5 Ways to Always Be Highly Motivated
Posted March 10, 2011 in Inspiration, Productivity
Work for me is not work. Why? Because I love what I do. Sure, I expend effort. I’m up early, before the rest of my colleagues, creating, planning and strategizing.
Even as I prepare this article I am seated in one of a few of my favorite cafes at 7 a.m., as is my habit, writing.
I’ll be at my office around 8.30 a.m., and before I get there I will have already written yet another ‘winning’ article designed specifically to help others to reach their full potential.
How do I do it? In this post, I’ll share what motivates me. It may work for you too.
Find Your Motivation
Here are five ways that you can be motivated doing your work all the time:
- Love what you do–Like everyone else I talk to, there have been times when I have done things in the workplace that I didn’t particularly enjoy. But I have constantly made it my mission to discover what I love doing, positioned myself to do what I love doing and then pursued it. I have just sold my web design clients after servicing them for the past seven years. Now did I remove that from my life because I hated it? No. I simply identified what was best for me and my team, and we have now moved on to projects that we are all passionate about. Like marriage, just because you get tired of your partner, you don’t trade them in. If love grows cold, you don’t just give up. This is where we must dig deeper and renew our passion. Both my wife and I have done this time and again throughout the years and that’s why I not only love what I do, but also love my wife deeply after 28 years of marriage.
- Learn what to do–Ongoing education is vital if you want to maintain your love affair with what you do. Someone once taught me that if you wish to get excited about anything–research. Dig deep. And the more knowledgeable you become about your subject the more passionate you will become. As part of my new direction in my life at present, I want to monetize my Motivational Memo Blog significantly. So the first thing I did was identify a leader in that field who is already making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from blogging, and I have become his student. I’ve even enrolled some of my staff in the same course so that they too can grow in that area and continue to love what they do.
- Manage what you do–Once I leave my coffee shop this morning I am heading off to drop my youngest daughter at work, as her car is out of action at present, and will then drive to my office where my ‘6-list’ awaits me. This is the list of six things that I will complete today that will move me forward on the projects that I’m currently undertaking. I write this list the day before on a blank sheet of paper. As each task is completed I cross it off. If any tasks are not completed on that day, they are moved to the next day’s list. Through this process I am never left wondering what I am to do next, and when I arrive at work each morning I hit the ground running with great momentum because I have learned to manage me through the power of the list.
- Teach what you do–To learn more–teach. I was trained originally as a schoolteacher, but never wanted to be stuck in a classroom with 30 children who were not my own. But teaching is definitely still in my blood and I currently coach four entrepreneurs on how to run successful operations. In addition, I teach thousands of others through my Motivational Memo Blog and through articles such as this one that I am writing. I’m also called upon to speak at various events to business groups in my own country. I love teaching because it is when I teach that new ideas and methods are sparked in my own mind that I can apply to my own businesses. The more you give when you teach the more you will receive.
- Visualize what you do–I could have put this point as point number 1, but just because it is point 5 doesn’t lessen its importance. Work should never just be about getting the job done. It should also include where you are going. Refer to my visualization tips below.
Your Turn
Here are some questions to jog you and help you to visualize what you want:
- What is your long term vision for your career or your business?
- What are the outcomes you desire?
- What income do you wish to make?
- What are the investments you wish to pursue?
- What lifestyle do you want for your family?
- What do you want to do for your favorite charity or your church?
- What is your vision for your life?
- What industry do you want to not just be a follower in, but rather a leader?
- What do you wish to be an expert at?
By visualizing what you want and then aiming for it, you will never feel stuck in a rut, but will rather be on a journey to somewhere of significance and contribution.
What other ways could you ensure that you remain highly motivated at work?
Share your answers in the comments.
Image by joiseyshowaa
Related posts:
- Ten Tips To Stay Motivated — Even When You Really Don’t Feel Like Working
- Open Thread: How Do You Stay Motivated?
- Staying Motivated Through the Years
About the author: Peter G. James Sinclair is in the ‘heart to heart’ resuscitation business and inspires, motivates and equips others to be all that they’ve been created to become. Receive your free copy of his latest eBook Personal Success Blueprint at--http://www.motivationalmemo.com and add him on Twitter @PeterGJSinclair--today!
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32 Comments
saqib sarwar
March 10th, 2011 at 8:47 amNice and motivational read.
I really feel re-energized and re-motivated after sharing my story of overcoming a challenge with my team, family and friends. This also help me get feedback on my approach and learn how can I even perform better next time..
Web Design Business Academy
March 10th, 2011 at 10:12 amNice motivational tips Peter.
It’s so true .. if you love what you do you are bound to work more efficiently.
I love point #4 and that is exactly what I do now … teach other freelance web designers how to run a web design business and create wealth.
Best regards
Nick.
Billy Kirsch
March 10th, 2011 at 10:29 amGreat tips – easy to grab onto and remember. I will quote these in my educational presentations! I so agree that teaching is vital to self-learning, thanks!
Jen @ Adrinah Design
March 10th, 2011 at 11:12 amThese are great tips! I think #2 is one that I struggle with from time to time. I have a desire to learn more, it’s the act of actually scheduling time to do it. As a designer, sometimes you think that you have all the tools you need in front of you but there is ALWAYS something new to learn. Weather it be a new technique to learn and master or a more efficient way to do your bookkeeping.
Thanks for the reminder. These are great tips to hold on to in order to stay motivated!
Melissa
March 10th, 2011 at 11:42 amLike Jen said, it’s hard to keep learning while you’re trying to earn money. BUT, the thing I get most excited about is doing something new. It’s a fine line. I’m lucky that I really love what I do. I wake up every morning excited to get started. Well, ALMOST every morning :))
Rachel Small
March 10th, 2011 at 11:47 amInspiring post, thank you! Visualizing what you do (#5) is extremely important. Every month I write out my short-term and long-term goals and then I make sure I read them every morning before I start working. This helps me stay motivated – it’s vital to have a vision!
Brad Chacos
March 10th, 2011 at 3:53 pmI stay motivated by browsing the local craigslist job listings from time to time. Seeing the workplace alternatives — less pay for less freedom for the most part, especially after the recession — helps me remember that not only do I love what I do, I also love the flexibility of being my own boss.
Vivek Parmar
March 10th, 2011 at 11:34 pmThanks for the nice article, motivating ourselves is the best thing to keep your moral high and made you working on what you like because freelancing makes you little bit lonely as you do not have too much income
Not too much dreams
To be known with my own identity + better lifestyle for my family + 8 figure income per month
Darlehen
March 11th, 2011 at 3:35 amMotivating ourselves is the best thing to keep your moral high. Please in the future, expand this post. Thanks.
Cesar
March 11th, 2011 at 9:20 amWhen you don´t feel motivated, just remember the big WHY behind.
You started at freelancing because you wanted to achieve something. What is it? Just remember that and you will be back on track :D
Just Feel Free
March 11th, 2011 at 10:43 amWhen we have deadline, a lot of task to complete and problems to resolve, would u still/can motivated ur self? This question always in my mind. And I never get the best answer. Thx Peter, I believe the answer for me is “LOVE WHAT YOU DO”
Nick Beske
March 12th, 2011 at 1:25 amI like the 6-list idea for a high-level overview type of prioritizing. I tend to add a lot of to-dos to my highrise tasks and sometimes its hard to figure out where to start or what to do next. Im going to try this out for a week and see how it works. Thanks!
Vince
March 14th, 2011 at 10:01 amGreat article Peter! I also like the idea of the 6-list. Teaching is THE best way to grow your knowledge. I had a professor in law school that said he learned more in his first year of teaching than the 10 years prior to that.
flory
March 14th, 2011 at 11:38 pmReally inspiring Peter… thanks for sharing these ideas and #4 is what I’d like to try now. I’d also like to share this post on my blog… please let me know. Hear from you!
Thanks and more power!
Flory
tykayn
March 15th, 2011 at 8:09 amthese are good tips, having a view of where each work leads you is very important. like reading between the lines :)
TheKoolDots
March 15th, 2011 at 9:39 amTimely Post.
I’m on my 3rd cup of coffee waiting for the inspiration to kick in!
Thanks,
Michael Soininen
March 16th, 2011 at 4:36 amGreat tips. Creating a ’6-list’ is now on my list. ;)
Kelsey
March 25th, 2011 at 10:40 amExcellent post. I really like #4 and couldn’t agree more with that. You will always learn more when you teach.
Chandra
April 1st, 2011 at 2:00 amGreat Article. Thank you so much for sharing.
Nathan
April 12th, 2011 at 7:11 ammy motivation goes up and down like a yoyo. one of the best things to get me going again is a good office clean up. for some reason i enjoy working in a clean office more.
Elaine Maher
April 14th, 2011 at 4:07 amGreat motivational tips, I really like number two as I find that the more I learn about a subject the more interested I become which motivates me to work harder. As a designer you are never up-to-date as everything changes so quickly, there are always new tools and methods to assist your work.
jon
May 25th, 2011 at 4:21 pmThis is an awesome article. #4 was something that keeps me motivated most of the time.
pozycjonowanie marki
August 24th, 2011 at 9:17 amThank you for the huge review, but I m really love the new Zune, and i wish this, as well as the bad reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it s the right choice for you.
seo freelance
October 5th, 2011 at 12:24 pmVisualize what you do! That’s the first step to be motivated. Just close your eyes for a one minute and see what you want to do, like if it was already done. It works!
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