Maximise your motivation
What’s stopping you from reaching your goals?
Have you ever wanted to accomplish something, only to find that your motivation just wasn’t there? If so, you’re not alone. All of us encounter times when we seem to be driving with our brakes on and our willpower needs some energising. Do any of these sound familiar?
“I want to work on my cashbook / business plan/ marketing plan / vision for my business for the year ahead, but I’m just not motivated to do it.”
“I enjoy having my own business and being my own boss, but when I think about all the work involved, I feel overwhelmed and confused.”
“I really need to work late or in the weekend to meet deadlines, but lately I’m not motivated to because I want to spend more time with my family and friends.”
“I was thrilled to be promoted, but I’m not sure I’m the right person for the job. Maybe I should resign.”
These are the laments of women in business who have admirable goals and who truly want to succeed. Yet, somewhere along the way, their motivation has given out.
Motivation is more than wanting or desiring a goal. Motivation is the extra push that transforms desire into the will to act. The problem is that motivation blocks get in the way of accomplishment. Motivation blocks come from four sources;
- forgetting to keep the big picture in mind
- lack of know-how
- conflicting priorities
- low self-esteem and limiting beliefs
Each motivation block carries its own emotions. Let’s examine these motivation blocks, their associated emotions and some methods for breaking through each one.
Forgetting to keep the big picture in mind
Sometimes we get so mired in the details of a project that we forget why we initiated the project in the first place. The common feeling here is ‘stuck’ – not ready to quit, yet not ready to go forward. In this instance, we need to step back from the work – take a break and think about what is really important.
When you feel daunted by the details, take some time to visualise the big picture. Think about why you started your business initially and the rewards you derive from being your own boss. If you are a manager, remind yourself and others about your organisation’s purpose and vision.
Lack of know how
Often, when we take on a new task or project, we lack the necessary skills and knowledge to accomplish it. We clearly have the outcome in mind, but we don’t know the steps involved in getting from Start to Finish. The accompanying emotions are usually inadequacy and confusion or the sense that we are beaten before we’ve even begun. What to do? This is the time to get training and guidance from someone who has been there or who has the skills and knowledge. Admit you don’t know what to do or how to do it, and decide to learn.
Form a team to accomplish a project. Choose team members who possess the skills you lack. Teach others what you know, and learn from them, too Emphasise teamwork and cooperation and turn an onerous job into fun. Surround yourself with enthusiastic, motivated people and you’ll feel motivated too.
Don’t get overwhelmed. Get over the idea that you have to have all the answers. Find someone who knows the ropes and ask questions. Most people are only to happy to help out with advice or point you in the right direction. Build and maintain an informal board of advisors. You need people whom you can turn to in different areas to help you in solving problems and difficulties. Get good advice as often as you can. Don’t quit too soon. Be persistent in what you are doing.
Remember that learning entails making some mistakes and possibly perceiving yourself as awkward or inept in the beginning. Give yourself time to achieve competence in new skills. Once you have know-how your motivation will be super-charged!
Conflicting priorities
In our quest for self-improvement and achievement, we take on so many roles and responsibilities. Besides being business people, we are also daughters, mothers, neighbours, friends and citizens. To be healthy, well-rounded individuals, we must fulfil not only our professional needs, but also our needs for personal development, spiritual growth and health. When conflicts occur in our activities and responsibilities, motivation goes downhill. You may feel pressure and frustration, maybe even resentment or guilt. Those emotions signal the need to take stock of priorities and do some careful planning and decision making.
In First Things First, co-author Stephen Covey addresses the problem of too many responsibilities and too little time and energy to fulfil them. Covey advises that you first take some quiet time to identify your life purpose (ie your mission statement) and clarify what you really want to accomplish with your time on earth. Then make a list of the roles you’ve undertaken. Examples could be Parent, Business Owner, and Spouse. Add to the list your areas of responsibility for personal well-being (Covey calls this Sharpening the Saw); Physical, Spiritual, Social and Mental. Then develop a mission statement describing how you want to fulfil each category and why you want to do it.
The ‘why’ will reveal your values – and values are inherently motivating.
Once a week, take some quiet time to plan the basic, next-step activities that will contribute to the fulfilment of each role or responsibility.
Schedule these activities into smaller tasks that you can accomplish incrementally. Eliminate or delegate activities and responsibilities that do not support your priorities. The process is about finding balance.
Let go of mental limitations such as the idea that you must solve other people’s problems for them, or that you can be all things to all people. Learn that you do not have to be perfect. You do not necessarily have to meet the expectations of others, unless it is to your advantage to do so. Don’t be afraid to say no or to put some low-priority projects on hold. Make your availability clear to others by telling them what you will do and what you will not do. Enlist the support and understanding of your friends and family, and reciprocate by championing their missions, values and priorities as well. Motivation is a natural byproduct of the peace that comes from honouring your integrity.
Low self-esteem and limiting beliefs
We significantly diminish our motivation when we think we are somehow unworthy or ‘not good enough’. We miss out on success when limiting beliefs get in the way and cause us to view ourselves negatively. Examples of beliefs are;
- I really don’t have what it takes
- I’m not smart enough (not attractive enough, not experienced enough, etc)
- No one will ever want to buy my product or service (or work for me, or like me, etc)
- I failed before, so I will probably fail again.
- I’m too shy (or too old, or too young, or too short etc)
- I mustn’t speak up (or call attention to myself, or impose on others to help me, or show confusion, etc)
- I have to be prefect, so I must avoid situations with the risks of mistakes or failure
Limiting beliefs are usually the products of past failure, loss, frustration or emotional trauma. Many of them may be the result of humiliating, embarrassing or guilt-producing events in childhood. These events become injunctions from the past, dictating to us that we cannot have what we want and deserve.
Some limiting beliefs operate outside of conscious awareness. We don’t even know that a small internal voice expresses these beliefs. We simply feel a nagging fear or dread, or a sense of emptiness, instead of the limiting belief. Even when we realise, intellectually, that the belief is illogical, at the gut level, we may still operate as though it is true.
Here are some ways to smash through those limiting beliefs and boost your self-esteem;
Write your limiting belief in a sentence and then write a counter statement that expresses what you’d rather think about yourself. Make the counter statement into a positive affirmation. Put the positive affirmation on a note card and carry it with you or hang it on your bathroom mirror. Memorise the positive affirmation and say it several times a day, until it seems familiar and true.
Make a list of your positive qualities and strengths. Review the list every day. Visualise yourself engaging in activities that attest to these assets. This picture is the image of your ideal self. Focus on this mental image often, especially when you feel fearful.
Accept as a fact of life that you have inherent worth and value as a human being. Resolve to live your ideals, eliminate bad habits one by one, and expand your capabilities and leanings.
Take care of yourself because you are worth the effort.Get proper rest, nutrition and exercise. Take care of your health. Cultivate supportive, loving relationships. Assert yourself to get what you want and need from others. Occasionally, indulge and pamper yourself.
Refuse to mentally berate yourself.
Instead, make your self-talk kind, loving, tolerant and forgiving. Make up your mind to be your best friend.
Self-worth is learned and you can learn to accept and like yourself. Your motivation will increase when you truly believe that you are entitled to your goals and dreams, and that you do have what it takes to get them.
So… to sum upWhen your motivation ebbs, take a reading on your emotions. Your feelings may indicate the problem that blocks your motivation. Another way to find out is to say to yourself, “This is what I want. Now what is stopping me from getting it?” Pinpoint your motivation blocks. Then, keep the outcome in mind, be willing to learn, plan your work around your values and priorities, and believe in yourself. Follow these guidelines and maximise your motivation!
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