Success is a path not void of hurdles or depressions. Though success in itself is irreconcilable by the measures different people employ, any truly admissible action to culminate in what any one of us may call ‘success’ is one that was intentional. And when one embarks on a task with intent, it is only difficulty that remains inevitable.

Personal experience has wrought firm this notion that setbacks simply happen. Whether cognitively distinguishable or emotionally induced is immaterial, yet so often we treat the former as a challenge, and the latter as an irresolvable, blameless state of affairs. For clarity’s sake, a ‘cognitively distinguishable’ setback may for example evolve from the fall-through of a major business deal. The setback often leaves us angered or frustrated, stressed. But the following day we get up, we make our coffee, we drive to work and we rationally and pointedly solve the problem… We take the setback on as a challenge, and we do what needs to be done.

The latter is a phenomenon sometimes justifiable by way of explanation, and other times just not. Sometimes as entrepreneurs, we face inexplicable emotional slumps, and they linger to the point where much of our hard work is lost to time. Then comes a discernible moment which lifts the mood and redirects our energy. This is what Steven Covey, in his best-selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” terms a dose of motivation.

Recognising the existence of motivational material, circumstances or presences is a starting point. Whatever it is that draws one’s energies toward a more noble intention than flipping television channels is their means of motivation (see ‘drug of choice’). What follows is acceptance that setbacks happen- as above, sometimes cognitively distinguishable and others emotionally induced. Why this happens is of no consequence, so long as it is recognised and addressed. Then the link…

Literature to date rings unanimously on the optimal course of retracking- exploit motivational resources, whatever may work for you. The consensus is that slumps are rectified by motivation, and of course this is both logically and intuitively correct. Better yet, though to my knowledge unpublished/uninvestigated, is that sufficient quantity coupled with appropriate form or variety may in near-totality render ‘slumps’ non-existent. It is my belief, through research insofar as experience, that disciplined habit involving regular doses of inspiration can eliminate detrimental setback symptoms, and help further business and life objectives in generous measures. Attempts to discredit this always seem to in fact prove the fact- deviation from a daily motivational dose routine concludes itself in inevitable slumps.

Bottom line? Take your daily dose of motivation and avoid objective-threatening setback symptoms.