Motivation is defined as “the desire to do things.” It’s the difference between waking up before dawn to pound the pavement and laying around the house all day. Motivation is the crucial element in setting and attaining goals. Research shows you can influence your own levels of motivation and self-control so figure out what you want, power through the pain period, and start being who you want to be.
Why is this the FFfT this week?
Because winter is coming… the days get shorter, the nights longer; we come to work when its dark, and we leave when its dark. I know I suffer a loss of motivation during this season.
So how can we stay positive during this time period? Here are some suggestions:
Positive affect is contagious. Being upbeat and positive is a good foundation for motivating yourself and others. Let team members see your positive, “can-do” energy. If you see someone down, be positive around them—it’s contagious!
Be a motivational role model. Set an example of hard work and high levels of activity. Be the first one to tackle a task or a problem, and others will fall in behind you.
Focus on the shared mission. People lose motivation because they forget about the purpose. Remember what we do… We change people’s lives for the better—whether they see it or not.
Set challenging goals. Goal-setting is one of the best ways to engage and motivate others. They need to be realistic, neither too high (so that they are unattainable) nor too low (not challenging), they should mean something and there should be a time-to-completion.
Celebrate small wins. The best way to drive continuous levels of motivation is to celebrate “small wins”—breaking down a large task into smaller, measurable steps and celebrating the attainment of each step or level.
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” —Lou Holtz
Have a great weekend.
—Vijay
About Friday Food for Thought (FFfT)
I frequently attend conferences and retreats on entrepreneurship and leadership and while I am away, the J2 team picks up the slack, allowing me to learn to be better at what I do. I wanted to share what I was learning with my team, so I created the weekly FFfT emails in November of 2015 and have been writing them ever since.
Before long, the J2 staff began sharing the FFfT emails with their friends and family and now other leaders have asked to be included, which led to the creation of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy!