Your motivation is what pushed you to succeed and determines to a large degree if you are going to succeed or fail. But even the most motivated person needs a little extra help sometimes.
When the going gets tough these 5 tips can help you turn the day around and get you back on track.
Getting out of a cold streak I recall using these techniques with one of my salesmen; he was having a really bad week and was on the verge of just giving up, working just meant another rejection anyway.
At the beginning of the month we had set the goal that he was going to make two sales a week and agreed upon a very nice reward if he made it.
He was still motivated, as he really wanted the reward, but just couldn’t focus and get hungry about his work.
We went through these 5 tips (I will share the results with you below):
• Focus on Your Goals
Your motivation stands in direct relationship to how clear your goals are, they are the source of your motivation. When you feel down, focus on them, visualize them and think about how great it will be once you have completed them.
• Reward Yourself for Finishing Tasks
This is a great technique. Whenever you finish a task or complete a goal, give yourself a reward.
It can be a cup of coffee, a 10 minute break, a weekend away…. Anything that gets you motivated.
By doing this you train yourself to want to complete the goals and tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible, you will work hard to complete your goals, get the reward and move on the next. Always remember though, make sure you do the job well, you don’t want to have to go back and redo the task you already thought was finished.
• Take a Short Walk
Sometimes you need a break, to clear your mind and get yourself back on track. Taking a walk is a great way to sort your thoughts and refocus.
• Remember That When You Are Done, You Are Done
By this I mean that once you have done everything you need to do during the day, you are finished and can go home. That gives me a burst of motivation every time the day starts to feel long, it is up to me to make it go quickly so I can relax.
• Call a Loved One for Inspiration
Sometimes we cannot do it alone. Make sure to find a friend or loved one who can help you when you need motivation, who you can call and who you know will tell you that you can do it and that they know you are great.
That help really makes a big difference.
So how did it go for my colleague?
He started by getting out of the office and taking a walk. He then sat down and made an action plan listing rewards for finished tasks. He knew he wanted to complete the goal and was going to do everything in his power to complete it.
He got back to work and after 3 hours of hard work had made a dozen great calls, lined up some potential customers but still not made a sale.
He felt he was slipping back into his apathy, so he called his wife. She talked to him, listened to him and spurred him on.
When they hung up he had renewed his energy and got back to work. 1 hour later he had made a close and his confidence came rushing back.
2 weeks later he was back on course and on his was to break his personal best.
That is the power of these easy techniques.
If you are having a tough time, don’t let that get you down. Refocus and let yourself be all that you can be!
Action Exercises
• Set your goals
If you haven’t already, spend some time writing down your most important long term and short term goals.
• Determine a good reward that motivates you to complete tasks and goals
• Talk to someone you trust and ask them to be a source of motivation for you when you need it.
Daniel Wood