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 The Seven Keys to Motivation
By Nancy Wurtzel
Motivation. It’s a complicated subject that is studied by many and understood
by few. Virtually every aspect of human life -- from the mundane to the life-changing
-- is guided, swayed and altered by motivating factors.
For instance, what to have for dinner may be motivated by a desire to lose
or gain weight. Whether or not to attend a business seminar may be motivated
by the speakers, location and cost. When and where to buy new clothing may be
motivated by a long list of personal preferences as well as the changing seasons
and weather conditions.
Even reading this article is a motivated behavior. Do you like the style of
writing? Are you curious about the subject matter? Do you have a desire to learn
new information? Do you have enough time to finish reading? If the answers are
no, you probably won’t continue reading!
But since you have continued, you are obviously motivated. You want to learn
more about how to get and stay motivated, and how this motivation can help you
become a better business owner.
THE BUSINESS OF MOTIVATION Motivation is one of the most powerful driving forces
in the workplace. It can mean the difference between tremendous success and
failure.
Motivation stems from two sources. The first part of motivation is external
or extrinsic (outside the person) sources. Other motivating factors come from
internal forces, which are mainly your thoughts, patterns and collective experiences.
However, humans are unique, so what motivates Jack will not necessarily motivate
Jill. You -- and only you -- will be able to determine what works.
Take the time to examine what internal and external factors are motivating
you as a business owner. What can you do to enhance and refine your motivation
to make yourself more productive and more fulfilled?
Here are seven keys to motivation that may prove helpful.
1. INSPIRATION Inspiration is critical to getting and staying motivated. If
you are not interested in your business, your motivation level will never be
high and you won’t be able to sustain interest for very long.
On the flip side, if you are energized and excited about the work you are doing,
you will have more persistence, energy and intensity.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going
to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people
who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest
them in the least. These individuals will grow weary and uninterested pretty
quickly because they have no inspiration or passion to sustain them during the
difficult times they will encounter as a small business owner.
If you don’t really enjoy your work, then think how you can re-focus your
small business to better match your needs. Or consider making a change entirely.
That’s pretty drastic advice, but inspiration is that important.
2. SETTING GOALS Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business
owner. If you didn’t set goals, you would be adrift with nothing to strive
for and no charted course to follow.
How could you possibly be motivated if you were unsure about the direction
of your company?
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