Kickfannie TimeMatters

by Terry Monaghan for Kickfannie Operations

How do you stay motivated?

“People tell me that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. Which is why I recommend it daily.”

I love that quote from Zig Ziglar for many reasons. It makes me laugh, and it makes me think.

Recently a client asked me “how do you stay motivated to get everything done?” At the time, she was dealing with end of the year business issues, kids home from school on holiday, a lack of sleep, and a trip to the emergency room. I suspect that all she really wanted to do was crawl back into bed and start the day over!

I took her question seriously, though, because getting motivated and staying motivated is an issue many of us face with some frequency.

Here is what I told my client:

There are several ways I keep myself motivated and moving forward.

Change the perspective.

In the swirl of day to day activities, it can be very easy to lose sight of what the point of all that action actually is. When that happens, the never ending list of things to do becomes just that: the never ending list of things to do – no end in sight, no joy, no satisfaction, and no point. To combat that, remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Remind yourself what the outcome will be – what you are working towards – the bigger picture and overall vision you have for your work. The change in perspective makes a difference.

Getting back in touch with the larger picture usually brings your enthusiasm back into play, and gives you the energy and motivation to continue with the tasks.

Eat the frog.

Very few things are more de-motivating than procrastinating or avoiding some unpleasant or unfamiliar action.

Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and take on the biggest item on the list. When you tackle the hardest or biggest item first, you get a burst of energy and satisfaction – which will usually carry you though the rest of your day.

Sometimes the best motivation is getting past what looks like the biggest obstacle first. You may not be very motivated when you begin, but you will have a state change by the time you are done.

Take a break.

Let’s face it: sometimes you find yourself in a real mood of doom and gloom. Nothing seems to be working the way it is supposed to. Everything is getting in your way. The computer eats your report. The customer is nasty. The staff is behaving worse than the gremlins who got fed. Traffic is a nightmare on a clear day for no reason at all.

When that happens just walk away for a few minutes. Throwing more time at the problem will not make the difference. Taking a short break will work.

Switching your focus from all these problems and breakdowns gives you a chance to relax, and gives your brain an opportunity to reboot.

The point is, giving yourself a break allows you to return to your work refreshed and re-energized.

Don’t go it alone.

And then, there are those times when absolutely nothing you do will get you motivated. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Looking at the world from different perspectives isn’t cutting it. Eating the frog is unappealing. If you take a break, you know you won’t be coming back.

So, what do you do? Have an accountability partner – someone who will listen to what you want to accomplish and will hold you to account for getting things done. Sometimes just talking the issue over with another person will get your energy going again.

What do you have to lose?

I would be remiss if I did not mention one of the biggest motivators around: Fear of loss. While I prefer to focus on the positive much of the time, there is no denying that one of the strongest factors motivating many people is that fear.

I have read that people will do more to avoid pain or loss than almost anything else. You would need to determine what you have to lose if you give up the project or stop the action.

Ultimately, how you stay motivated is up to you.

About the Contributor

Terry's clients find themselves working on what is most fulfilling and what really matters in moving things forward rather than what they previously thought they "had to do." The things you hoped to get to someday become the things you work on today.

With over 30 years of business and entrepreneurial experience, Terry's unique technology has dramatically increased the productivity of Fortune 100 executives and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. As a Keynote Speaker with the Tony Robbins Power Team, Washington, DC, Terry inspired audiences in our Nation’s capital to “Eliminate the Overwhelm!” To learn more about Time Triage™ check out Terry’s website at www.timetriage.com

Submit Questions for Terry to answer at TimeMatters@kickfannie.com