How to Stay Motivated Building a Business While Working Full-Time
- Akino Davis
- Mar 23
- 5 min read
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Welcome back to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter! Last week, we tackled one of the biggest hurdles aspiring entrepreneurs face; overcoming the fear of leaving your 9-to-5 job. We explored how strategic planning and mindset shifts can help reduce the anxiety of transitioning to entrepreneurship.
Today, continuing with the critical theme of mindset and confidence, we're addressing another common obstacle many professionals face on their entrepreneurial journey: staying motivated while building a business alongside your full-time job.
Do you ever feel like there's just not enough time or energy in your day to build your dream business?
You're not alone. One of the greatest fears professionals experience when starting a business while maintaining their day job is burning out or losing motivation entirely. The excitement of your business idea quickly meets the reality of juggling work responsibilities, family commitments, and your side hustle.
Suddenly, your dream of entrepreneurship feels exhausting rather than inspiring.
I’ve been there.
The Motivation Challenge: Why Side-Business Burnout Is Real
While still employed in a demanding senior operations management role while founding SME Digital, my coaching practice, every day felt like a test of endurance. Early mornings, long workdays, family time, and late nights became my new normal.
At first, excitement fueled me, but quickly, fatigue began to take over. There were nights I sat at my desk, completely drained, wondering: "Am I really cut out for this? Shouldn't this be easier if I'm truly passionate about it?"
The issue wasn’t my passion. It was my approach. Like many professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship, I underestimated how hard it would be to consistently stay motivated and energized while balancing many responsibilities.
If you’re feeling worn out and questioning your commitment, it's not because you lack passion or ability. It's simply because staying consistently motivated under these conditions is incredibly challenging.
Common Approaches that Don't Work
When faced with waning motivation, most aspiring entrepreneurs try popular methods that unfortunately rarely deliver lasting results:
"Hustle Harder" Approach: Many professionals assume working harder and longer is the solution. However, this approach typically leads to burnout, causing more harm than good.
Relying Solely on Motivation: You watch inspirational videos, read motivational quotes, or attend motivational seminars hoping the spark will last; but it quickly fades, leaving you back where you started.
Waiting for "Perfect Timing": You tell yourself you'll start again when work slows down, or when family life calms. But this perfect time never comes, making progress impossible.
These methods don't provide lasting motivation or sustainable energy because they either overlook your physical and emotional needs or depend too much on temporary external factors.
How to Maintain Motivation: A Sustainable Approach
Here’s the good news. You don't have to rely on sheer willpower or external motivation. Over my entrepreneurial journey from operations management professional to business coach and founder of SME Digital, I discovered practical, sustainable ways to stay energized and motivated while working a demanding full-time job.
Here’s exactly what worked for me and can work for you:
1. Remember Your "Why" Every Single Day
Your "why" is the deep, emotional reason you're building your business. When motivation wanes, reconnecting to this reason will give you instant clarity and renewed energy.
When I faced exhausting days and overwhelming workloads, I reminded myself of my “why”: the freedom to make an impact, spend more time with my family, and help other professionals find success. Writing this down visibly and reviewing it daily became a critical routine.
2. Schedule Non-Negotiable Time for Your Business
Instead of trying to "find" time for your business; just schedule it. Treat it with the same seriousness you treat important meetings at your job.
As I built SME Digital, I learned to block specific times each day, even just 30 minutes where possible, to focus solely on my business goals. Having these set times helped reduce overwhelm and create consistent momentum.
3. Focus on Small, Manageable Wins
Setting huge, ambitious goals while balancing full-time employment is intimidating and demotivating. Instead, break goals into small, manageable tasks.
When I started, instead of worrying about launching a perfect coaching program, I focused first on getting my first client, then my second, and then my third. Each small success boosted my confidence and motivation.
4. Prioritize Rest and Self-Care
This might sound counterintuitive, but rest is critical to maintaining consistent motivation. If you're burned out, your business suffers.
I learned this the hard way after experiencing total exhaustion. I shifted to prioritizing regular rest breaks, short walks, exercise, and meaningful time with family. My productivity and motivation dramatically improved.
5. Build a Support System of Like-Minded People
Entrepreneurship can feel lonely, especially if no one around you understands your journey. Finding or building a community of aspiring entrepreneurs provides emotional support, practical advice, and accountability.
Joining groups and connecting with mentors was transformative for me. The camaraderie and mutual encouragement helped keep my motivation strong, even on tough days.
6. Celebrate Your Progress
It’s very easy to focus on what's not working or what you haven't achieved yet. Instead, regularly celebrate your progress, no matter how small.
Acknowledging milestones and achievements, such as your first paying client, launching your website, or simply staying consistent for a week, helps reinforce positive feelings about your business journey.
I've written previously about overcoming fears and maintaining momentum, especially in my recent newsletter on overcoming the fear of leaving your 9-to-5, where similar principles apply.
Conclusion: Staying Motivated is a Practice
Staying motivated to build a business while working full-time isn’t a magical feeling. It’s a deliberate practice. By remembering your "why," scheduling your time, breaking goals into manageable steps, prioritizing rest, finding supportive peers, and celebrating your progress, you'll maintain motivation consistently.
Your dreams of entrepreneurship deserve your best energy and focus. Don’t rely solely on passion or sheer willpower, but adopt these sustainable habits instead.
If you found this article helpful, subscribe to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter at www.smedigital.biz/blog. Each week, I'll share practical insights and strategies to help you transition from being a high-performing professional to a successful entrepreneur confidently and sustainably.
Together, we’ll keep you motivated, confident, and moving forward on your entrepreneurial journey.
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