The Motivation Seesaw

I think all business owners have experienced swings in their level of motivation, their level of interest, and their confidence in the success of their business. It's different for each person, based on their personalities and the nature of their particular business, but I think it comes as a surprise to many entrepreneurs when they find that their confidence, their purpose, their motivation and their interest in the business ebbs and flows, sometimes dramatically.

• Owners of one software business were just about ready to give up after four years invested in marketing their product. They decided to stick with it for another six months, and if things didn't improve, they would put the company in maintenance mode and go on to other ventures. The market cracked wide open (in a good way) after a few more months and they went on for five more years before selling to a larger firm for a tidy sum.
• Owners of another software business continually felt that they were on the verge of success, that the breakthrough sale was just around the corner. For several years, they kept on marketing, continued development, and maintained a high cash burn-rate, but despite their confidence, they ran out of money, shut the doors and layed off all staff.
• The owner of a successful construction company was surprised to find himself bored, despite the great success of his company. Even though business was better than plan, by far, he found that he had lost all interest in the company and decided to move onto something else.
• The owner of another successful construction company also found himself bored. Considering his options, he decided to just be bored for a while and see what developed. After about a year and a half of very low motivation and interest, his interest suddenly rekindled and he found renewed motivation for what he was doing.

Don't expect that your motivation will be constant. Don't expect that your interest and certainty about your venture will be steady and true. Everything varies, including you. If you expect it, you'll deal with it more effectively.