Monday, September 26, 2011

Motivation plus a Goal equals Success


If you are looking for a way to be successful in whatever you do, you may be struggling to find the best formula to help you do so. The truth is that it takes two main components in order to be a success in anything. The first component is motivation and the second is goal setting. In order to be successful, you need to have a balance of these two components. Without one, the other is useless. There are many people who are great at setting goals and then follow up with no motivation. They tend to get confused when they rarely meet their goals. It can be difficult to have the right balance. If you are someone who wants to be a success but will continue to get lost along the way, read more to figure out what you can do to get on the right track.


Finding Motivation


Motivation is a difficult thing to stir up on your own. We are often motivated naturally to do things. For instance, when we are hungry, we are motivated to find a place to eat. When someone says they lack motivation, they are not being honest with themselves. Everyone has motivation inside of them. The difficult part may be funneling your natural motivation supply to specific goals you have in mind. Once you know how to motivate yourself, you will find it easier to stay on task.


Each person can be motivated in a different way. Some people work great on a reward motivation system. In this system the participants reward themselves each time they meet a goal. If you are trying to lose weight, then you can reward yourself with a new outfit each time you meet a goal in your plan. If you are trying to spend less, you can reward yourself with a night out each month you follow your budget exactly. Many people respond well to this type of reward system, especially if they were raised in a home that practiced the same system.


Setting Goals


Along with finding your motivation, the other equally important aspect of being a success is learning to set goals. The most important thing to remember when setting goals is that you should always set realistic goals. Be aware of your capabilities. It is fine to push yourself a little, but if you create goals that are not realistic, then you will likely give up trying to meet them. Often people who set unrealistic goals are capable of the goal itself, but are exhausted at trying to reach it all at once.


With many goals, like weight loss goals, you should break them up into smaller goals. You can work on part of the goal at a time. For instance, if you want to lose 100 pounds, it can be difficult to stay motivated with that huge number in mind, especially when the average person can lose a few pounds a week. Try setting a weekly goal of losing two pounds. If you exceed that goal then you can celebrate, but you may find that each goal is right on target. The less pressure you put on yourself to succeed, the easier it will come.


When you do set a goal, make sure that you are constantly reminded of your goal. You can tell those around you of your goal so you will feel accountable for following through. You can also create notes to post around your home, office, or car in order to help you keep on track. No matter what your goal is, it must be remembered each day. As creatures of habit, we can easily train ourselves to be successful and meet our goals. When we are constantly focused on the goal at hand, we will be better able to do so.


When you put 50% motivation and 50% goal setting into something you can guarantee you will succeed. Remember that everyone has the ability to be motivated. Each person may require a different technique, but we can all be motivated just the same. Also, be sure to set goals often. Reasonable goals are those that you are capable of meeting. Never push yourself too hard with your goal or you might risk getting burned-out and quitting. Creating a balance between motivation and goal setting is the key to all success however, so keep trying and you will get it right!