The thrill of establishing a start-up is much like the thrill of a new relationship. It’s new, exciting and everyone involved is highly motivated and interested – at least for the first six months or so. Whilst this is too short a time to measure business success, it is long enough for founders and supporters to start to wonder about the viability of their new venture.

The initial surge of sales, often from opening specials or pre-launch sales has, by now, been exhausted. New sales are hard work because one new start-up rarely expand the market. Rather, it disrupts the incumbents who will make changes to address the disruption. In doing so, they slow down the newcomer’s success.

The start-up’s ability to work through this challenging period relies on the energy of a highly motivated team. Maintaining that motivation is the magic of many successful start-ups. Here are a few steps to help you and your team stay motivated as you grow.