| Working online, how often have you found yourself | | | | For example, it can be a strain on your personal |
| validating the demands of your other responsibilities | | | | schedule having to put in time everyday for your online |
| such as family, friends and work that compete for | | | | endeavours, such as writing new content, building your |
| your time and attention? Or thinking "If only I made as | | | | social network, and keeping abreast of current affairs |
| much time and money as he did, I would be able to | | | | within your niche. In fact, I know many people who |
| continue with this and my life would be much better"? | | | | spend more time working online than if they had a 9 to |
| Especially when the stress and pressure of your online | | | | 5 job. But they overcome the demanding schedule by |
| business start weighing heavy on your mind, and you | | | | viewing writing content as sharing, building networks as |
| start looking for excuses to quit or blame on for your | | | | meeting new friends or 'catching up' with old ones, and |
| lack of results? | | | | staying updated as finding out new juicy gossip fodder. |
| It is oft-said that if you strive for something out of | | | | Sometimes the pain can be so bad, it actually feels |
| passion and love, you will achieve momentous results | | | | good. |
| eventually. You will also fall by the wayside when you | | | | 3. No Pain, No Gain |
| encounter obstacles, if you work primarily for the | | | | Find joy in the process. But there will also be times |
| money and profit. However, there is no doubting that | | | | when even that would be hard to do. When that |
| there are just as many who really love what they do, | | | | happens, you just have to 'tough it out'. |
| but if the monetary gains are not showing, it could be | | | | Alex Ferguson, the notorious manager of Manchester |
| extremely discouraging and persistence can be hard | | | | United, would often subject his players to the toughest |
| to come by when the chips are down. | | | | training and mental treatment in order to find out more |
| So how can you overcome the little voices in your | | | | of their character. The ones who prospered under his |
| head that scheme to bring a halt to your efforts? It is | | | | notorious hairspray verbal volleys would often be the |
| very much having the mental strength and practising | | | | players who outlasted it and plain 'stuck it through' |
| little techniques to mold such a mindset. By doing so, | | | | during the difficult times. Back in the days when I |
| you can cultivate the persistance and belief required to | | | | desired to get into my college soccer team, I hated the |
| bring you over the little bumps, providing a consistent | | | | torturous trainings under a burning afternoon sun. But I |
| impetus for you to soldier on. | | | | put my foot down and with a little youthful obstinance |
| 1. Remember that you have a choice, made the | | | | and endurance, went through the punishing physical |
| choice, and really have control | | | | workouts to achieve my goal. |
| Too many people blame their everyday predicaments | | | | 4. Self-discipline |
| on everything except themselves. What they do not | | | | You are what you eat. You also become what you |
| realise is that they have been given choices, and | | | | think and do. |
| decided on the paths to embark on. If you can come | | | | Instead of finding excuses to discredit what you are |
| to terms with that, then you will also understand that | | | | trying to achieve, why not use the mental energy to |
| you have just as much control to improve on or | | | | instill more self discipline? Keep to your schedule, put |
| change these situations, as well as any problems that | | | | more thought and effort into your time and task |
| they pose. | | | | management, and train your mind and body to meet |
| The decision to work online is yours, and be aware | | | | these targets. When you constantly challenge yourself |
| that it entails hard work. If the effort pushes you near | | | | rather than allowing your mind to wander into the |
| the edge, remember why you did it in the first place. | | | | negative realm of a defeatist attitude, it keeps you on |
| The reasons might be good enough for you to | | | | your toes. The additional demands would shape you |
| persevere. | | | | up, gearing yourself for future success. |
| 2. Enjoy the process, no matter how painful it can get | | | | If you love what you do, you have to find ways to |
| Nobody ever said becoming good at something would | | | | build that love through difficult times. Most relationships |
| be easy. It requires concentrated and sustained effort, | | | | are never always smooth, and these 4 mindsets can |
| and this often presents a strain on many people's | | | | help you make it through those stormy periods when |
| mental, physical and tangible resources. Just as well | | | | you just feel like giving it all up. Use them to manage |
| Donald Trump said "If it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing." | | | | the pressure and demands that you will encounter |
| Use that to your advantage - find joy in the process, | | | | during your online journey and allow your love to shine |
| what you are doing each day to attain that goal of | | | | through in the end, conquering all! |
| yours. | | | | |