Are Motivated People Different?

Is there something different about being a Motivated Person? Are they unique or somehow different? There is nothing really “secret” about motivated people but of you want to be a successful goal achiever there are some approaches and attitudes which will help you stand out from the crowd.

People who are successful in their chosen field are generally speaking motivated to achieve. They approach things in a way which helps them to achieve the success they want. Whether your goal is to be recognised as an expert in your field; to be the best at what you do; to achieve a promotion or find a new role there are certain behaviours and attitudes which will help you. So let’s take a look at what those are:

Start with small mini-goals.

      Start with something small and easy, then grow from there. Sometimes a large goal or even a long-term goal is too overwhelming. You can lose motivation quickly when there is a lot of time left before you reach your goal. Let’s say you have a goal of getting more exercise. Don’t think you have to do intense 30-45 minute, 5-day-a week exercise right from the start. Instead start out with something smaller, say a five minute routine or a ten minute walk for one week. Then the next week add a few more minutes until, by the end of the month, you’re doing 30 minutes of exercise.

Work on one goal at a time.

      Working on several goals at once saps your energy and can rob you of your motivation quickly. It’s a mistake many of us make. Keeping your focus is out of the question when trying to accomplish two or more goals at the same time.

Really want what is is that you are striving for.

      This is essential. You have to be passionate about your reasons why you want something. Write your reasons down. They have to be reasons you are really excited about and you want deeply.

Commit to it publicly.

      Nothing holds you more accountable than sharing it with others. No one wants to look bad in front of someone else. Tell your friends and family, write about it in your blog or on social media. Hold yourself accountable over and over by giving progress updates every week or so.

Build anticipation

      . This goes along with the accountability. Build anticipation by setting a date in the future as your start date – say a week or two from when you announce your goal. Mark that date on your calendar. Talk about it like it’s the most important date in your life. Write out a plan for reaching the goal so you know the steps to take when you do start.

Print out your goal

      . Post it somewhere where you see it every day, like the bathroom mirror or refrigerator and on your desk at work. Make it a big reminder to keep you focused and excited. Keep focused on the end goal.

Be positive about yourself and your success

      . With faith in what you believe, you can conquer whatever you desire. Have a win-win attitude. Keep your attitude positive.

Be proactive

      . Don’t let negative people or situations take control. Listen to yourself and how you feel.

Set priorities

      . Learn what should come first in your life – only you will know this!

Anticipate pitfalls

      . When you make a plan, troubleshoot any problems you may encounter.

Have an attitude of expectancy

    . Motivated people know that you get what you expect. Expect great results. Expect to achieve your goal but ensure that you don’t come across as big-headed or arrogant. Confidence in yourself and humility do go hand in hand.

If there is a “secret” of motivated people it is to start with small goals, be really excited and passionate about your reasons why you are reaching for a specific goal, and to hold yourself accountable.

 

 

Can You Believe This? Myths about Motivation

We’ve been told by motivational speakers and authors what we need to do to become or stay motivated. No doubt they believed they were giving good advice. They genuinely wanted to help others reach their goals.

But were they unintentionally reinforcing false notions about how motivation works?

Let’s look at some of these motivational myths.

1. Write down your goals and you’re guaranteed success.

  • In all fairness there is some truth in writing down your goals and getting specific about what you want is important. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. You have to do more than write them down. Writing down a goal helps you plan, but action is what actually gets you to the goal.

2. Do your best.

  • Many people believe this is a great way to motivate someone. They think it encourages someone without putting pressure on them. Actually, it is only giving them permission to be mediocre. Instead, you should set specific and difficult goals. That way you push yourself to work harder and commit to the goal in the long term.

3. Visualize your success.

  • This is popular positive thinking advice. Visualizing success without putting in any effort isn’t helpful. In fact, it’s a recipe for failure. You can visualize your success, but you have to believe that to make that success happen you’ll need to put forth the effort, planning and persistence.

4. You’re your biggest motivator.

  • You could have all the gung-ho in the world, but if you are associating with negative people or are trying to do it alone, then you’re doomed to fail. For example, if you want to lose weight, then socializing with those who make unhealthy choices can derail you. In reality, you need the right social support to reach your goal. A good offline and online support structure is necessary for sharing experiences and building confidence.

5. Failure is a sign of weakness.

  • Don’t beat yourself up if you fail at some point. It could be because you stopped tracking your successes or skipped a few days on your diet. These aren’t a sign of weakness. It’s simply a sign of old, familiar behavior patterns working their way back into your life. Failure is a result of lack of planning or poor behavior patterns.

These motivational myths aren’t your keys to success. In order to succeed, you need to put in the effort and create a plan to achieve your goal. You can find motivation in these myths, but without putting in the work they’ll remain myths.