Today on theFiver, we’re pleased to present this Top 5 guest post by entrepreneur Nicole Ouellette, who helped to conceptualize this blog. Read about this cyber siren’s exploits in Mainebiz.
After a year and a half of building my very own online empire, I have recently become a small business owner full-time. I was pretty pumped about it, you know, until several weeks in. Here are a few of the reasons me working from my home is a little less than motivating:
1) My bed is four paces from my desk – three, if I take big steps. The temptation to sleep in, nap, or otherwise retreat to my fluffy dark little paradise just feet away can be a little tempting on those stressful days.
2) I’ve spent valuable (and non-billable!) time learning such valuable lessons as A) don’t use your daytime cell phone minutes giving an hour of free advice and B) make everyone sign a contract. Yes the small business ownership learning curve is steep and you can avoid a lot of mistakes by simply thinking and talking to others who have gone before you, but sometimes you have to make your own.
3) The economy is scaring the crud out of some people, making them not want to spend “extra money” on Internet marketing. Of course, I have plenty of arguments to counteract this but I’m sure everyone selling something nowadays is also working really hard at a compelling pitch.
4) Staying in the same 220 square feet all day with no coworkers can be boring. When my friends come home from work, I’m like a little puppy who has been left alone all day, quite lively and full of energy. Thank God for the occasional Facebook release where I can write a witty status update or have a quick chat with a friend.
Temptation. Discouragement. Boredom. It happens.
I assure you that while there are some pitfalls to working your own business, I wouldn’t be doing it if it were terrible. But it has become clear to me that there are times when a good psych-up song is in order. Here are my top five songs to get me out of bed and keep me working during the day when that is the absolute last thing I want to do.
Top Five Songs To Get Yourself Pumped Up To Kick Butt and Take Names
1. “Maneater,” Nelly Furtato
As a young woman, I have encountered (and will likely continue to encounter) both ageism and sexism. Nelly Furtato is butt kicking, and this song puts a smirk on my face and helps me type (and sometimes run) fast.
2. “I Gotta Get Through This,” Daniel Bedingfield
I used to play this in college when I was up all night studying, especially that semester I took three lab classes. It’s an oldie but goodie. Sometimes, you just got to get through the thing you are dreading if only so you are done. The words are mantra-like, and actually saying them helps keep my mind off personal problems and on the task at hand.
3. “Unwritten,” Natasha Bedingfield
I know I am going to get some eye rolls for this one but it’s upbeat, and I fancy myself as kind of a writer with a whole future ahead of me thing so it works!
4. “Breakthrough,” Hope 7
I actually tried to look up the group (now disbanded) because I wanted to use this song as an intro to a podcast. This poppy, in-your-face number reminds me that no matter who doesn’t believe in me, I believe in myself. And trust me, if you are in business and don’t believe your own schtick, you’re in trouble.
5. “Pick Yourself Up,” Diana Krall
When you get knocked on your butt, it’s nice to know you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start it all over again. This catchy jazzy song by one of my all time favorite female vocalists is played in my life at least once a week. It puts a teeny smile on my face while drinking my morning coffee, or when the sun is filtering in my window at the end of a hard day.
So go forth and kick butt! In the meantime, any songs I could add to my list?
Nicole Ouellette has her own Internet marketing business Breaking Even Communications and recently scored the Glengarry account.
