Getting "your" business in order

If you are having trouble getting motivated on your projects today, and some days it can feel like nothing we say or do for ourselves will snap us out of whatever "downward" spiral we are in, you need to take a step backwards and consider doing something for someone else instead.

Ah, easier said than done, Elle. If I can't be bothered to do my own stuff how on earth am I going to be bothered to do something for someone else?

Well, unless you are self employed, a student, or retired, then chances are going to be good that you are going to be working for someone else. Consider that if you put your own emotions to one side for one minute and consider that you are being paid to do a job, and if you do a "good" job you will help a lot of other people. Then you will begin to see what I mean. Imagine that you are being paid for the amount of effort you are putting in (as the old factory workers were paid by the item they produced) how much would you have really earned today? Now, consider that - whilst this is a paper exercise at the moment, if you double your productivity and therefore your output, you have the potential of doubling your income....yes. Still with me on this one? Well sooner or later the people with the money (HR, the bosses) will see that you have gone over and above your duties and when there are payrises and bonuses to be had, guess who's going to be on the receiving end? Yep, those people who did the most, those people who made the most effort and most contribution to the company as a whole.

Now, consider that you are in the business of "you, inc." as in, everything that you do, say and achieve is part of the business of "you" surely it would make good sense to think of the time you invest in yourself, your education, your skills, your abilities to be the foundation stones for your future growth and income. And if that is the case, then what are you doing just sitting there? Or are you content to let your business slide into the red because of your inaction?