Having your own business is very exciting when you get started, but you may find that some of that excitement and enthusiasm can fade over time. When you are running your own home business, you are the person who is responsible for rekindling that enthusiasm. It is up to you to keep your home based business and motivation alive.

Motivation can be affected by events and actions that are within your control, and also by others that are outside your control. By doing your best to control those that you see as being within your control, you give yourself a strong advantage in managing your business. It is always a good idea to analyze those events that appear to be outside your control. You could be surprised at what influence you still have, with a little imagination, juggling, and help from others. These challenges are the times when you need to remember "why" you started your business in the first place. Overcoming these challenges can be very empowering and morale-boosting.

So How Can You Boost Your Home Based Business and Motivation?

Know ''why" you have your business – having very powerful reasons for starting your business give you a motivation to succeed. Reminding yourself "why" you started your business at a time of frustration or doubt can help you to get back on track when things get difficult.

Expect bad days and don't take them personally – if you start measuring the success of your business by how you feel, it will affect your business decisions and your attitude toward your business and your clients. Be sure you are having a balanced life, and remember to take breaks. A day away from your business can refresh you, and you will often find you come back remotivated and inspired.

Don't give yourself negative thinking time – Have a break, get some sleep, work out what is bothering you and find a solution. Generalized negativity and complaining can stop you from actively working on your business. I like to work out what I want to do the next day as I finish up for the day. In the morning, if I am not feeling motivated, it is easier to get started if I know what is scheduled, than if I have to sit down and start figuring out what I need to do.

Doing what you love – before you start your business, be clear about what you want to do, and make sure you love to do it. Confucius is quoted as saying "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life". It is much easier to be motivated to do what you love. If your business is not satisfying, or you would prefer to be doing something else, you will always struggle with your home based business and motivation.

Work on your personal development – developing the right mindset and challenging your limiting beliefs will improve your belief in yourself. If you are struggling with destructive attitudes, you can be subconsciously sabotaging your efforts and your motivation, without being aware of it.

Develop your skills – having the right skills for your business is a great motivator. If you are constantly wondering what you should be doing, or getting into difficulty because you are not sure what you should be doing, your confidence and motivation will decrease.

Problem solving – is a very important skill when building your own business. Break down problems until you work out what you need to change.Remember, you do not have to know all the answers, you just have to know where you can get the answer. Napoleon Hill tells the story of lawyers who wanted to prove that Henry Ford was an ignoramus. Henry Ford put them in their place by telling them that he had a number of aids who were available to answer any question he needed answered.

Get started, don't wait until you feel like it – as I suggested earlier, plan your day's work. Then do the work. Don't think about whether you feel like it. As you get started on a task, you will often find that your motivation and enthusiasm grows.

Have a break and recharge – it is very easy to spend so much time working that your life gets out of balance. If your brain has to do similar tasks over and over it becomes tired. Unless you have a deadline, schedule a variety of tasks. And when you have been overdoing it, take a few days off, go to the movies or meet some friends for drinks.

Get advice, have mentors and a coach – when you are building a home based business, both you, and your business are growing and changing. You will face challenges, discover you need to upskill, and possibly come to a fork in the road and need to reassess where you are going. Having people you can talk to and get advice or guidance can help you to avoid getting limited by your own viewpoint and knowledge base.

Take action – I have mentioned action a number of times, but it is important enough to need its own space. Feeling unmotivated can stop action, but taking action can encourage motivation. Action gets results, and results are motivating. If you are struggling with the progress of your business, take action and get advice. If you are tired, take action and have a break. Whatever is happening, take action.

By seeing a lack of motivation as a sign that you need to take action can give you some control back. And sometimes, the act of taking action can be all you need to become motivated. At other times, you will need to take a look at what is going on before deciding what action, and possibly long term changes, are necessary to improve your overall motivation.