Simon Says #4 - The Power of Motivation

Hello friend, and welcome back to Simon Says.


If you’d like to read any past issues of Simon Says, you can find them all here.

Whether the goal is getting fit, learning a new language, or starting a business, motivation is crucial to success.


Today we'll explore the power of motivation and how understanding its role in our lives can be the key to unlocking your true potential in business and in life.


Most people fail to stay focused for a number of reasons. Some fear failure, so they don’t try anything new, which itself is the greatest failure. Others are great at creating goals, but not so great at making plans or sticking to plans to achieve them. But simply, most people fail to stay motivated because they get distracted.


Developing and maintaining motivation is crucial for improving focus, and the ability to stay focused over long periods of time is the most important factor in achieving future success.


But the question still remains, how does one develop and maintain motivation?


 

Know yourself


Self-awareness is a key component of maintaining motivation because it helps you align your actions with your goals, interests, and values.


For example, are you someone who can hold yourself accountable? When it comes to fitness, many people find it’s easier to get to the gym when they have a partner who they don’t want to let down.


When it comes to your finances, it can often be much easier to reach your goals by using the set it and forget it method. Contribute money to an account on a consistent schedule and don’t look at it for a long time. This works well for many long-term investors and certainly causes less headaches than being a more active investor.

 


Understand that motivation fades over time


Motivation generally fades over time because it is a psychological state that is heavily influenced by our emotions. When we first start pursuing a goal or activity, we may feel energized and motivated by the new task, but as time passes and we encounter obstacles and setbacks, our motivation often begins to wane.


Sometimes, motivation fades almost instantly. For those who work out in the mornings, have you ever reconsidered your health and fitness goals when that clock first goes off? For those who invest in the stock market, have you ever reconsidered your investment plan during a market crash?


To maintain your motivation and achieve long-term success in any endeavor, it's crucial to have a plan in place. Define your goals, set short-term benchmarks, and plan your days in advance. Don’t let short-term emotions get prioritized over your plans for reaching long-term goals.

 

Change your thoughts and language


Our thoughts and language have a powerful impact on our emotions which in turn has a powerful impact on our motivation levels. For example, I once heard someone refer to an alarm clock as an opportunity clock because, “who wants to wake up to something alarming?” Ever since that day I've referred to it as an opportunity clock rather than an alarm clock.


I’m not a big fan of social media platforms and the negative effects they’ve had on the world, but like most everyone else, I still use them. That being said, there’s a few things you could do to make sure time spent on social media is not time being wasted.



  1. Set time limits to ensure you're not spending too much time scrolling aimlessly and getting sucked in by the algorithms.
  2. Choose to follow pages that promote positivity and valuable knowledge, rather than those who promote negativity and instill panic.
  3. Spend as much time reading books as you do reading posts online.


The world is filled with remarkable people who consistently challenge the odds and shatter barriers. From Jake Olson, the D1 college football player who overcame blindness, to Zion Clark, the MMA fighter who continues to achieve greatness despite having no legs, to the countless heroes and warriors in our military, armed services, and first responders, we are constantly surrounded by awe-inspiring examples of human resilience and determination. By immersing ourselves in the stories of remarkable individuals, we can draw inspiration and learn valuable lessons that can help us become better versions of ourselves.

In the end, motivation can be broken down into 3 key things: knowing oneself, understanding how motivation fades over time, and constantly surrounding yourself with what motivates you.


By tapping into one's knowledge of oneself and understanding how motivation operates, it becomes possible to identify precisely what drives and inspires you, and to keep these elements at the forefront of your consciousness at all times.


This focused attention on the sources of your own motivation will translate into actions that align with your own values, interests, and goals, ultimately leading to greater success in all areas of life.

Book a Call

Read past issues of Simon Says.


Subscribe to the Simon Says newsletter.


Please email any comments to matt.simon@margfinancial.com.

Facebook  LinkedIn