According to Thomas Edison’s famous words, there were a lot of life failures that they could not understand how much they were.
Steve Jobs’ firing from Apple. What these business owners have in common is motivation; that inner drive to keep going even when you want to hide under the covers.
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Tips on how to get focused on your goals
Keep it hidden
Researchers at New York University discovered that sharing our goals with others makes us less likely to achieve them. They found that when friends point out tiny improvements straight away, people feel less driven and don’t follow through on their goals.
Keep your projects to yourself until they’re finished, then tell everyone about them.
Stop putting things off
Tim Urban’s 2016 TED talk, In the mind of Procrastinator, discusses how “there’s a monkey that gives the procrastinator’s brain immediate gratification” and “brings the procrastinator to fail.” When a deadline approaches too quickly, the Panic Monster awakens us up to get to work. Whether or not you consider yourself a major procrastinator, staying mindful of the Instant Gratification Monkey is a chore for everyone.
Start a blog, send an email, or write the first word of a business proposal. To overcome procrastination, concentrate on becoming better than flawless. “We need to consider what we’re truly delaying on,” Urban cautions, “since everyone is procrastinating on something in life.”
The Ulysses Agreement
The Ulysses Pact is a strategy of holding yourself accountable to achieve a challenging goal. It bears the name of the legendary Trojan War hero. The important component of an Ulysses Pact is that we make a decision in the now, when things are relatively simple, that commits us to take action in the future.
Consider the case when you want to stick to a daily blogging schedule. If you miss a post, you may promise to donate Sh500 to a friend or accountability partner.
Reading with a purpose
The two books you should read during this time are What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and Lincoln on Leadership. The first is an excellent read for anyone interested in retooling their thinking as an entrepreneur or manager who must constantly adapt in their leadership capacity. Marshall Goldsmith, the author, discusses personal development as a cornerstone to improved management.
Again, concentrating on modifying habit patterns inside is key to overcoming difficult times and eventually improving as an entrepreneur. The book on Abraham Lincoln focuses on the tremendous leadership lessons learned from one of history’s most amazing leaders.
Change your perspective on a task
According to psychology, the more you love the process and the more it aligns with your core values, the more likely you are to complete it.
You can improve your attitude toward tasks by recognizing their importance or making them more enjoyable. If you have accounting to do, for example, see it as a sign that you are in charge of your finances.
Make administrative jobs more enjoyable by making up tiny games or taking your laptop outside to work in the sunshine.
The Seinfeld Approach
Comic Jerry Seinfeld advised a new comedian named Brad Isaac on how to stay motivated and consistent in his career. He advised him to purchase a large wall calendar with the entire year printed on one page and display it prominently.
Brad was supposed to put a big red X over each day he completed his duty. “You’ll have a chain in a few days.” Just keep going, and the chain will get longer and longer each day.
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