One of the greatest challenges that entrepreneurs face is to get back in the groove, after a long break. I call it the ‘derailed’ disease. It’s similar to an employee feeling the Monday blues. I am a frequent victim of this disease. Earlier in my life this was the reason for me to quit many projects halfway through. I just didn’t know how to get back on track. I used to justify that this is God’s will and I can’t change it. The problem was that I was using Logic to fight it, which I found out to be the wrong thing to lead with.

This is something, which I experienced very recently. After a 21-day break in Canada, I came back to Dubai all excited to go full-steam with my home business. What I didn’t know was that I brought along the ‘derailed’ disease with me too. Everyday I used to use logic and justify that I am tired and need some time to get back. Soon 1 day turned into 2 and then into 7. And the strange thing is that I was not feeling guilty about it too. But when the leads started reducing and sleeping time started increasing, I was jolted out of my stupor. But fortunately, I knew a method or technique to get rid of the ‘derailed’ disease, which I immediately put into use.

It’s a simple technique, which stems from the fact that ‘Logic doesn’t change Emotion, Action does!’ .The technique that I am referring to is called the ‘notepad’ technique. It’s nothing but writing down your to-do list on a notepad and holding yourself accountable to it. Simple and Effective! You have to understand that man is lazy by nature. It will rest and rest and rest till somebody kicks it in the butt to get moving. An employee feels the same way but because the boss is breathing down their neck, they get moving on a Monday. Because the consequence is not desirable they force themselves to take action on what’s necessary. Unfortunately, if you are an entrepreneur you don’t have anybody but yourself to breathe down your neck. That is why you need to write the things-to-do on a notepad and keep it in front where you can see it everyday. This notepad becomes your boss.

Man’s feelings or emotions are the cause for taking action. However, more importantly, Actions are the cause of Emotions too. To beat the ‘derailed’ disease, you need to force yourself (remember, man is lazy by nature) to take action, which in turn will change your emotions, which in turn will get you to take more action. It’s similar to an automobile engine using the starter motor to crank the engine. Once the engine starts the cranking continues on it’s own.

From now on, if you find yourself caught by the ‘derailed’ disease, get that notepad out and write on it the things-to-do and just start doing it regardless. You have to crank the motor first!

Take care and God Bless.