Russ Dalbey's Blog

I really didn’t want to brush my teeth last night.

It was late. I’d had a long work day, I was exhausted, and I didn’t even eat dinner anyway. I just wanted to go to bed. I actually stared at myself in the mirror for a while, fighting myself on this.

Then I thought, “wow, maybe I can use this for my blog tomorrow!”

Let me explain.

I often hear people say that they would or could have done something but they just “didn’t feel like it.”  I know it can be difficult to stay motivated, especially when you’re tired, busy or stressed, but here’s the thing: staying motivated is the key to success in all areas of your life.

Ask any person who is successful what motivates them, and very likely the answer will be “goals.” Goal setting is extremely important to maintaining motivation and ensuring success.

So how can you develop the internal motivation that really counts?

First, ask yourself: What motivates me?  What gets me excited, alert, or even angry? Why do I get up every day? Or, if you’re setting goals for something specific – like making sure you always brush your teeth daily – ask yourself why you’re chasing this objective. Remember, be honest! If you can’t show yourself that what you’re working towards is worthwhile, odds are you won’t ever get there.

Now that you’ve made it clear to yourself what you’re trying to accomplish, and justified to yourself why it’s worth the effort, move on to setting goals. Have you set big (but realistic) goals for yourself? Good!

Next, to really set things in motion, you’ve got to write your goals down. That sets the bar, makes the target real and holds you accountable (to yourself!). So – how do you make your goals a reality?

In order to make your goals set into your brain, your psyche, to really take hold of your life – you have to restate them to yourself every day – at least twice a day. I recommend you do this once in the morning, before you get out of bed; and once in the evening, before you go to sleep.

You’ll need to state your goals to yourself – loud enough for you to hear it. Why? Because by hearing your goals aloud, you’ll be stimulating the aural centers of your mind to get them to really “take root.” Tense your body and clench your fists while you say your goals, and look up and focus your eyes on an imaginary spot above you – as if you were trying to look at the inside of your forehead. This helps activate the subconscious mind. Say your goals at least 10 times (that’s right, 10 times!) while you create physical tension in your body and focus your vision inward.  (For more tips on goal setting, refer to my previous blog entry, “One Minute Guide To Achieving Anything.”)

Motivation that comes from within really makes the difference, so give it a try. I know that if you do, you’ll feel better and more in control of your life. Since what drives you is uniquely yours, I can’t do it for you. It’s up to you to take the initiative and make it happen. I know you can do it!

Warmly,
Russ

P.S. Don’t worry mom – I did brush my teeth.

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education