Dear Success Seeker,

When I meet self-employed entrepreneurs I usually ask them how things are going with their business. Some of them light up enthusiastically. They use words like "in the flow" and "rocking" to describe what is happening. What they are really saying is that their businesses have momentum.

Other people cringe at my question. Their body language alone is enough to tell me that they are struggling. They talk about how difficult things are and how the market has changed. They are bogged down and completely lack momentum.

Momentum is a crucial element of success, so how do you increase it? Below is a list of the biggest momentum killers I have observed in my coaching with over 5000 self-employed business owners.

1) Procrastination or lack of action: Putting things off is one of the surest ways to bring your productivity to a grinding halt. In most cases the things you are avoiding are the very things that will accelerate your results the most. Solution: If you wish to build momentum you must consistently take action, especially in situations where you experience resistance. Make a list of things you are avoiding or putting off then face them head on!

2) Saying 'yes' to everything: Trying to do too much will bog you down just as much as procrastinating. You may be busy all the time, however you'll be scrambling and stretched too thin. In the long run you are likely to fail in all areas and burn yourself out in the process. Solution: The key to success is not getting a lot done; it is getting the right things done. You need to prioritize and then take action on your high payoff activities. Most importantly, you must learn to say 'no' more often! Focus only on those activities that will advance you towards your goals. Everything else is a distraction.

3) Staying in your comfort zone: Another thing that will keep you spinning your wheels and going nowhere is playing it safe. You probably know that in order to accelerate your results you need to stretch outside your comfort zone. So why don't you do it? The answer is that doing new and unfamiliar things is uncomfortable! Solution: I coach a number of financial advisors. In the financial industry there is a quote that hits the nail on the head. "The only difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that those who succeed are willing to do the things that those who fail are not willing to do." Success is absolutely available to you. But in order to achieve it you MUST repeatedly step outside your comfort zone and do the things that others won't do.

4) Incompletion, mess and clutter: Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to be productive when you are surrounded by clutter and have a long list of unfinished projects weighing you down? Every single unfinished task in your life drains your energy. The more clutter and mess you have around you, the less momentum you will have. Solution: The good news is that every project you finish and every piece of clutter you put away or throw out gives you an energy boost. Try it right now. Look around and identify something small that needs to be done, put away or cleaned up. Handle it and notice what happens. Your energy increases immediately. So make a list of incompletions in your life and get to work on them.

5) Indecision: Have you ever seen someone who was unable to make a choice or decision? What happens to their forward progress? It stops dead in its tracks, right? Indecision is guaranteed to kill your momentum every time! Solution: Successful people make quick decisions. Making a mistake is rarely fatal. In most cases it serves as a learning opportunity that makes you stronger. This week challenge yourself to finalize some decisions that you've been putting off and watch your momentum increase.

6) Lack of a plan: You've heard the saying, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." This is certainly true when it comes to generating momentum. Every step you take that moves you forward increases your momentum. But without a clear plan you will almost certainly waste a lot of time and energy doing the wrong things. Solution: There are two primary reasons why a plan is so valuable. The first is that it provides perspective so you know what needs to be done and can prioritize effectively. The second benefit is that a plan breaks your long term objectives into small steps you can take action immediately. "Increase sales by 20%" is not an action, it is a goal. "Make a list of 20 people likely to do business with me and call 5 of them this week" is an action that will advance you directly towards you goal.

No matter how much momentum you have now, chances are you want more. So review this list and identify what is killing your momentum. Work to overcome these momentum killers and watch your success accelerate in 2014!

Your Coach,

Andrew Barber-Starkey, Master Certified Coach
Founder and President, ProCoach Success System