
Don’t start until you’re ready
Like any major life pursuit, starting a business should be done carefully and thoughtfully. The more you plan, the easier it will be to execute a seamless launch without faltering. While there is no perfect time and things will never be 100 percent right, you can at least stack the odds in your favor. You’d be surprised how much an early success can boost your confidence and motivation.
Steel yourself against unanticipated snafus
Something in the creation of your business is bound to go awry – that’s inevitable. Getting used to this idea will prepare you to cope better when that something occurs, and will help you to avoid taking the easy way out and giving up.
Constantly remind yourself of the big picture
Running a business is filled with all sorts of tasks, only some of which are related to the passion that fueled you to start it in the first place. Your self-discipline will be enhanced if you are able to think about why you are doing all this and the rewards you are likely to receive as a result.
Avoid negative people
You are bound to encounter naysayers who never tire of telling you that starting a business was/is a bad idea and that you should go back to working the job you hated. If possible, try to avoid spending time with these people. Negativity is contagious and should not be allowed to tamper with your resolve.
Get rid of temptation
I have poor self-discipline when it comes to eating, so I make sure I do not have sweets in my house. Similarly, be aware of the things that cause you to procrastinate or shirk responsibilities related to your business. If social media or web surfing are vices for you, there are numerous apps that can block certain sites while you’re working. If the temptation isn’t available, you can’t succumb to it.
Change your habits
If you are accustomed to doing only what you want when you want to do it, then starting a business is going to be an uphill battle. In your quest for more self-discipline, change everyday behaviors gradually. For example, you might set your alarm an hour earlier so that you can work out first thing in the morning. The new behaviors are likely to feel awkward and uncomfortable, but soon they too will become ingrained habits. Self-discipline begets more self-discipline.
Reward yourself for acts of self-discipline
Self-discipline is not an easy trait to cultivate, especially if you’ve gone many years without it. Make sure that you do something nice for yourself, such as taking a break to play a game or buying something special, every time you accomplish a task that requires self-discipline. Recognize yourself for doing the best you can to become a more effective business owner!
Please check out the first post in this series on business acumen, and stay tuned for the rest, which will include advice on enhancing your reliability and productivity.
Canon will be spotlighting several small business owners on its social media channels throughout the next several months, so be sure to leave a comment and share your thoughts on this post using the hashtag #MAXIFY in order to qualify. If you are a U.S.-based small business owner (1-9 employees) and have faced a unique business challenge in your first year on the job, let us know! We’d love to hear what line of work your small business falls within and what you feel is the most important takeaway from this post.
We’ll also be rewarding select small business owners with a prize pack including the Canon MAXIFY MB5320 printer as well as other essentials to help you run your business more efficiently. So don’t forget to leave a link to your website or social media pages that way we can see how well you’re marketing your business and get in touch!
Great article and so relevant as my entrepreneurial venture launches in 6 weeks. I am opening a spin studio in my town and self-discipline has been essential. Success hinges on a number of factors, but my resources are finite. So I identify what I believe is the strongest overall driver for long-term success, and I focus my use of time and money to things that advance that goal.
Ultimately, to succeed I must fill saddles, just as a theater company must fill seats. Every morning, as I schedule my time and budget my expenditures, I continuously ask myself "does this (activity/ expense) help fill saddles?" This makes decision making easier for the dozens of choices I am faced with each week.
Two of the most important factors for filling saddles are location and quality of instructors/ride. Many secondary factors contribute, such as marketing, studio design, pricing model and choice of equipment.
Thus, two hours a day are devoted to training on my bike. I invested in a master training program to ensure instructors have a solid skills and the riders' experience is terrific, but I had to pass on pricier interior design elements, like a fancy countertop for my reception desk. The former fills saddles, the latter ... less so.
There are a lot of distractions and temptation out there. I hone my self-discipline by asking myself that simple question each day -- will this truly get the seats filled? Then I stick to the things that really make a difference.
Posted by: Kristen Grossman | November 15, 2014 at 12:28 PM
Kristen, these are all great ideas. I especially admire how you are becoming an expert in your "product." This is sure to set your business apart.
Posted by: Alexandra Levit | December 10, 2014 at 04:09 PM