Five Ways to Motivate Yourself

By Karen Susman

We all need a kick in the rear sometimes. Here are five ways to get your own foot in swift contact with your posterior.

1. What ever your goal is, double it. Ask yourself what you'd have to do to accomplish your doubled goal. Do it. Then, reaching your original goal will be a breeze.
   
   
2. Get plenty of sleep. It's hard to function without your zzzzzzz’s. Without sleep your decision-making, creativity, sociability, and health will be on the skids.
   
   
3. Hang with new people with fresh ideas who are accomplishing or have accomplished what you'd like to accomplish.
   
   
4. Stay away from the nay sayers. They are often afraid to do what you are attempting. Your efforts threaten them so they try to stop you in order to relieve their own anxiety.
   
   
5. Shine your sink every night to start your day off right. At least you won't start your day off wrong. Waking up to dirty dishes and dried bran flakes pasted to your porcelain can de-motivate you. A funky sink produces a funky attitude!
   
   
6. Bonus! Book of Ten. Keep a small notebook by your bed. Every night, after you have shined your sink, make a list of ten things you accomplished that day. Your achievements don't have to be monumental. Flossing, returning library books on time, balancing your cheque book, making a dreaded phone call – these are all items worthy of the Book of Ten. You'll find you focus on making triumphs all day so you can add them to your Book of Ten. Review your Book of Ten frequently to motivate yourself and prove you are a go-getter.
   

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com.. www.KarenSusman.com. Published in Networking Today, March 2005.