What motivate you? A question that was threw at me many times. Due to my training engagement, I’ve spoken to many people in the course of my work. Many a time, people wants to know what motivate an entrepreneur.

Is it money? I admit that it is one of the motivation initially. Gradually, most entrepreneurs will discover that it is not money, for money can motivate them for a short period of time, but there is something else that motivates entrepreneurs.

I cannot answer that question for all entrepreneurs because different individual require different motivation.

Last Friday, those who are involved in the ice cream business had a thrash-it-out meeting. Basically it’s to find out the reason of bad results and to ask for commitment. It’s a time where all parties involved have a choice to opt out of this project.

First thing, I am very surprise to see this person there. This person never turn up for work, but when it’s dinner time, this person appeared. I am surprise because I always thought that this person is no longer involved in the business.

Over at the table, when everyone re-commit their time and effort to this project, there is one common denominator. We are doing it not because of money but something else.

I do not know about the rest, but I am doing it for pride. That motivate me to work 16 hours a day. It’s the final lap, I am sprinting to the finishing line, just like the sprinter in the Olympic. They are running because of pride and pushing themselves to the limit.

Running a business is full of challenges. Get your motivation right, so that you will do whatever it takes to overcome those challenges.