How Do You Stay Motivated?

At the end of my seminar last week one of the attendees had a question.

He asked, “If you’ve been doing something for so long, How do you keep your passion for it?”
At the time I said that you can’t allow yourself to be caught in the false security of a comfort zone.

I told him that we have to continue to challenge and stretch ourselves to do things we haven’t done before. Otherwise things just become routine and it no longer commands our attention the way they used to.

At the time I was satisfied with the answer I gave. But over the last few days I’ve taken some time to really contemplate his question.

Please keep reading for a more thoughtful answer to ‘How to stay motivated’.

1. Do you experiment and explore new possibilities? Some people lose passion because they never try anything new. They’ll dream about something different and wish it would happen. But, you must take a chance on yourself and do something!

2. Is your attitude the source of the problem? Way too often we blame other people for our issues. I once heard someone say that when you point the finger at someone else you have three pointing back at you. If a great attitude can be infectious, a bad attitude can be a plague. A negative attitude can suck the life out of you and everyone in your vicinity.

3. Are your expectations too low? Always remember that your manifestations are driven by your expectations. Isn’t it amazing how we usually get what we expect? We have to start raising our standards in order to have more passionate lives and careers.

4. Are non-work related issues the problem? Things like not exercising, eating poorly, and not getting enough sleep can make any job a drag. Start making adjustments in this area and you’ll notice an immediate change in your energy level.

5. Are you in the wrong profession, job, or major? Sometimes we need to find new work. Or maybe we need to get away from our current coworkers or supervisors. There is a such thing as a bad fit.

6. Are you just in a funk right now? We all have times when we just don’t feel good. Sometimes we need a break to recharge our batteries. I’ve found that when I get back to speaking or writing after resting for a while, I’m more enthusiastic. Remember we’re all artists in some way. Creative people need time off in order to regain strength and momentum.

7. Take time to reflect on your successes. I remember the first time someone came up to me after a talk or wrote me to tell me how something I said touched their life. I used the energy that they gave me and ran with it. It galvanized my work and confirmed that I was doing the right thing. Never forget what inspired you in the first place.

Lessons from "A Raisin In The Sun"

Last night on ABC was the airing of the much-hyped TV movie, A Raisin in The Sun. The small-screen production was originally a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The story is based upon a family's own experiences growing up in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood (my hometown!).

The strong performances of the cast members, which included Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Lathan, and the ubiquitous Sean "Diddy" Combs, inspired a couple of thoughts.

1. Diddy is a perfect example of why it's so important to be considered great or an expert at one thing first. Back in the early 1990's he built a reputation (brand) for being a shrewd music mogul with a strong sense of style, a hit-making producer, and for having discovered many musical acts, such as Mary J. Blige, who went on to super stardom.

He focused all of his energy on being the best record executive he could be before he opened a restaurant, started a clothing line, and became a television star. Do you see the process? He became the standard in his respective industry then created spin-off businesses that were just natural extensions of himself and his brand. And now, there's a strong possibility that he'll be nominated for an award for his role as "Walter Lee Younger".

There’s nothing wrong with having a lot of ideas. Just don’t pursue them all at once. Keep a journal and write them down. Then, after you’ve established yourself, take a look at your list. You might find that you have some viable ideas that may work.

2. We all want opportunities to live our dreams. But, will you be prepared when the chance comes? Diddy's character, Walter Lee Younger, wanted so badly to get out of his situation as a low-wage driver who received even less respect. He begged his mother to give him $10,000 that she was getting as an insurance settlement. Then, when he finally got $6500 to go into business as a liquor store owner, he lost it to his "business partner" who ran off with the money.

Anyone can get conned out of money. However Walter Lee was so overly excited about he business that I wonder if he would've gotten duped had he done more research - on the business and his "partner".

One of my favorite quotes comes from Muhammad Ali: "I'd either won or lost the fight before I got in the ring." What Ali meant was that if he trained properly, put in the time, gave attention to details, bled and sweat, he knew that he was ready.

Have you put in the necessary time and preparation to be ready when your shot comes?

Cause of Procrastination #4 - F.E.A.R.

Succumbing to our fears makes it easy for us to start putting things off, delaying action and ultimately not completing tasks and goals we set for ourselves. Fear of how we're perceived, fear of failure and fear of success can stop the chronic procrastinator dead in their tracks. But, if we're to live up to our potential, we have to "do us". We can't afford to worry about how folks will look at us or their opinions. You have to live your life and be happy with it as do they have to live theirs.

Believe it or not, many are afraid of what will happen if they reach their goals and become successful. They fear how their life might change with new responsibilities. Along with this fear comes doubt about their worthiness of what they're seeking.

"The fear of success is a very unique issue that arises when you are genuinely creating change and moving forward in your life," says Ti Caine, a hypnotherapist and life coach based in Sherman Oaks, California. "The fear of success is very real because the future is real-we're all heading there-and what we imagine for our future has an enormous influence on us."

In their most basic form, these concerns are all fears of the unknown. in fact the acronym for fear, F.E.A.R., is FALSE EXPECTATIONS APPEARING REAL. Nothing has even happened that should make us afraid, yet we're anticipating the worst. The chronic procrastinator does not know what the outcome will be or how it will affect them and this causes their thoughts to tangle and become tense. They freeze and put off any action until they are confident that they know exactly how it will come about.

Invariably, this usually results in a negative outcome and increases the depth of their fear the next time they are presented with a similar situation or opportunity. After the collapse of two businesses it took me a long time to even consider doing anything else entrepreneurial. I was afraid that if I started another venture I would lose money, be embarrassed, and end up once again starting from the bottom. Because I couldn't let go of the past, my fears began to control me. It doesn’t take long for this to become a habit of life and common way of living for those that slip into the grasp of chronic procrastination.

Having Faith: By Kevin Bracy

Picture the day when you are able to wake up after a great nights rest and you are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and achievement. The day before you has been planned by you and only you, there are no restraints, no obligations, there will be no rushing, no punching a time-clock...this day will be productive and prosperous.

What a far cry from starting your day by crawling out of bed frustrated, unfulfilled, unhappy, no sense of achievement and not even a hint of gratitude because your day entails doing things that you do not want to do, things that bring you no internal satisfaction. You would rather hide under the covers than face another day full of hard work, money challenges, self image issues and challenging relationships all thanks to you living outside of your purpose.

Getting to the day when you wake up refreshed, renewed and relaxed is not easy; there will be people that laugh at you, that say you are just dreaming, they may even tell you that you will never make it. You will even have days when you doubt yourself, when you think that doing what you love for a living will never become your reality.

Look closely, can't you see the momentum shifting your way? It may not be the wave that you have been hoping for, but I bet if you look you can find at least a hint, a sign of great things to come. Do you notice your revenue increasing? Remember, revenue is not always immediate, sometimes the revenue for the work you do now does not come your way for some time, be patient and keep doing the roadwork, it is coming...now do you see it? Are you noticing the growth? Growth in yourself, in your thoughts, your dreams...your possibility thinking?

FREEDOM, it can be your reality. You don't have to earn your living in a way that leaves you feeling empty, that takes time away from your true passion, from your calling. You can do what you love and get paid for it, you can have a fulfilling and prosperous career that allows you to get excited about all that you get to do each and every day.

How? One word...FAITH...confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, of an idea, confident belief in you. Have the faith to chase your dreams, to take a chance, to make a change in your life and put yourself in the position to help others do the same. Remember, faith is belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence; it is complete confidence...confidence in yourself, confidence in your abilities, confidence in your gifts.

Faith pays off. It just may be the last ingredient you need to empower yourself to live your dreams.

Have Faith. Do you?

By Kevin Bracy www.kevinbracy.com

Cause of Procrastination #3 - Lack of Confidence

With lack of confidence as a cause for procrastination, we often have great ideas and plans but never even get them off of the ground because we don't have the confidence we can actually accomplish what we set out to do.

Essentially, what we're doing when we postpone doing things that will enrich our lives is letting our music die within us. I can't imagine all of the cures for diseases, artwork, music, books, and leadership the world has lost because the progenitor didn't have enough confidence to bring it forth.

From January through December 2006 I thought about writing a newsletter that would empower and inspire people. Everyday I considered how doing something like this would brighten people's lives and help them on their journeys to success. I talked with friends whose opinions I respected and got their feedback. To a person, all of them said that it was a great idea and they could see me writing it. They believed in my ability to motivate an audience.

The only problem was that I didn't believe it. I would say, "Who am I to write about hope, success, faith, and love?" Or, "I want to do it, but who's going to listen to me?" Another of my favorite excuses was, "Suppose I run out of material to write about?" I wrote down the reasons why I should do it and what I would talk about. My mind raced back to when I was a high school student and my writing teacher told me that I "just don't have it." Then I would convince myself that "I'll get to this tomorrow". But, "tomorrow" came and went for 365 days!

Finally, on January 2 2007, I got the nerve to go ahead and do it. I wrote my first newsletter "Take a Chance on Yourself Today!" and emailed it to 20 of my closest friends and family members. I waited nervously for their replies. I was so scared - unnecessarily so - that their feedback would be negative. Instead, the responses I got back were very encouraging. They told me that they were proud of me and that I should keep sending the newsletter. People I didn't know started to email me for advice or to request that I write about certain topics. Other publishers have asked the kid who "just didn't have it" if they could reprint my essays.

Don't worry about your plans being perfect or if you know it all. There are no flawless plans. Nobody has all the answers. The most important lessons will be learned after you get started anyway. If you'll just take a chance on yourself you might be surprised by what you can accomplish.

Causes of Procrastination #2 - Overwhelm

This is part 2 in a 4-part series on discovering why we procrastinate. To read part 1 about how perfectionism hampers us click here.

When we think about all the things we have to do on top of the things we dream about doing it can be a bit daunting. You go to work for 8-12 hours everyday, you need to make sure your kids get home safe from baseball practice, and you need to get your breaks on your car fixed. Oh, and you have to eat, too! For many of us these are just the basics of everyday life. These activities alone are enough for anyone to handle. If you're an ambitious person, or someone who just wants to change your life, you probably have goals on top of your daily responsibilities.

It's no wonder why you would brainstorm a project, draw out an outline with deadlines, get advice from people you respect, and then do...nothing. You've got way too much going on already!

The feeling of being overwhelmed can quickly lead a person to procrastinating because they don’t know what to do next. They don’t know what the most effective action to take is because there are seems to be so many things that need to be done. This can happen quickly without warning.

The person who suffers from being overwhelmed will typically be the kind of person that likes to help others, they’ll take on so much responsibility that they will suddenly freeze with inactiveness. Once the feelings of being overwhelmed take hold it is sometimes very difficult for this person to make even the simplest decisions.

This is the point where some experts might say that you need to manage your time more effectively in order to do more things. This isn't totally wrong. But, I think the most important thing to do is find balance so that you can have peace. When you're at peace your mind is clearer and there's less weight on your shoulders.

Overwhelm has definite emotional overtones which may include stress, confusion, fear, and anxiety. There are also physical signs: tightness in your chest, a knot in your stomach, and becoming short-tempered. None of those states are ideal for overcoming procrastination. Many times we are reluctant to acknowledge to ourselves or admit to others that we are feeling overwhelmed because we view it as a sign of weakness.

If you stay too long in a state of overwhelm you will eventually progress to burnout. If you learn how to recognize overwhelm, avoid it, or recover from it quickly you will not only feel better, you will likely also be more productive!

Missing Element to Your Entrepreneurial Success

Recently I introduced you to a leading transformational teacher who is creating enormous success with the life coaches and entrepreneurs she's working with – her name is Sharon Wilson.

Sharon is on the forefront of teachers today that are sharing what the "Missing Element" is. Her clients report amazing successes beyond logical explanation... and I know you will agree with us – the landscape of business is definitely changing.

Sharon has agreed to do a complimentary (this means FR*EE!) teleconference call on this very "Element" – it happens on Tuesday Jan 29th at 8 p.m. – 9pm ET /5:00- 6:00 p.m. PST. (There will be a special Question and Answer session to jumpstart you to greater success following the class at 9pm-9:30pm ET.) She's calling it "The Missing Element to Your Entreprenurial Success"

I know you will be motivated by what Sharon has to say. As a special bonus for registering for the call you will also get free admission to a very special call the week earlier with Mega success mentor Jack M. Zufelt called: How To Use The Conquering Force Within You to Achieve Maximum Success. . .Quickly"

Listen to Jack as he takes popular beliefs about success like Goal Setting, Daily Affirmations and listening to Motivational Speakers and shows you why they don't work! Then learn what it really takes to be 100% successful in all areas of life and perform at the highest levels possible!

Two powerful mentors in two weeks to ensure your goals in 2008 really happen!

This is all you need this year to be on track and living your vision.

Just register for the fr*ee class and you can get access to this must attend New Year AMP up session today as our gift to you!

Simply sign up here.

We expect at least a thousand people on this call so sign on now!

With your free registration, you will also receive an additional gift from Sharon – her 7 day e-course, "Success From Spirit," which normally sells for $79.95. but she wants you to have it as our gift to you!

If you're looking for elemental strengths to add to your growing business success, I strongly encourage you to get involved in this call. Sharon Wilson has a lot to share, and I know you're going to learn something of significance.

Thanks,

Derek Felton

How to Stand Out at Work

Me and a friend were talking about work yesterday during MLK day. It's amazing how even on holidays when you're supposed to be chillin' "the office" comes up. Anyway, we were discussing what makes a person a superstar at work.

There are may factors that go into it: working somewhere that values your ideas, staying away from gossip, having a supervisor who understands her team member's talents, actually doing work that you're good at, and having the desire to stand out. It also helps if you stay at a job longer than a month!

So if you're looking to get a raise, earn a promotion, get a letter of recommendation to graduate school, or even transfer to a new department as smoothly as possible, here's a list of things I thought might help you:

1. Do work that floats your boat. There is no substitute for actually being passionate about your chosen field. I spent the first 4 years after I graduated from college searching for something that would excite me. No wonder why I was ready to quit almost every job I had less than two months into it.

2. Come with some original ideas. Yeah you can simply sit and wait for your boss to give you something to do. You can also be the best team player in the world. But, if you don't come with some spine-tingling ideas that get you and your boss excited, you'll constantly see other people getting promoted ahead of you.

3. Speak up. Being the cool, quiet person at work who you don't hear a peep from all day might be okay if you're a librarian. But, this rarely gets you anywhere in a corporate setting. Have something relevant to say in meetings; when you see problems, fix them and let your supervisor know.

4. Keep a record of your accomplishments. Yes, your boss saw you take the initiative to change the water cooler. But, what else have you done that you can document? If you helped organize an important event or if your activity has increased your company's sales, make a detailed note of it in your files. When it comes time for your review you'll have a complete dossier of all the good you've done that year.

Do these simple steps and you'll be raking in the dough and movin' on up in no time!

John Wooden's Success Principles

If there's anyone we can learn principles of success from, it's John Wooden. Wooden is the legendary former head coach of UCLA's men's basketball team. During his 40 years as a coach Wooden compiled four undefeated seasons of 30-0, won 19 conference championships, had an NCAA record 88 game winning streak, and captured an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships, including seven consecutive from 1966-1973.

Here are seven success principles created from the "Wizard of Westwood".

1. Be Quick but not in Hurry
2. Be at Your Best When Your Best is Needed
3. Don't be Afraid of Failure, but Learn From It
4. Practice Self-Discipline and Keep Your Emotions Under Control
5. Be observant and Eager to Learn and Improve
6. Be Interested in Finding the Best Way, not in Having Your Own Way
7. There is no Substitute for Work

10 Qualities To Help You Reach Your Dreams

Looking at successful people, like actor Harrison Ford, author Maya Angelou, singer Gloria Estefan, and cyclist Lance Armstrong, we wonder: How did they do it? How did they achieve their phenomenal success? It starts with a dream, a deep-seated, heartfelt desire. Then, if you can steadfastly hold onto any of these 10 qualities, you will be on your way.

Harrison Ford wanted to be an actor so badly that even a short-sighted studio producer could not discourage him. After Ford’s film debut playing a bellboy with one line to say (“Paging Mr. Jones, paging Mr. Jones,”) the producer took him aside to tell him he didn’t have what it takes to be a true actor. “You ain’t got it, kid!”

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S. African Entrepreneur's Success Lessons

He was always an A student.

"I went to school without shoes. I knew I had to work hard to make sure I got a better life," says the serious young man in shiny loafers and a well-pressed blazer, owner of a small computer repair and sales company.

But why him? Why has Terrance Mohlala made it when so many others like him in South Africa – one of the least entrepreneurial nations in the world – have not?

Click here to find out

Fostering Success After Foster Care

For youth “aging out” of the foster care system at age 18, thrust out on their own, homelessness or crime can be a consequence of efforts to support themselves. Now, a service in Milwaukee gives young adults the guidance, financial assistance, and occasional “kick in the butt” needed to move their lives forward in a positive direction.

James Pekrul, Executive Director and Founder of the Foster Youth Independence Center in Milwaukee knows what it's like to be dumped on the street unprepared at 18. A product himself of a series of Milwaukee foster homes, he says, "I never thought anything positive would come from my experiences in foster care, but I guess we are all capable of finding some good in something that is broken."

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