15 Ways To Wake Up With Motivation

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.

 

Source: http://addicted2success.com/motivation/15-ways-to-wake-up-with-motivation/

23 Incredibly Successful People Who Failed At First

Rejection can feel devastating, but you shouldn't let it crush you.

 

Some of the world's most successful people have failed - sometimes more than once.

We've put together a list of highly successful people, from movie stars to scientists, who experienced massive failure before they found fame and fortune.

Weaker people might have given up. Instead, these folks remained focused on their goals. 

Scroll down to see the underdogs who went on to change the world.

Winston Churchill was estranged from his political party over ideological disagreements during the "wilderness years" of 1929 to 1939.

At the outbreak of World War II on Sep. 3, 1939, Churchill was appointed to the British Admiralty, thus ending his "exile." The next year, he was elected prime minister at the age of 62.

Thomas Edison's teachers told him he was "too stupid to learn anything."

Edison went on to hold more than 1,000 patents and invented some world-changing devices, like the phonograph, practical electrical lamp, and a movie camera.

Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as an anchor in Baltimore, where she said she faced sexism and harassment.

But Winfrey rebounded and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows before amassing a media empire. Today she is worth an estimated $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

Several more of his businesses failed before the premiere of his movie "Snow White." Today, most childhoods wouldn't be the same without his ideas.

Steven Spielberg was rejected by the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts multiple times.

He went on to create the first summer blockbuster with "Jaws" in 1975, and has won three Academy Awards.

R.H. Macy had a series of failed retail ventures throughout his early career.

But at the age of 36, Macy launched R.H. Macy & Co., which grew to become Macy's, one of the largest department store chains in the world.

Soichiro Honda's unique vision got him ostracized by the Japanese business community.

Honda was a mechanical genius who idolized Edison and rebelled against the norm. His passion for aggressive individualism was more fit for the United States, and thus alienated him from Japanese businessmen, who valued teamwork above all else. Honda then boldly challenged the American automotive industry in the 1970s and led a Japanese automotive revolution.

Colonel Harland David Sanders was fired from dozens of jobs before founding a successful restaurant.

He traveled across the U.S. looking for someone to sell his fried chicken, and after finally getting a business deal in Utah, Kentucky Fried Chicken was born. KFC is now one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, with over 18,000 locations.

After having trouble adjusting to the culture and his classes, Dick Cheney dropped out of Yale — and then returned, only to drop out for good.

George W. Bush once joked: "So now we know if you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be vice president."

Sir Isaac Newton's mother pulled him out of school as a boy so that he could run the family farm. He failed miserably.

Realizing her son was not meant to till the land, she let Newton finish his basic education and was eventually persuaded to allow him to enroll in Cambridge University. Newton went on to become one of the greatest scientists of all time, revolutionizing physics and mathematics.

Vera Wang failed to make the U.S. Olympic figure-skating team. Then she became an editor at Vogue and was passed over for the editor-in-chief position.

She began designing wedding gowns at age 40 and today is one of the premier designers in the fashion industry, with a business worth over $1 billion.

When Sidney Poitier first auditioned for the American Negro Theatre, he flubbed his lines and spoke in a heavy Caribbean accent, which made the director angrily tell him to stop wasting his time.

Poitier worked on his craft and eventually became a hugely successful Hollywood star. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor and helped break down the color barrier in the American film industry. 

As a child, Albert Einstein had some difficulty communicating and learning in a traditional manner.

Of course, Einstein's communication and behavioral problems were not indicative of a lack of intelligence. He won the Nobel prize in physics for the discovery of the photoelectric effect, and his special theory of relativity theory corrected the deficiencies of Newtonian physics.

In one of Fred Astaire's first screen tests, an executive wrote: "Can't sing. Can't act. Slightly balding. Can dance a little."

Astaire went on to become a Hollywood and Broadway legend.

J.K. Rowling was a single mom living off welfare when she began writing the first "Harry Potter" novel.

Rowling is now internationally renowned for her seven-book Harry Potter series and, in U.S. currency, became the first billionaire author in 2004.

Charles Darwin was considered an average student. He gave up on a career in medicine and was going to school to become a parson.

But as Darwin studied nature, he found his true calling and traveled the world to uncover nature's mysteries. His writings, especially "On the Origin of the Species," fundamentally changed the world of science by spreading the discovery of evolution.

Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting, "The Red Vineyard," in his life, and the sale was just months before his death.

If he had given up his artistic career after it proved to strain his financial and emotional well-being, the art world would be missing hundreds of paintings from a true master.

After Harrison Ford's first small movie role, an executive took him into his office and told him he'd never succeed in the movie business.

Ford's career went on to span six decades, and has included timeless starring roles in blockbuster films like the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, had his first book rejected by 27 different publishers.

Dr. Seuss became a legendary children's author known around the world for classics like "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham." His books have sold over 600 million copies.

Lucille Ball appeared in so many second-tier films at the start of her career that she became known as "The Queen of B Movies."

Then she got her big break when CBS picked up her and her husband Desi Arnaz's vaudeville act and turned it into the highly influential sitcom "I Love Lucy."

A young Henry Ford ruined his reputation with a couple of failed automobile businesses.

However, after conducting a search, he was finally able to find a partner who had faith in him. Ford proved he had learned from his mistakes when Ford Motor Company forever changed the automotive industry and culture with his assembly line mode of production. 

While developing his vacuum, Sir James Dyson went through 5,126 failed prototypes and his savings over 15 years.

But the 5,127th prototype worked, and the Dyson brand became the best-selling bagless vacuum brand in the United States. He is now worth an estimated $4.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Stephen King grew so frustrated over his attempt to write the novel "Carrie" that he threw away the entire early draft.

King's wife Tabitha found the manuscript in the trash and took it out. "Carrie" became a hit and launched his career. His novels have since sold over 350 million copies.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/successful-people-who-failed-at-first-2014-3?op=1

 

How To Defeat The Fear Of The Unknown For Greater Personal Development (Part 2)

Continued from Part 1

To grow in your own development, you must first acknowledge areas in which you are weak. Realizing your place in the big scheme of things is freeing. You will begin to understand that there are many ways to improve. Once you have fully accepted this realization, you'll seek to better yourself by learning and understanding as much as you can about the vast world in which you live.

Perhaps you have set high goals for yourself and keep failing to attain them. If this is the case, it is a good idea to stop and think why. Check online and find others who share similar goals with you and find out what they are doing compared to what you're doing. You also might find that your goals are indeed not realistic, or that some other critical resource is needed before your goal can be realized.

Figure out what you want your life to be and do what it takes to accomplish it. If you lay around all day wishing your life was better but not doing anything to make it better, it will never happen. Take action on your dreams and do what you can to make them a reality.

It is senseless to allow yourself to be consumed with worries. The habit of worrying is really imagining a situation that hasn't really happened and will most likely not ever happen. Take a rational approach to your problems. Think of what the worse that could happen is and how you would deal with that. Being prepared gives you the freedom to enjoy your life more fully.

 

Get rid of every part of your life that is disorganized. If you are able to organize your life, you will feel more confident and more accomplished. An additional benefit is that the stress you felt from disorganization will be eliminated. Having everything in its own place instills a calming energy.

When putting effort into your personal development, assign a high value to that which is the best. Value your qualities and skills and learn to love yourself.

Stress is one of the biggest road blocks to happiness. While experiencing stress, our entire body is affected in both physical and mental ways. In order to reach your goals, the stress in your mind must be destroyed. Allow yourself a set time during each day that you can relax and empty your mind. Having a time to refresh can give you peace and improve your self-image.

You do not need to be dealing with unneeded stress. Take time to process events before reacting to avoid creating unnecessary tension in your life. Sometimes things will go wrong. Instead of being stressed, just deal with them.

If you know what your beliefs are, you can help plan out what you will be working for in personal development. If you go against your values, you are shooting yourself in the foot. 

Spend your energy and time on those areas that you want to better and that mesh well with your values. If you do this, you can make a change in your life that you will be proud of.

You need to understand the distance between the place you are now, and the place you want to be in the future. This is the first step to actually starting the journey of where you want to be. Until you acknowledge this, you cannot even begin to move forward as these goals will help you measure your success and keep you motivated.

If you are depressed, pay attention to your complex carb intake and boost it. If you are not consuming adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, your serotonin levels may be lower than they should be. This can also be achieved by upping your intake of raw fruits and veggies, legumes and whole grains.

How healthy your body is, affects how healthy your mind is. It is imperative to eat a well-balanced diet, and to get some form of exercise every day. If you want a healthy mind, make sure it resides in a healthy body.

Getting out and living your life can really enhance your quest for personal development. It is important that you be an active participant in living your life. Watching from the sidelines serves no good purpose. Sitting back and watching will make you dull and unhappy.

When working on personal development strive to achieve a high level of self discipline. Make sure that you develop self control skills. Beat bad habits like gluttony, jealousy, lust or greed. Controlling these desires will prevent negative impacts on your body and spirit.

As you work with the tips, be sure to journal your thoughts and feelings and take particular note of any changes in your point of view. Refrain from being too hard on yourself.


Source: http://goarticles.com/article/How-To-Defeat-Fear-Of-The-Unknown-For-Greater-Personal-Development/7215647/ 

How To Defeat The Fear Of The Unknown For Greater Personal Development (Part 1)

Admitting that you need to work on yourself is a big step.

Keep reading for a selection of proven self-help guidelines to serve as your inspiration.

 

• Choose to spend your time with positive people. Surrounding yourself with negative people can have a poor influence on your mood and can rub off on your way of thinking.

• Choose one of your most important aspects that you want to improve, and put your focus there. It may be that you have several such things which you could concentrate on, but by selecting just one, you stand a better chance of prevailing. Also, by limiting your focus to one, you allow the change to adjust your personality and become a part of your character. Old habits are hard to break unless you do so slowly and deliberately.

• Reading books on the subject of personal development or self-improvement is good for you. The best of these types of books can truly give you new advice and ideas that work for improving your specific life situations and challenges. Pay attention to reviews when you pick a self-help book. The genre has some poorly-written books in it; however, you want one that has proven useful to other readers.

• One way to raise your self-esteem is to give other people compliments. Instead, do the exact opposite and treat others with kindness and respect. This kindness will make you feel better and help you to treat yourself nicely as well. One simple step to your personal development is doing things for the benefit of other people. Being able to sacrifice for others, and feeling joy in their happiness, develops your character. Being able to sacrifice for others and being able to get fulfillment, will help you develop into a more well-rounded person.

 

• Learn to recognize your limits and strengths. We need all kinds of people in the world, because diversity helps us to stay strong. You should not concern yourself with skills you don't have, instead focus your attention on what you already know and bring those to the table.

• You cannot take care of other people unless you take care of yourself. Take time for rest and relaxation, whether your health is good or poor.

• For many people, faith and love are the core components of personal development. Faith is meaningless without love. Don't forget about the faith you have. Put your faith into action by helping others and loving not only your peers, but yourself as well.

• It's a good personal guideline to treat everyone with respect even if they don't necessarily have anything you might need from them. The way you behave toward others has more to do with your personality than with anything they say or do.

• An overreaction to situations is going to cause you stress that is not necessary. Learn how to deal with your stress, and always analyze a situation carefully. If you make a mistake, you can always fix it or deal with it. Always keep in mind the things that you have instead of the things that you may have lost.

• You need to figure out the things that are the most important and pay more attention to that throughout life. You will find an increased inner peace if you do not dwell on the past or negative encounters, and choose instead to think and act on positive experiences.

• Having specific, written goals is crucial to successful personal development. If you hope to boost your self-confidence, include this on your list. After, quickly brainstorm a few ideas that could improve your confidence. You then want to position yourself so you can make this happen. If you do this kind of preparation and tackle the process with dedication, you will likely achieve your personal development goals.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/How-To-Defeat-Fear-Of-The-Unknown-For-Greater-Personal-Development/7215647/

Turn Inspiration Into Action

How many times have you read a great article, or had an idea, or wanted to make a change … but then didn’t?

It’s one of the biggest frustrations for people who read this site: people blame themselves for not implementing a plan to change habits.

It takes a switch in gears.

I remember a boatload of times when I’ve been really inspired by something, but then didn’t take action. I wanted to run a marathon, do a triathlon, write a book, start a blog, lose weight, get out of debt, start waking early, simplify my life. But I didn’t actually do anything about it.

I was busy. I was tired. I had other things to do. But those were just excuses.

I learned a few things that worked for me, and within a year or so, I’d done all those things I mentioned above. I took action and made them happen. The excuses got beat.

Here’s what works for me:

1. Tell someone you’re going to do it. If you just think it in your head, you’re not committed. It won’t happen. Start by getting up and telling someone near you, right now. Or email someone.
2. Now carve out time. Lots of people actually do step 1 but not this step. You have to make the time. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day — when will you do it? After what part of your regular routine? Even if you don’t have a routine, there are things you do every day: wake up, maybe shower and/or brush your teeth, eat breakfast or lunch, open your computer, get off work or school, go to bed, etc. Put it on your calendar, right away.
3. Start as small as you can. Most people make the mistake of overcommitting, because they’re so inspired. But you’re less likely to succeed if you say that you’re going to work out an hour a day, or learn a new skill for 2 hours a day. Even 30 minutes a day is too much. Start with 10. Or 5. Or 2, if you’re really busy. You have time for 2 minutes a day.
4. Really commit. The biggest reason most people fail is they’re not really committed. You tell someone, and you think you’re committed, but you’re not. If you’re really committed, write it on your blog (or start one). Post it on Facebook or Twitter. Tell 100 people about it. Put money on it. Say that you’ll sing in public if you fail. Make people hold you accountable.
5. Have reminders. It’s easy to forget when you start out. If you want to go for a 10-minute run after you wake up, you need something to make sure you don’t forget: put your running shoes next to your bed or in your doorway, laid out with running clothes. Or sleep in your running clothes. Put up a big sign somewhere you won’t miss it. Use sticky notes, stuck to your computer. Computer and phone reminders are good too.
6. At the moment when you want to avoid it, pause. There will be a moment (or a bunch of moments) when you think, “Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow.” That’s the moment you have to not let pass idly by. Stop yourself, and just sit there for a moment, not going on your computer, just turning inward. What are you afraid of? What’s stopping you? There is a discomfort you’re trying to avoid. Instead, smile, and start. Do it and enjoy it in the moment. You’ll love it. 

Source: http://zenhabits.net/act/

12 Things Successful People Do Before Breakfast

The “Golden Hour”

Successful people often talk about the “Golden Hour”, which is the first hour after you wake up in the morning. 
According to this article from the National Institutes of Health, while we are asleep, our brains are hard at work de-cluttering and detoxifying themselves. This means that our brains are at their best right after we wake up, when they’re squeaky-clean from the night’s mental hygiene activities. 

Successful people have discovered that the “Golden Hour” is the best time of day to prepare ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually for the upcoming day.

The 21-Day Mental Diet

Technically I’m not “successful” yet…but I figured, if I ACT like a successful person, sooner or later I’ll BE a successful person, and in the meantime, I’ll FEEL like a successful person. Which, since none of these practices cost anything except some discipline and a couple hours of sleep, is pretty much a win-win, if you ask me.

It was while I was looking up “how successful people think” that I stumbled onto Brian Tracy’s 21-Day Mental Diet. And guess what? It includes several of the practices mentioned in articles on what successful people do before breakfast. Imagine that! I am currently on day seven of this mental diet, and let me tell you, doing these has really brought a new sense of focus and productivity to my days — which is a tough thing to do when one doesn’t have regular office hours.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you do on this mental diet:

1. Wake up early – Most top executives get up in the morning at 6:00 AM — at the latest! I get up around 5:00 AM most days.

2. Exercise –  While Brian Tracy suggests doing any physical exercise before mental exercise, I usually have to wait until later in the day to do any physical exercise because of schedule limitations.

3. Read motivational, inspirational or educational material for 30-60 minutes. Personally, I love the Abraham-Hicks material, which really gets my mind and spirit soaring for the day. Other favorites include the books by Wallace D. Wattles, (The Science of Getting Rich) or any of the other New Thought authors. There is a tremendous wealth of free reading material available in the public domain. If you like audio books, look to librivox.org, or for visual reading, check out http://newthoughtlibrary.com/

4. Write down your top 10-15 life goals. There is tremendous power in the act of writing, so yes, actually get out a pen and a notebook (What are those?) and physically write these down. Really. Just thinking about it doesn’t cut it. Use first-person, present-tense language: “I am making ___ dollars a year; I weigh ___ pounds; I drive a ___ car, I have ___ friends”, and so on. And don’t look back at your goals from the day before. By the way, this is a LOT of fun!

5. Write down everything you need to do that day. Again, yes, use a real pen and a notebook. Seriously. Organize this list according to priority, starting with the one thing you most want to get done that day.

6. Begin immediately to work on the biggest, most important task of the day. If you can finish this project while your mind is still fresh, it won’t loom over you and worry you for the rest of the day.

Throughout the day, but not necessarily before breakfast:

• Listen to educational audio programs while driving
• Pick up the pace between activities

Other Things That Successful People Do Before Breakfast

These are practices that aren’t part of Brian Tracy’s 21-Day Mental Diet, but are part of the morning routine of many successful people:

7. Write down things they’re grateful for. This is a favorite of mine. Two years ago, I started writing a “Daily Ten” of things that I was thankful for, liked, made me smile and so on.

8. Meditate. Another personal favorite, and if I can’t squeeze it in before breakfast, I do my best to fit it in another time during the day.

9. Work on a personal passion project. It is very easy to let what we love slip to the last item on our priority list, where it gets put off…and put off…and put off. I know — I never seem to get around to practicing violin!

10. Spend quality time with family/connect with spouses. My husband and I usually sit and talk over our plans for the day over morning coffee while we’re petting the dogs.

11. Network with coworkers, clients, or friends over coffee.  Early morning or breakfast meetings tend to be more productive in the mornings–because guess what? Everyone else’s brain is clearer, too!

12. Read the news. Find out the problems in the world so that we can figure out ways to solve them!

Do you know other things successful people do before breakfast? Please share in the comments section.


Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/12-things-you-didnt-know-successful-people-before-breakfast.html

How Motivation Works: Overcoming Inertia and Keeping Momentum

Motivation is a psychological process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behavior.

It begins with a particular goal in mind that we want to fulfill, then follows with the actions needed to make that goal into a tangible reality.

A goal can be anything we want to achieve: happiness, relationships, money, health, education, or whatever.
And whether we recognize it or not, we all have certain goals in life, even if they aren’t things we would normally consider “goals.”

This is because every action has an intention behind it. We feel a desire for something, then we take action to make it happen – even something as simple as feeling thirsty and grabbing a glass of water is a goal-oriented behavior.

This article gives you a mechanistic breakdown of how motivation works and things to keep in mind when pursuing long-term goals.

Overcoming inertia
An object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by a force. This is just as true for physics as it is for psychology and motivation.

Our lives often remain stagnant – with the same routines, habits, and patterns – unless we apply some force to make a change.

There are two main types of “force” that can change our daily patterns:

• Intrinsic force – Force that comes from enjoyment of an activity and exists within the individual rather than relying on external pressures.


• Extrinsic force – Force that comes from seeking a reward or avoiding punishment (common examples: money, grades, social pressure, etc.)

Both types of force can be very useful.

We can tap into intrinsic force by discovering our most important values and passions in life. Often it is easier to find motivation to do an activity if it resonates with you at a core level.

And we can use extrinsic force by changing our habit loops. This means using external rewards to drive us toward new behaviors. For example, you may reward yourself after going to the gym by giving yourself an hour of freetime to watch your favorite TV shows.

You can really maximize your motivation by using both of these forces – that means identifying what really matters to you, but also building a system that gives you that extra push when your motivation may be running low.

All you need is the smallest amount of force to get you started. Once you overcome that initial inertia, you’ve taken a huge step forward. Now you just need to keep walking.

Keeping momentum
Once an object is in motion, it will stay in motion unless another force acts upon it.

So motivation isn’t just about getting yourself moving, but keeping your momentum despite all the other forces or friction that may be slowing you down and holding you back from reaching your full potential.

On any path toward your goals, you’re going to face some drawbacks, obstacles, and failures. This is the friction in your life that you’ll need to work through if you really want to succeed.

Here are key things you can do to keep your momentum:

• Notice the daily victories. – Keep your motivation high by paying attention to the small victories you have on a daily basis. Progress toward your goals always happens one step at a time, there’s no overnight success.


• Reframe obstacles as guidelines. – Many of the obstacles in your life don’t have to be seen as friction, but experiences that can be learned from to help improve yourself. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”


• Try new things and stay curious. – Always be willing to try new things to keep your mind fresh and stimulated. If you get too familiar with the same activities, then your motivation is going to grow stale. Keep things interesting.


• Cultivate a long-term mindset. – Individuals who master their motivation think about the effects of their actions far into the future. They see the bigger picture, and they are in it for long-term growth, not just short-term gain.


• Be patient and relax. – Motivation is just as much about knowing when to take a step back as it is about knowing when to take a leap forward. Sometimes to keep your momentum you need to give yourself time to relax and rejuvenate.

A lot of motivation is just about keeping the right mindset. If you’re someone who has a lot of trouble finding motivation in your everyday life, you probably need to do some work on your attitude before you can start seeing success. 


Source:http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-psychology-of-motivation-overcoming-inertia-and-keeping-momentum

5 Winning Habits Of Successful People – Do You Have Them All?

Successful people and winners fascinate me. I always wonder what makes them so different from others. Therefore, I read books about successful people and try to observe what are the winning habits that they have. Here are the five of them that I have discovered.

1. They have an end in mind

You feel lost when you do not have a destination to move towards. People who achieved great success have an end in mind. They know what they want and they commit themselves to achieve it. 

When you have a goal, you have something to focus on. If you do not have a goal, you will be wandering around feeling lost. Having an end in mind can help guide you towards your destination.
 

2. Have a reason

Having an end in mind is only one part of the story. Winners have a reason behind their goals. They know their purpose behind achieving their goals.

The journey towards your goals is full of obstacles. Most people gave up half way because they lack reasons behind their goals. However, those who have strong reasons behind their goals have higher chances to move past those obstacles.

The likelihood of giving up is drastically higher if you do not have reasons behind your goals. If you have a goal to lose 20 lbs but lack reasons behind it, you will find it hard to achieve this goal. However, if you have a strong reason such as you want to lose 20 lbs in 3 months time because you want to look your best during your wedding ceremony, the likelihood of losing weight is much higher.

When you have a compelling reason to support your goals, you drastically increase the possibility of achieving it.

 

3. Have a support group

It is easy to give up when you are alone on this journey. Form a support or mastermind group to help you along the way.

To form your own support group, find like-minded people who want to achieve similar goals. Keep your group small with only two to six people. You need to choose your members carefully. Choose members who are positive, goal oriented and are pursuing similar goals to yours.

If you do not know where you can find your own support group, try out MeetUp.com or related forums to what you are doing (fitness forums, personal development forums etc).

 

4. They are particular about how they spend their time

If you do not know how you spend your time, you will waste most of your time away. Time is one of our most precious resources. You can waste your money and still manage to earn it back but there isn’t any way for you to get back your time if you waste it away.

You have to be aware of how you spent your time. If you want to achieve your goals but you are spending 70 percent of your time watching TV and hanging out with friends, most likely you will not reach your goals.

Keep a time log. There are many mobile and web-based applications that can help you track where you are spending your time. Rescue Time is a great web-based app that can help you track what you are doing on the computer and how much time you spent on each different site.

Use your preferred time log to get a clear picture of how you are spending your time and make the necessary adjustments. If you are serious about changing your life and achieving your goals, spend more time on the essential tasks instead of time wasters.

 

5. Try fast, fail fast, keep trying and never give up

It is hard to hit the target with your first try. This is why winners try fast, fail fast, keep trying and never give up. There are many things that you don’t know how to do it and trial and error is one of the ways to help you pick up new stuff.

You can learn faster by trying faster and failing more times in a shorter period. You learn at a slower pace when you are too slow to take action. When you take action to try fast, you will learn at a faster rate and know what things work and what don’t.

You can make the necessary adjustments along the way to make things right and move closer to your goals. If you are slow to take action, you jeopardize the whole process and slow down your progress.

You may face many frustrations during your learning process. However, don’t give up. Keep on trying out new ideas that you had picked up. Keep doing those that work and kick away ideas that don’t work.

There is a short cut to this process. Get yourself a mentor or a coach. Whether you want to lose weight or start your own online business, a mentor who has been there can help you move faster towards your goal.

Since they had already reached where you want to be, they will know about the challenges that you will face and what will work for you. Borrow their knowledge and you will achieve your goals in a much shorter amount of time.

If you decide to make a difference to your life, I challenge you to take action now. Start planning for your goals. Make this year your best year ever. Will you take up the challenge?

Source: http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2011/02/10/winning-habits-of-successful-people/

Passion is Not Enough – How to Stay Hungry and Accomplish Anything

 

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.

 Source: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2014/06/passion-enough-stay-hungry-accomplish-anything.html