Working on your side project or business idea takes a lot of motivation. Deep down you know you should be working.
But it’s tough. Tough to get started. Tough to avoid distractions. Even tougher when you’ve just put in a full day at your 9 to 5.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’m in the same boat too.
In January this year I started the web app challenge. My goal was to build software for the property management industry. Initially I worked extremely hard. I knew I needed to make a dent into my new product before I began to second guess myself.
Every time I came up against a difficult problem I would get a bit disheartened. I didn’t want to start work when I got home.
I was tired.
Eventually I’d set aside a weekend and put in the hours to solve my problem. Most of the time the solution was simpler than I thought it would be. So I began to ask myself “Why am I finding it so difficult to sit down and work on something I actually want to work on?
At my job I’d be reminded about how much I really wanted to work for myself. And how much I want to build a business that allowed me freedom. Freedom to travel.
Then it hit me. I kept losing sight of that goal.
My goal is to quit my job within two years and have a business that meets my financial needs. Every day that I don’t work on my goals is a day longer I stay employed.
That’s an empowering thought for me.
Now, my aim is to spend at least one hour each day working towards my goal. This small shift alone has increased my productivity.
I keep a score. 730 (365 days x 2). Each day I don’t work at least an hour on my new business, I add one to the score.
Each day I do work at least an hour, I minus one from the score. Hopefully, by the end of two years I will have spent roughly 730 hours or more on my own business.
That’s about 20 full time working weeks! Time that could be easily wasted watching the latest TV shows in the evening.
So here’s my challenge to myself and to you. What can YOU build with 20 full time working weeks?