When it comes to reaching success, especially as an entrepreneur, it’s no secret that hard work is required. But really motivates people to work harder? Follow our tips for success:

Set Clear Goals

The first step is focusing on the end goal. When your goal is clear, it’s much easier to align your actions to meet that goal. That way, you’ll think of work as your own way of becoming who you want to be.

Make Sure Your Body is in Working Order

Before you can really tackle a goal, you might have to address any health issues you may have. That means getting enough sleep, exercising, keeping your stress level under control, and eating healthful foods. If you’re doing all of those things and still find that you’re lethargic and have trouble getting things done, you might want to see a doctor to help you pinpoint a health problem that you’re missing.

Cultivate Healthy Habits

Rather than relying on your internal motivation to push you to work harder, it’s better to automate your day so that you can count on your good habits. When you have established productive habits, such as exercising first thing in the morning, you don’t have to make the decision to exercise every day—you’ve already built it in to your day.

No Pain, No Gain

It’s also important to realize that there’s no way to achieve success without some effort, and sometimes even pain, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. Even though it’s a cliché, there’s a lot of truth to “no pain, no gain.”

Incentivize Yourself

Sometimes it’s effective to reward and punish yourself to motivate yourself to accomplish certain tasks and meet certain goals. For example, promise yourself you’ll do something fun, such as taking a walk with your family, as soon as you finish a project.