Many small-business owners attack their new business with zest and motivation to be competitive in their industry, but as time goes on, it can be more difficult to find the fuel to stay passionate about their businesses. A quick look at budgeting and forecasting software that highlights where the firm is losing money, the number of technologies that need to be purchased and the general monotony of running an enterprise can all be factors in keeping passion for a company alive. However, not all hope should be lost, as Cambridge University professor Dr. Brian Little, a research psychologist and motivational psychology expert, shared some ideas with Entrepreneur magazine for staying enthusiastic about the company after the initial "honeymoon phase."

Give the company a personal touch
Small-business owners will always give their company more attention if they feel as though it is an extension of themselves. If the firm tends to get away from the original vision of its owner, he or she might lose some motivation to keep the company as prosperous and successful as possible. If things tend to get boring at work, try to think of new ways the business can succeed, as recommended in a blog post for Harvard Business Review. This will often reinvigorate small-business owners and remind them whey they chose to start their own enterprise in a given industry.

"Self-identity can provide the passion that keeps

[the venture] sustained over time … it provides a sense of meaning," Little told the magazine. "If the core project is attacked or it starts to become problematic, then you do need to be able to shift to a more pragmatic focus."

Do something outside the norm
Even so much as heading out of the office for a few days and working from home can make it easier to feel better about the business, but sometimes those ideas aren't enough to get motivation back to where it once was. If the company can continue to survive while the owner is gone, it might be a good idea to take a long weekend or a couple days to clear the head. The HBR blog post said some time away can help small-business owners think about the next step for their companies, which may have not been possible when having to carry out the day-to-day operations at the enterprise. A little vacation could end up paying big dividends. 

"Find a way in which you can be supple and flexible enough to go to different places rather than abandoning a project," Little told the magazine.

Work to flourish in circumstances that are tougher
Many small-business owners feel comfortable in the tasks that they must complete each day whether they are in the office, working from home or on the road meeting with client. The monotony may be too much for some professionals and force them to seek out new challenges that will bring them out of the comfort zone. Not only will those opportunities reinvigorate their work ethic, but it will allow them to gain some skills that they will be able to benefit from down the road. Little believes completing tasks that are outside small-business owners' realms of expertise will make it easier to stay motivated during the life of the company. Gaining more skills can often give the business a better chance for success in its industry.