Motivation and inspiration are some of the most powerful tools in the world. It is motivation and inspiration that has helped me get started on every great thing that I have done, however there is a downfall, motivation and inspiration are a spark, not a fire.
Many times in my life, I have been inspired, ready to act, had a great start only for it to die off. The reason it died, is not the fault of the inspiration but it is on me. It is hard to keep it going. For far too long I saw this as a negative thing but now I see the truth. When inspiration wears off, it is an opportunity to prove how bad you want it.
Here are some of my tips on how to make that happen.
1) Focus on why you started and what you want to accomplish: No one likes to do the hard tasks, all that stuff that seems pointless at the time but in reality creates the cement that holds your business together. It is hard to sit down and work on the areas of business that do not excite you. It is easy to get lost and the monotony of it all.
Instead of just looking at you having to work on your financials, respond to emails or follow up with customers and vendors, think about the impact. The act itself may be boring and painful but if you are up to date on your financials you are likely to be more successful. Checking and responding to your emails, helps you stay on top of your game. When you follow up with your vendors you are building business relationships that are critical to your future.
2) Make it part of your daily habit: When we start something new or that we are dreading, it is hard to get started, we feel out of place. Not because we are unqualified or stupid but because it is not part of our daily routine. The reason why new things are so strange to us is because you are unfamiliar with them, if you practice it daily, it will begin to feel natural.
3) Eat the elephant in the room for breakfast: Do the tasks you are dreading right away. The longer you think it over, how much it will suck and how bad it will be, the worse off we are. If we constantly think about having to do it, it drains our energy, our creativity and drive. It does not allow us to be giving the world the best version of ourselves
4) Just do it: I struggle with this in writing being a perfectionist. Remember is that you have to start somewhere, it does not have to be perfect, you can change it, add to it or even erase it when a better way comes along but you need to start somewhere. There is power in knowing that the first few times it is going to suck but it will continue to get better after that.
5) Use the buddy system: It is not just for scouting! Create an accountability buddy and agree to hold each other accountable. It is easy to lie to yourself but it is hard to lie to someone you admire and are close to. That being said, at the end of the day it all comes down to you and your choice. If you choose not to do it, you have no one to blame but yourself.
6) Set Deadlines: Deadlines are scary but they also give you a timeline to complete the tasks by. It may be hard to know that you have a limited time to complete a task but it also helps motivate you to act. Do not see a deadline as a course but as a guide to create your to do list from.
7) Ask for help: A majority of the people in this world want to help you and do not want to see you fail. Our ego tells us that we should not need help and that we should be able to figure it all out on our own. This is where we get into trouble. Do not let your ego get in the way of your success.
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