How to stay motivated in business

He went through a management buyout at 28, sold an 80 strong accountancy firm to one of the top 6, has been a NED for dozens of successful businesses and so much more than that so we thought we’d ask Ross Wilson, what has kept him motivated. Here’s what we learned:

ATTITUDE
I am a ‘morning person’ and that probably helps get me going really early on. Gym in the morning kind of gets the adrenalin going. Mind you I am a pain in the butt to those who aren’t! Just ask my missus.

Every day is another chapter in our incredible life whatever may unfold. You need to believe that.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO
Find stuff you love to do, stuff you are good at and stuff someone will pay you to do. It took me a few years into my 20s but I got there with help from others. It kind of meant that from that date I no longer saw work as work !

Don’t become bored regardless of how successful you may feel you are. Boredom will only take you one way – downwards. If you do get bored, you need to take action!

LEARN FROM OTHERS – CONSTANTLY !
Keep learning from those around you. Children and grandchildren teach us if we let them.

Find a Mentor – mine is the one person I know I can trust to say it as she sees it – my missus. Sometimes “I can’t handle the truth” as Jack Nicholson said in A Few Good Men! An external mentor is also recommended.

Be prepared to mentor others – it can be very rewarding not to mention illuminating for the Mentor.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF
Embrace change, don’t fear it! If you are unhappy with your life it is our responsibility to change it!

Have interests outside business – doing things for others can create very powerful emotions.

Stay healthy, mentally and physically – luck and genes do play a part!

Challenge yourself constantly to be the best you can be.

Be prepared to say “no” you’ll not please everyone all the time.

Review and update your CV every year even if you intend to always be your own boss, it will keep you focussed on keeping up to date.

TRY TO BE A ‘PEOPLE’ PERSON – LIFE IS ONLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE!
Focus on relationship building and look to bring fun to other people’s lives.

Speak to people, be interested in them and ask questions. You’ll be amazed at how this enriches your own life.

LIFE IS LIKE A GOOD BOOK WITH A BEGINNING AND MIDDLE AND AN END
Look forward to every part of it.

Don’t ever use the word retirement! It’s just another chapter in your life and needs careful planning and thought.

Surround yourself with people you like and who inspire you. ”I hate those negative vibes” – another great one liner from a great film – Kelly’s Heroes.

The past is full of your great memories, the present is living your ambitions, the future should be exciting !

Recognise that you will have many great acquaintances but probably very few real friends who are often born out of challenging times of which I have had quite a few especially in my early years.

BE LUCKY
We all need a bit of luck along the way ….! Mind you some would say “you should look to create your own luck”.