For Subscribers

A Labor of Love Have you lost that lovin' feeling for your business? Learn how to get the spark back.

By Romanus Wolter

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As your business develops from an idea to your hundredth sale,it's natural for your initial enthusiasm to fade. As you movefrom dreamer to worker, reality hits, and you stop looking at yourbusiness with the same enthusiastic eyes. This doesn't meanyour passion is fading-it simply means you've forgotten how tokeep the energy flowing.

Business life can easily become about the repetitive routine ofmaintaining and growing your business. Here's how to keep joyconnected to your day-to-day activities-and renew your passion.

1. Remind yourself why you started your business.Separate your emotions from the routine baggage that comes withevery new business. Take time to reflect on all the reasons youstarted your business-the passion that sparked its creation. Didyou see a demand that had not been met? Did you decide to explore anew aspect of your personality? Write the reasons down; put them inyour desk drawer, or make a sign for your wall. Look at themregularly as a reminder to keep your passion flowing.

2. List how your business affects more than just you. Byconnecting to a larger purpose, you create energy. Your workaffects people's lives more than you ever realize. Simply listthe ways you help people live better, and discover a new, powerfulperspective. When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he notonly created a way to light up homes, but also lowered the crimerate, helped factories stay open longer hours, and enabled childrento play safely at night. Take a moment each morning to add a newbenefit to your list.

3. Search for bigger adventures without expectingresults. Let the excitement of discovery enter into yourbusiness activities by investigating the unseen opportunities thatsurround you. Weekly, hold a brainstorming session with a trustedcolleague to discuss some exciting directions your business cantake. Choose one activity to start, and create a list of simpleaction steps to follow. Fill yourself with the excitement ofcreation by staying detached from any expected results. Ifsomething works out, celebrate!

4. Show outward fondness for your business. Always speakpositively about your goals-your energy flows through your words toothers and is reflected back to you. Give yourself permission tocreatively express your passion, just as you did when you startedyour business. This could include sharing your weeklyaccomplishments with a trusted friend or teaching a class on yourarea of expertise at a local college. You have a lot of knowledge,so share it.

Take time to nurture your relationship with your business. Thesmall, day-to-day gestures that connect you to the core of yourbusiness have the greatest impact on your energy level. Smile everytime you say your business's name, and continually invite newpossibilities.

Editor's note: Looking for our "Countdown toStartup" series? We've compiled it into one easy-to-usefeature. Click hereto read it.


Speaker and consultant Romanus Wolter, aka "The Kick StartGuy," is author of Kick Start Your Dream Business.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

I Took My Side Hustle Full-Time and Made $222,000 Last Year. Here's How — and Why Sometimes I Work Just 10 Hours a Week.

Carter Osborne launched his side business in 2017 to help with his tuition payments for graduate school.

Science & Technology

5 AI Tools Doing Overtime So You Can Run a Profitable Solo Business (Without Losing Your Mind)

Most entrepreneurs are using AI to save time — but that's not where the real leverage is.

Business News

The CEO of the World's Most Valuable Company Says This Would Be His College Major in 2025

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang graduated with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1984, but he would change that major if he were in college today.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

President Donald Trump Signs the GENIUS Act to Make the U.S. the 'Crypto Capital of the World'

The landmark cryptocurrency legislation was signed into law by President Trump on Friday.