Winter can be bad for business.

And it can be worse for the entrepreneur.

In the United State, with the exception of consumer retailing, businesses seem to go to sleep on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and not wake up until January.  This year's budgets have run out, so purchasing grinds to a halt.  Preparation of annual plans and next year's budgets consume many managers.  Personal holiday issues distract everyone.  Email gets ignored.  Voicemails go un-returned.

Then, when January comes, people are tired out from a month of stressful partying and over-spending.  That's yet another excuse to postpone real work until after the Super Bowl.

Layer in the gray days, and you have a tough time for entrepreneurs.  Your Moxie can drain away.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the winter blues.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer, repeatedly, year after year. The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up."

This can be a good time to re-visit your Motivation and get a Moxie infusion.

Moxie’s closest relative is Motivation – Motivation and the Commitment that comes with it.  Actually, in a sense, Motivation is Moxie-fuel.  Determination lasts longer if the underlying Motivation is powerful.

So, why do you really want to start this business?

What is the nature of your Motivation?  Your reasons are your own, so own them.  Clear off your desk.  Get a blank sheet of paper.  Now complete this simple sentence.

When you boil it all down, I’m doing this because…

If you simply want to play golf every afternoon, just say so.  It’s OK!  This is private information.  No one will see it other than you.  Not even your mother.  She’s not watching. 

Winter can easily be the toughest test of your Moxie.  Make sure you have enough to last until spring.