It starts with passion. We find the thing inside of us that lights us
up every single day, and we begin our journey to greatness riding on a
wave on excitement and enthusiasm.
But this passion can only take us so far. Eventually, the excitement starts to wane and our motivation weakens.
Many of us quit, defeated, but the successful ones forge on,
fueled by a seemingly endless supply of mental strength and
determination. They have a hunger – an unwavering force that drives them
to defy the odds and continue when everything and everyone could not.
They want it more than they want air. It gives them the power to conquer
the fears, the failures, the setbacks and survive the months, years or
even decades of unappreciated work.
Hunger is a hard thing to hang onto in the face of doubt, but there
are some ways to find and feed that hunger, and stay motivated when
you’re struggling to see the light.
1. Change your environment. The physical space we spend our time in
influences our energy, actions and moods so much more than we think.
Take a look around and think about what changes you can make – at home
and at work – so that your space moves you in a positive direction. This
might include lots of visual reminders (let your goals be everywhere
you look!), a clutter and distraction free workspace, plants, photos,
healthy foods, and even surrounding yourself with smart and passionate
people.
2. Create a routine. People who take consistent action are able to
find a way to show up every day to ‘practice’ their craft, even when
they don’t want to. They develop a process. If writing is your thing,
commit to completing 1000 words every single day – no excuses. If you
want to build a million dollar business, spend an hour each day working
on your marketing and sales strategies. Take control of how you spend
your time. Schedule your work and learn to follow your own rules with
focus and discipline, so that the work becomes routine, and not a thing
of willpower.
3. Anticipate roadblocks. Expect that things will not go according to
plan. Expect that you will fail and make mistakes (and lots of them
too). Expect to feel down, confused, unmotivated, afraid. Anticipate
this and more, but more importantly, make a plan for what you are going
to do after you fail.
4. Always keep learning. Learn everything there is to know about your
field and stay curious. Our minds work better when we learn new things.
People who are ongoing learners – through books, blogs, podcasts, and
events – are more creative and more adaptable to change. They say that
knowledge is power, but it also gives you the tools and frameworks to
stay motivated, disciplined and execute on your potential. In the words
of Dr. Seuss “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The
more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
5. Change your language. You can fill your days with “I’ll try” and
“I should ”. I’ll try to write a blog post every day. I should exercise
more. I’ll try to eat healthy. Each time you say that, you give yourself
an out. Replace the “try’s” and “should’s” with “I will” and “I must”
and make this a daily practice. They are scarier sounding words. They
make you feel vulnerable. But they just might be the difference between
procrastination and taking action.
6. Nourish your body. It’s simple: eat real food, move more and get
better sleep. If you’re not doing these things, there will be a limit to
how much you can accomplish. Even the small, positive changes in diet,
exercise, and sleep can lead to significant changes in productivity,
stress management and brain function. The people who perform at the
highest levels are the ones who treat their bodies well.
Yes, massive success requires massive action. But as monumental as it
seems, it is only the sum of the consistent efforts we put forth. It is
a process, a journey. So let that journey (and all the little choices
we make each day) be fueled by passion and hunger – because together,
they are unstoppable.
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