Motivation

3 Overlooked Items Needed to Maintain Your Motivation

Published

9 years ago

Nov 23, 2015

The world is a busy place, and we try to get it all done. Often times we forget some basic fundamental items that, if focused on, allow us to achieve any goal through self leadership and motivation.

With the expectation to succeed, keeping these three simple things in mind will get you there:

1. Where am I going?

In the professional world I’ve seen the gamut of corporate executives succeed or fail based on the clearness of their vision. Not clear on your goal, well if you’re a hiker climbing Everest that could be the difference between life or death, summit success or falling off the side of the cliff. Even worse not clear on the destination, you’ll walk the wrong path, and not even know the right path may be within reach.

During your process you have to be very specific and clear on what you want to achieve. If you wish to write a book, how many pages is it? How many words per day or pages a day do you need to write? What’s your eventual goal? You need to have a path for your success. You need to have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

A vision, turns into a tangible goal, which turns into set of tasks to become your desired outcome. Without the destination clearly in mind, you’ll wander, wishing for your personal GPS.

2. You don’t trip over the finish line

We start at these lofty goals and then what happens? We start to fizzle and lose our drive after a period of time. How do we maintain our momentum with building our goals, with the same passion and perseverance, everyday? You’ve got to have an outline for what you want to accomplish. The journey may be longer than you expected or it may be shorter. You may have different benchmarks in the road, but the key, the true key, is going to be that you set this up at the beginning and have a clear definition of where you’re going.

Most don’t identify individual components within the goal to set clear and measurable benchmarks. They want to be rich or they want to gain exposure in a professional environment, or they want to achieve a certain degree of success in an area.

You’ve got to set benchmarks along the way. If you wish to achieve success what’s the best way to do that? Is the best way to say, “I’m going to make a million dollars tomorrow”, or “I will publish my book in a week!”, nope, disappointment ensues. Instead the thought should be, “In order to make a million, tomorrow I’ll make 10, the next day 20.” or ” I’ll write 300 words today, everyday, and next week I’ll do 400 daily”. You’ve got to set benchmarks for yourself along the way. In a race to the finish, you don’t get to the end by accident.

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius

3. No participation trophies

Holding yourself accountable for your goals and plans is the final piece to making it happen. Some individuals find it easy to hold themselves responsible for the next step in their dream. Others use accountability partners to gain success in which they find an outsider can identify very quickly an area where you may need some assistance (or a hard shove). That accountability partner can help steer you in that area either incrementally, or assist with keeping you on trek on a daily basis.

Sharing your measurements publicly is also a great way to keep yourself accountable, motivated and on track. By actually putting your goal or your benchmarks out to the world, you’re letting everybody know that you’re serious about what you’re doing and that you’re going to move forward on your overall goals and achievements.

Don’t forget to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Throw a party. Put a banner out there. Sponsor an ad when you hit a certain goal on your website. There’s a million things you can do to remind yourself that these small wins are the successes you earned, not by showing up, but working your tail off. Guess what, you’ll be driven by the momentum of other people cheering you on and joining your goal success party.

Push yourself through each task, remember that All Stars should be celebrated for their efforts above and beyond the norm. Keeping your eye on the prize, knowing your path and sticking to it, will keep you moving forward, motivation built from desire and willpower.

What things are you overlooking that is killing your motivation? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

Related Topics:accountability Business Clarity Entrepreneur Goal Setting Leadership mindset motivation Success Vision

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8 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Be More Decisive

Published

10 months ago

Jan 29, 2024

Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

Tackling Procrastination and Indecisiveness

Hi, Joel Brown here. As the person behind Addicted to Success and Mind Strong, I’m often asked about tackling procrastination and making swift, effective decisions. It’s a common struggle in today’s world, where distractions are endless.

Procrastination often creeps in when we’re bombarded with social media notifications, breaking news, and the hustle of daily life. This leads to a fear-driven indecision, where we’re paralyzed by the thought of failure or judgment.

Here’s a video breakdown of how to stop procrastinating and be more decisive if you are more of a visual person:

Embracing Speed and Momentum to Stop Procrastination

One of the most impactful lessons in my journey is understanding the role of speed in overcoming procrastination. A mentor of mine, a highly successful individual, always emphasized:

“Success loves speed, and money loves momentum.”

This principle is crucial in combating procrastination. It’s about seizing opportunities quickly, not just for financial gain, but for the invaluable experiences and connections they bring.

Understanding Analysis Paralysis: A Key to Overcoming Procrastination

A major hurdle in decision-making is what’s commonly known as analysis paralysis, a significant form of procrastination. It happens when our decision-making process, governed by the prefrontal cortex, gets overwhelmed. To break free from this form of procrastination, try calming techniques like deep breathing. It’s surprising how such simple steps can clear a cluttered mind and help you move past procrastination.

The Long-Term Effects of Procrastination and Indecision

Procrastination isn’t just about putting off decisions; it can lead to a reduced sense of life satisfaction over time.

In a conversation I had with Tony Robbins, we discussed how the quality of our lives hinges on the quality of our decisions.

Therefore, overcoming procrastination and indecision is vital for a fulfilling life.

My Top Strategies for Beating Procrastination

Seek Guidance from the Experienced: To combat procrastination, connect with people who’ve achieved the goals you’re aiming for. Their experience can be a guiding light when you’re stuck in indecision.
Use Deadlines as Anti-Procrastination Tools: Setting deadlines is a powerful way to break the cycle of procrastination. They create a sense of urgency that pushes you into action.
Accept Imperfection to Move Past Procrastination: Understand that no one is perfect, and that includes you. Accepting this can alleviate the pressure that often leads to procrastination.

Identify Your Procrastination Type to Find Solutions

Procrastination manifests in various forms. I’ve developed a quiz (find it at mindstrongacademy.com/quiz) to help you identify your specific type of procrastination. Understanding your personal procrastination style is a crucial step in addressing it effectively.

Additional Tips on Making Quality Decisions and Beating Procrastination

When it comes to decision-making, it’s important to not get too bogged down in analyzing pros and cons. While analysis is important, excessive scrutiny can lead to procrastination. Trusting your intuition often plays a crucial role in breaking free from procrastination.

Handling Major Life Choices Without Procrastination

For significant decisions in life, whether in your career or personal relationships, procrastination can be particularly challenging.

To address this, break down these big decisions into smaller steps. Assess the potential outcomes realistically to understand that often, the fear of a negative outcome is more intimidating than the actual consequences.

Conclusion: Your Journey Away from Procrastination Begins Now

To wrap up, remember that overcoming procrastination and indecision is about understanding your own patterns, seeking wise counsel, setting deadlines, and embracing your imperfections. It’s time to start making those impactful decisions and enjoying the journey of life.

Whether it’s through the Mind Strong Academy or my procrastination quiz, I’m here to guide you on your path to decisive action.