A Labor of Love Have you lost that lovin' feeling for your business? Learn how to get the spark back.

As your business develops from an idea to your hundredth sale,it's natural for your initial enthusiasm to fade. As you movefrom dreamer to worker, reality hits, and you stop looking at yourbusiness with the same enthusiastic eyes. This doesn't meanyour passion is fading-it simply means you've forgotten how tokeep the energy flowing.

Business life can easily become about the repetitive routine ofmaintaining and growing your business. Here's how to keep joyconnected to your day-to-day activities-and renew your passion.

1. Remind yourself why you started your business.Separate your emotions from the routine baggage that comes withevery new business. Take time to reflect on all the reasons youstarted your business-the passion that sparked its creation. Didyou see a demand that had not been met? Did you decide to explore anew aspect of your personality? Write the reasons down; put them inyour desk drawer, or make a sign for your wall. Look at themregularly as a reminder to keep your passion flowing.

2. List how your business affects more than just you. Byconnecting to a larger purpose, you create energy. Your workaffects people's lives more than you ever realize. Simply listthe ways you help people live better, and discover a new, powerfulperspective. When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he notonly created a way to light up homes, but also lowered the crimerate, helped factories stay open longer hours, and enabled childrento play safely at night. Take a moment each morning to add a newbenefit to your list.

3. Search for bigger adventures without expectingresults. Let the excitement of discovery enter into yourbusiness activities by investigating the unseen opportunities thatsurround you. Weekly, hold a brainstorming session with a trustedcolleague to discuss some exciting directions your business cantake. Choose one activity to start, and create a list of simpleaction steps to follow. Fill yourself with the excitement ofcreation by staying detached from any expected results. Ifsomething works out, celebrate!

4. Show outward fondness for your business. Always speakpositively about your goals-your energy flows through your words toothers and is reflected back to you. Give yourself permission tocreatively express your passion, just as you did when you startedyour business. This could include sharing your weeklyaccomplishments with a trusted friend or teaching a class on yourarea of expertise at a local college. You have a lot of knowledge,so share it.

Take time to nurture your relationship with your business. Thesmall, day-to-day gestures that connect you to the core of yourbusiness have the greatest impact on your energy level. Smile everytime you say your business's name, and continually invite newpossibilities.

Editor's note: Looking for our "Countdown toStartup" series? We've compiled it into one easy-to-usefeature. Click hereto read it.

Speaker and consultant Romanus Wolter, aka "The Kick StartGuy," is author of Kick Start Your Dream Business.