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You see, both are activities that are good for you (or good for your business), but getting the motivation to start – and to keep going – is hard!

If you’re wanting to shape up your business (or shape up your body for summer), let’s have a look at what challenges you might encounter:

Challenge #1: It’s too daunting!

Many people never get started because the whole idea or the goal is just too challenging. A new website can seem as impossible a dream as fitting into a bikini!

Rather than focus on the big, scary goal, break it down. Concentrate just on the very first step. Perhaps that’s writing a list of the pages currently on your website. Or figuring out how you can make your breakfast healthier.

Then, keep approaching your goal in little chunks. Forget about the mountain; focus on the molehills instead.

Challenge #2: Giving up too soon

Just because you’re not seeing any results from Day One, doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.

When you start a fitness regime, many newcomers are disappointed that their weight actually increases rather than decreases, because muscle is heavier than fat.

The same scenario can apply to your marketing. You might just be seeing all the bills and expenses, whereas the returns are just around the corner. If you give up too soon, you’ll be right back at Square One. So stick with it.

Challenge #3: Finding the right path

All too often we think we know all the answers, and are too proud or stubborn to admit we need help. And we merrily continue down a long and windy path.

Yet there are so many professionals that can help us.

In fitness terms, it could be a nutritionist or personal trainer.

Similarly, a good marketing professional can help steer you along the right path too. That might be by identifying which projects will give you the best return on your investment; or identifying things you’re doing that are a downright waste of money.

Call on the professional as often as you need to – but make sure you do call on them. It will probably save you a massive amount of time, hassle, stress and expense in the long run.

Challenge #4: Keeping motivated

If you don’t enjoy something, it can seem like a hard slog. And keeping motivated is super tricky if you’re finding things icky.

That’s why diets which deprive you of your favourite foods rarely work in the long run. Yet a diet that lets you enjoy a little of what you fancy is far more likely to succeed, and become a way of life.

You need to find ways to make marketing a way of your life too. Build the tasks into your schedule; and make them part of your daily routine.

Keeping going is down to you and you alone.

Challenge #5: Measuring

Measuring your success when dieting is easy: you can weigh yourself, or maybe you judge your progress by how loose or tight your favourite jeans are.

You also need to measure your marketing, to gauge your progress. Keep an eye on how many responses you get to each of your campaigns. Then log it and analyse it.

That way you’ll be operating your marketing in a lean, efficient way – and you’ll be able to trim away the excess flab.