 Motivation
- Why Have You Taken Your Path?
By Cheryl Bakke Martin of Inspirations Unlimited
A critical element in the world of entrepreneurial ventures is motivation. All of us have
looked at other successful individuals and wondered, how do they do it? How do they
consistently stay focused on their goals and achieve results. If you ask any of these
extraordinary individuals, they will most likely tell you that their level of motivation
ebbs and flows like the tide. The difference may, in fact, simply be the strength of their
vision, their passion for their work, why they choose to do what they do, and who they
choose to spend their time with. It is these things that will carry us through the
challenging times and those situations that have the potential to derail our focus.
Visioning - Do you have a clear picture of where you are going? Often
we leap into projects or begin implementing ideas because, quite frankly, as entrepreneurs
we have plenty of great ideas and an abundance of enthusiasm to make them happen. What can
get missed is taking the time to create a vision for our personal and professional goals.
Making our dreams a reality through the use of creative visualization is a practice that
elite athletes have been employing successfully for a long time now. Shakti Gawain, the
best selling author of “Creative Visualization”, describes how we can use mental
imagery and positive energy as a regular part of our process to shift our thoughts and tap
into our creative power. When visualization becomes a regular and conscious part of our
routines, it will help to keep our passion alive and our energies focused on those things
we have chosen to make our priorities in business and in life.
Which leads me to Passion. My dad often told us as children that we
could do anything or be anything we chose to, if we wanted it bad enough. In essence, he
was talking about our passion and desire for what we dreamed of. Whenever I sense that
motivation is waning for one of my clients, we often look to see if the goal that is being
pursued is still something that they are deeply passionate about achieving. Our goals will
always change and evolve over time. So, it makes good sense to regularly stop and review
if the direction we are heading, and that which we are focusing on is still the desired
outcome. If imagining that outcome still creates a feeling of absolute delight, then
staying motivated and energized about the steps required to carry us there becomes much
easier. Loving what you do on a daily basis is also a part of this process. When we are
engaged in work that lights a fire in our soul, staying on course isn’t a huge
challenge. It is as if we are absorbed in play like a child engaged in their favourite
game.
Why do you do what you do? Do you have a deep desire to make a positive
impact on the world? Are you thrilled with the idea of helping someone learn a new
process? Do you know in your heart that you are attempting to set a positive example for
your children? Are you using your talents and gifts to live out your purpose here? What
are the reasons that you pursue the goals, objectives, dreams, outcomes that you do?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help to keep you on track and will remind you
of what is at stake when you are feeling the pressure to stay motivated.
Finally, given the solitary nature of the entrepreneurial life, it
becomes very important to stay connected with people who support and help keep you
inspired. Belonging to networking groups or other associations in your profession, can
help to keep you developing yourself and enthused about your craft. Forming a mastermind
group, a small group of like-minded individuals who gather regularly to support one
another, brainstorm, share feedback, and keep each other committed to personal goals, is a
very powerful way to remain positive, hopeful and progressing toward your vision. For
those who prefer to work one-on-one and enjoy the dedicated support of a professional,
finding a personal or professional coach that you connect with and who understands where
you want to go, can also be a very effective partnership in staying motivated and on
target towards your bright future.
Motivation is really all about having a powerful vision, knowing why
you have chosen this path, being passionate about and enjoying the process, and
surrounding yourself with inspiring and supportive people who want to see you achieve your
dreams as much as you do.
Cheryl Bakke Martin, owner of Inspirations Unlimited, is
a personal coach, speaker & facilitator. If you are in a place where you want to take
your business to the next level & would like consult with a coach, Cheryl invites you
to a free consultation. 403.948.1078 - www.inspirations.ab.ca
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