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How do you stay motivated to achieve your goals.

Posted by rockline • 6/25/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: goal setting, goals, motivation, personal development, take action

We have all heard of goals and goal setting at different stages of our lives. Now, for most people setting goals is not that difficult for them but staying motivated through the process of achieving that goal is. Please, share with us some of the strategies you have successfully used to keep you motivated in the process.

User Comments

6/25/08

kaguvkov

For me, I just stay focus on all of my work an aspiration. I got this feeling of motivation by praying to god that provides me all the strength that I needed.

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1. 6/25/08
  
  rockline
  
  Thanks kaguvkov for your contribution. Yes, the ability to stay focus on the objective is definitly one of the ways to stay motivated even when your expectations are far from reach. Personally praying to God gives me strength and enables me to have the appropriate perspective of things. Thanks for sharing
6/25/08

BennyGreenberg

The best way to stay motivated is to set up your plan and your goal. Then create "points of celebration" for yourself. Do not try to swallow the whole thing in one giant bite, but rather create points of demarcation and each accomplishment towards the big dream is a "point-of-celebration"...

BTW: Each set back or temporary failure... is a "point of celebration" too and should be "celebrated" as well. As they are just learning ingredients to your final recipe of success!

Ben

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1. 6/25/08
  
  rockline
  
  Hey Benny thanks for great the input as always. I do agree with you that staying motivated requires a goal and a plan of action to accomplishing it while also creating a point of celebration for yourself as that goal is established. I will like to stress though that your action plans must be congruent with your goals so as to stay motivated. Action plan that is haphazard and incongruent to your goal is one of the major reasons for demotivation.
6/25/08

Seabuckthorn

I have a few strategies:

1. Writing down a clear map of the path to my goals, complete with stages at which I can measure my success and whether I'm on track with my deadlines.

2. Regularly (on a daily basis) having an honest conversation with myself about whether or not I've done what's necessary to reach the next stage, and devising strategies to improve if the answer is no.

3. Rewarding myself for good performance!

4. Communicating with others to make my goals and the actions I plan to take to achieve them real in the world.

5. Regular re-evaluation to make sure I still actually want the result. Nothing's worse than spinning your wheels when you don't even really believe in the goal anymore.

6. Problem solving sticky (difficult to accomplish) activities. It might involve some negotiation with myself (if I do this really yucky thing I'll get my cleaners in a week early to do my place then throw a party), or it might entail getting help or support (calling a friend and saying "I'm at a critical juncure with my goal but I'm kind of stuck because I really am not looking forward to this activity - could you come and keep me company while I complete it?").

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6/25/08

kellybax

Heck, my motivation is not complicated. Basically, I am just determined to make something I do work. Each day I wake up with renewed optimism and go from there. I think I am just stubborn and that drives me!

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6/25/08

BennyGreenberg

@rockline..

this might be shamless -- but I think it is more helpful...

if you think I am wrong "report it for deletion"

ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/02/28/the-4-step-plan-to-success/

Ben

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6/25/08

AmyOops

i visualize what i want. I work on commision so I wanted to buy a car in cash, I had a picture of the car on my desk and was able to do it in 4 months..

also listen to Benny he knows what he is talking about too.

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5/28/09

lovelustandlife

This is skill that is newly developed. This that I was naturally talent in I did not seem to need motivation,but I did not know until recently that you can keep yourself motivated. I just wrote a post on the topic: tcb-llnl.blogspot.com/2009/05/staying-motivated.html

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5/28/09

Jaybetee

A wise man told me to set up a RPM chart (Result, Purpose, Massive Action). When you set it up you actually write it in the order of M,P, R. So you make a chart and write the results (R) you want, then write the reasons or the purposes you have for this result (P), then write all and any steps (M) you can take to achieve this result.

The focus here is on completing the massive actions and not necessarily achieving the result because as long as you are working towards your goal you are moving in the right direction. Plus by focusing on completing steps and not just one huge goal it make it more manageable.

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5/28/09

timethief

I use the SMART acronym as a guide for goal setting.
S Specific
M Measurable
A Attainable
R Relevant
T Time-bound

Quantify — how will you know when you have achieved it?
Time — when do you want to achieve it?
Why — why do you want the goal— what will it give you?
How — how will you achieve the goal? Break the goal into steps
Flexibility — remain flexible in your approach to your goal
Feedback — failure is excellent feedback on your success

I use creative visualization to keep my motivation high. And I set realistic performance goals, not outcome goals.

I began to write more here and discovered I was blogging in a forum thread so I'll complete my blogging in my blog and then post the link.

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5/28/09

nothingprofound

I do better without a goal. Just drifting and living randomly. Whenever I set a goal for myself I feel trapped by it and just want to escape.

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11/03/09

harryche

For setting and track goals, I've been using a web-based app called GoalsOnTrack. It's very effective in helping you keep focused and getting things done. You may want to give it a try: www.goalsontrack.com

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