Through all of the stories of great successes, it’s the men and women who found their motivation and consistently used it as their main drive, who reach success.
Motivation and excitement about your vision, your ambition, your goal, give you energy and an ability to do what others can, but won’t
do. If you’re motivated, you work longer hours, but are also more
productive and focused in those hours you work. But what if you’re not
internally motivated day after day to hustle, work, and trudge through the daily tasks that make-up the path to your end goal?
Are you relegated to a life of mediocrity, or is motivation something that can be coached, practiced, and created?
Today we’ll look at 15 ways to find the motivation that the Tony Robbins’, Mother Teresa’s, and Elon Musk’s of the world have.
1. Have your biggest dreams written on a massive white board
Your
dreams and audacious goals should be written where you can consistently
see them. I use a big white board next to my desk. On the white board
are my big goals, my weekly goals, and motivational quotes. This helps me keep the eye on the prize, maintain focus, and ward off the distractions that make their way into my day.
2. Focus only on TODAY
We
can get lost in thinking about the future or regretting the past.
What’s terrible about this is that while you’re worrying and wishing you
were in a different position in life, someone else is working.
Worry does no good. If you truly
want to succeed you need to learn how to focus your mind only on the
present. Do what you can do in the moment, work on the project at hand,
accomplish your daily goals and tasks, and you’ll do the same with your bigger, lifelong goals and dreams.
3. Have only 3 things on your to do list that MUST BE accomplished
Don’t try and fill your day with too much.
Sure, you’d like to get a lot accomplished, but there should be 3 (only
3) important tasks that NEED to be accomplished. Focus on these first.
When they’re completed, and only when they’re completed, are you allowed
to move on to other things.
Too many people spread themselves
thin. What ends up happening is they get overwhelmed, which crushes
their motivation, and nothing gets done.
If you’re focused, you’ll stay motivated, you’ll get more done, and you’ll be where you want to be a lot faster.
4. Practice discipline
Discipline
isn’t sexy, but it’s necessary. It’s in discipline that we gain
freedom. We gain freedom to get more done, to improve, and to remove
regret from our lives.
When you’re focused only on today, doing
only what needs to be done in the now, nothing else matters. But
discipline needs to be practiced everyday.
When a reporter asked two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, how often he trained growing up, he said (and I paraphrase) Everyday. I never missed a workout, because I knew that if I missed one, I’d give myself a reason to miss another.
If
you practice laziness and distraction, that is what you’ll be, and
you’ll be left with nothing but regret and failure. Practice being
successful by doing what successful people do everyday: they remain disciplined.
Remember, take it one day at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed with eternity when the present should be your only concern.
5. Create an inspiring environment
Your environment HAS TO inspire you. Surround yourself with images that motivate you, but also in a clean, clear space. Clutter truly does clutter the mind, but it can also be depressing to be in a messy area.
Pattern your work environment as you’d love it
to be. Spend a little money on a nice desk if that’s your thing, but
make sure your work space inspires you and motivates you. This is where
the magic happens. This is where you should be spending most of your
time. So make sure it affects you positively.
6. Have a quotes list near your desk, and your bed
It’s not the critic who counts…The famous quote
by Theodore Roosevelt is always close. Be it in my notebook (one of the
two), or hanging from my bathroom mirror, or next to my bed, I always
have inspirational quotes that keep me focused, upbeat, and aware that
success isn’t immediate. That success takes hard work, dedication and
much sacrifice.
If “making it” was easy, everyone would have made it. That’s why I respect all entrepreneurs, it takes guts to be in the arena.
7. Workout everyday
Part
of staying motivated is warding off depressive thoughts. Being
physically fit helps with that not only from an image and an energy
aspect, but hormonally as well.
For men, being physically fit will
help raise your natural levels of testosterone, which leads to
diminished likelihood of depression. So get in the gym at least 4 times a
week, and get outside and get active.
8. Set mini, measurable goals
You’ll
have your big goals – and make sure they’re as clear as possible – but
they need to be broken into smaller goals as well. Make these goals
measurable and attainable in the near future (like “to-do’s”).
Everything should be measurable so you know where you are in relation to where you want to be (EVERYTHING).
9. Work in 90-120 minute intervals, interspersed with active breaks
Your
work should be intense, purposeful, and focused. Studies have shown
that we can do so for a 90-minute period, but tend to lose focus once
that 90-minute period is finished.
One of the best ways to regain focus is to do something active. The endorphins released by a quick jog or set of sprints will help you not only gain energy, but regain focus.
10. Don’t work on small projects
That
is, don’t set small goals that don’t excite you. You NEED TO BE excited
about what you’re trying to accomplish. If it doesn’t excite you, how
are you going to be motivated?
11. Clean once a week
Clean your house and work space once a week. Keep clutter and mess out of your life if you want to keep consistently motivated.
12. Take mini-vacations monthly
While
the hustle and grind of creating something – i.e. the life of an
entrepreneur – can be arduous and necessary, it needs “mini jolts”.
Nature, for myself, is the best way to give me the jolts I need to stay
focused, hustle daily, and accomplish big things.
You don’t have
to spend a lot of money, but you should unplug once a month. Go local,
but do what you gotta do to get out of your routine. You’ll not only be
re-energized, but you’ll find that nature can enhance your creativity.
Bring a notebook and a book to accompany you on your adventure.
13. Read voraciously
Great people read. Books are their companions. Check out The Gates Notes - it’s Bill Gates' personal website, filled with his personal notes on whatever he’s reading.
In
all of my study of great people, be they politicians, entrepreneurs, or
conquerors, knowledge was something they all craved. If you want
greatness in your future, read in your present.
14. Journal daily
Spend one week making notes about when your energy levels – and motivation levels – are at their highest. There should be patterns. Use these patterns to your advantage.
Put
your most important tasks in the times when your energy levels are at
their height (I do all of my writing in the wee hours of the morning, or
late at night, when no one is awake to bother me, and I can focus on
one thing).
A journal will also help with clarity. It’s far easier
to be motivated when your mind is clear, and the road to your goal is
as well.
15. Win your mental battles
In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
consistently refers to the battles we have in our minds. The rich think
a certain way, and it isn’t necessarily a greedy way, but a positive
one.
The thoughts that fill your mind should only aid you in your journey, they shouldn't detract from it. Now, you may think, How can I control all of the thoughts that come into my head. You may not be able to control what comes in, but you do have the power to control which ones you pay attention to.
Fill
your mind with creative, positive, and ambitious thoughts. Don’t give
energy to your fears and worries. They do nothing but move you further
away from your goals.
Bonus: Eliminate ALL distractions
I have an app on my computer called “freedom”.
It shuts down the internet and all social media for a time determined
by me. I start this timer every time I sit down to write to ensure that
I’m not distracted.
If social media distracts you, set up your
tweets, posts, or shares with an app like Hootsuite, so your curiosity
isn’t constantly getting the better of you.
If you have nothing to distract you, you have no choice but to work.
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