1. Find what drives you. Are you driven by your own needs, by the need of your family, or by someone else? How about the needs of your clients? Are you willing to work 10-hour days because your client is in a pinch or because you desire the end result? Maybe your drive comes from paying off your debt and providing a better life for your family. ACTION STEP: Find what drives you and then exploit it to stay motivated and focused. Write it down and post it at your work station where you will see it frequently throughout the day.
2. Visualize the end result. Zoning in on the end result is one of the key steps in being able to understand how to get motivated. When you accomplish a goal, you feel a sense of excitement or triumph. ACTION STEP: Visualize how you'll feel once you accomplish each goal. Make a to-do list for the things you'd like to do once you get this task out of the way. Maybe you'll take a mini vacation with your significant other, make an appointment to get a massage, or take a day off and play golf. Hang that list where it will remind you frequently of the desired result.
3. Reward yourself. Aren't rewards the biggest motivator? Give yourself a tiny prize every time you accomplish something on your to-do list. Motivate yourself with a cup of coffee, a break to read your favorite books, or the time to take that vacation. ACTION STEP: Set up small rewards for each goal you achieve. Staying motivated is a heck of a lot easier when you've got something exciting in the immediate future to look forward to.
4. Change your scenery. Sometimes, it's just difficult to get motivated when you're looking at the same four walls hour after hour. Occasionally, all you need is a change of scenery to get the ball rolling. ACTION STEP: Shake things up by changing your scenery. If it's a nice summer day, get some work done while sitting on your porch. If you live in the city, head to a coffee shop and plop yourself down into a nice cushy chair, get a latte and get to work.
5. Plan ahead. Creating a realistic schedule is essential when trying to understand how to get motivated. ACTION STEP: Give yourself a set amount of time to complete each task and then move on. If you're not done before times up, save the task for the end of the day and reprioritize your to-do list for the following day.
6. Divide responsibility. You're not just an entrepreneur; you also have personal responsibilities that need your attention. If you have a spouse or children, consider delegating some responsibilities to them. Instead of using your break to drive to the post office and mail bills, ask your significant other if they have time to do it before he or she heads to work. If you usually wake up early to clean the house, give your 13-year old $20 to clean the house three times each week. ACTION STEP: Hold a family and/or team meeting to divide responsibilities throughout your household (and office) so you can free up your most valuable time to taking on the most high-impact actions.
7. Remember why you do this. You obviously became an entrepreneur for a reason. Perhaps you have a passion for what you do or it allows the flexibility you need in your schedule. Maybe your income provides great benefits to you or your family that would otherwise be minimal if it were not for your business. ACTION STEP: Constantly be mindful of why you do what you do - it's one of the best ways to easily get and stay motivated.
8. Use fear. This may seem like a dirty little trick, but sometimes it's a necessary evil to truly learn how to stay motivated. If you are unable to connect with why you do what you do, perhaps thinking of what would happen if you didn't will remind you. You may use this only as a last resort if nothing else seems to be working. ACTION STEP: Think of what you could lose if you don't get the task at hand completed. Analyze what's at stake and let the fear of losing these valuable things pump you into getting motivated!
9. Raise the Bar. Successful entrepreneurs know that constantly raising the bar is the true key to self improvement. Raising the bar each time you reach a goal will force you to advance your skills, become a strategic thinker and ultimately thrust you towards completing your responsibilities in a more efficient manner. ACTION STEP: Raise the bar every month or even every week. If you have a goal in mind, step it up one or two more notches, yet it must still be believable for you. You'll soon start to see your motivation (and your ability to achieve more) sky rocket.
10. Break a Sweat. It's no secret that exercising boosts your confidence and helps you stay motivated. Get active and clear your thoughts by taking a jog in the park each morning, swimming a lap in your pool during your lunch break or speed walking with your dog before work. Any kind of physical activity for thirty minutes or longer will help you get motivated and boost your levels of endorphins. ACTION STEP: Commit to 30-minutes per day of any type of exercise. Use your personal preference (morning, afternoon or night) to use your peak energy to the best advantage.
Follow these tips and action steps to help you get and stay motivated and you will continue to move closer to achieving your goals. Remember, it's about staying focused and disciplined, taking many positive steps forward while minimizing or eliminating the backwards steps, and committing to doing what it takes to get you where you want to be.
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