12 ways entrepreneurs can regain their sense of passion for their business

When an entrepreneur is just starting out, they are energetic, motivated and brimming with passion and ideas about how their business will make its mark. However, as time goes on and they settle into the challenges and successes of entrepreneurship, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to start to lose the passion that first ignited them.

Rather than allowing their passion to further deplete, entrepreneurs can take simple steps to realign themselves back with their mission and values. Here, 12 Newsweek Expert Forum each share one piece of advice they’d give entrepreneurs who have lost their sense of passion for their business.

1. Remember Your Original Purpose and Vision

One piece of advice would be for entrepreneurs to reconnect with their original purpose and vision. By reflecting on why they started the business in the first place and identifying what aspects of their work still resonate with them, they can reignite their passion, inspire creativity, realign their goals, navigate challenges with a renewed sense of purpose and, ultimately, revitalize their business journey. – Anna Yusim, MD, Yusim Psychiatry, Consulting & Executive Coaching

2. Stand Still

Sometimes being present in the moment and reassessing your “why” can be a powerful way to realign with your passion. I believe taking time to have quiet moments can bring the most clarity. – Zaneilia Harris, Harris & Harris Wealth Management Group, LLC

3. Give Yourself Time To Process

I have been through many discouraging times in my business when carefully planned activities led to blind alleys. During those times, I gave myself time to stay with my feelings and process them until they healed while still managing business operations. The passion emerged when the pain was gone. Instead of rushing into a positive state, I encourage others to do the same. – Paula Oleska, Natural Intelligence Systems

4. Take a Break

First, I would like to acknowledge how common and real burnout is for entrepreneurs. Taking a walk or a short vacation can help clear your mind and regain perspective. Additionally, talking to a mentor can be incredibly valuable, as they can offer insights and help you reconnect with your original passion and purpose. – Jason Hennessey, Hennessey Digital

5. Remove All Distractions

I have often experienced a lack of motivation in my 35-year career. However, I have found that taking a break from all distractions for a few days and unwinding can recharge my motivation levels. During this time, I avoid using the internet, phones or any other kind of noise. When I return to work after this break, my mind is clear and I can focus better, which results in increased productivity. – Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery

6. Reconnect With Things That Inspired You Previously

When facing a loss of passion, consider reconnecting with old hobbies, exploring music genres that once inspired you or spending time in nature. These activities provide a refreshing break from daily pressures and allow space for clarity and renewed enthusiasm to emerge. Stripping away distractions creates room for passion to flourish, offering a pathway to reignite your entrepreneurial fire. – Leah Marone, Corporate Wellness Consultant

7. Consider Taking a Pilgrimage

I would recommend entrepreneurs take a pilgrimage to restore passion and take time to reconnect with the foundational visions and values that inspired their entrepreneurial journey. This can be considered a reflective retreat that blends strategic foresight with sincere introspection, which is important for reigniting an entrepreneur’s passion. To move forward, one must take a step back in order to identify inspirations. – Dr. Kira Graves, Kira Graves Consulting

8. Explore New Ideas

Allow yourself the freedom to explore new ideas without the pressure of immediate implementation. Experimentation can lead to exciting projects that reignite passion. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal

9. Hire Another Leader to Share Responsibilities

You might want to consider hiring an experienced, trusted and qualified leader to run the operational, “turn the crank” money-generating side of the business while you take on the hat of focusing on new business and strategic development. Other than that, you might want to consider selling your business and starting anew. It really depends on your new goals moving forward in life. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures

10. Revisit Your ‘Why’

Building a business can be a grind, even with passion. Take a day away from the office to journal about your values and how your values are showing up in your everyday life. Then reflect on why you chose to start a business, as well as what motivates you to remain an entrepreneur now. – Karen Mangia, The Engineered Innovation Group

11. Take a Few Days Away

We are all human beings who need a break sometimes. Stepping away for at least a few days to reconnect with ourselves can help. Revisiting previous successes can also be useful to find our calling again. – Krisztina Veres, Veres Career Consulting

12. Go Back to Why You Started the Company

If you feel that you’ve lost your passion for your business, go back to the beginning and remember why you started the company. Those reasons are what ignited the fire that kept you going during the rough times. They will either help respark your flame or help you realize that those reasons are no longer valid and it may be time to exit. Either way, you will have a better sense of where to go from there. – Henry Kurkowski, eWireless