Regain Your Motivation by Dr. Ivan Misner
Motivation comes from within you, not from outside you. No one can motivate you but yourself. I’m speaking long-term motivation. Many years ago, author Frederick Herzberg wrote about motivation in the Harvard Business Review, where he said that others can motivate you but only in the short term. He called that KITA (Kick in the… Anatomy – that’s really what he called it). On the other hand, long-term motivation comes from within. Everyone struggles with motivation at some point during their professional lives.
How do you motivate yourself when your motivation is low?
1. Minimize contact with negative people.
According to my book, Who’s in Your Room?: The Secret to Creating Your Best Life, you make decisions based on the positive and negative things that happened with people from your past that you let into your life. That really resonates with people who let in negative individuals. Therefore, they make future decisions based upon their previous negative experiences. Some people complain as though it were an Olympic event. Keep clear of them while you are trying to regain your motivation. Surround yourself with positive people.
2. Maximize time with people that refuel your energy.
The quality of your life depends on the positive people in your room. The people in your life will make or break your success. You become the five or six people with whom you hang out the most. Surround yourself with positive people who make you want to “do” and “be” better.
3. Read/listen/watch positive things.
If you are feeling down, read a positive book. My newest book, Infinite Giving, explores the positivity of sharing with the 7 Principles of Givers Gain®. Listen to an audiobook or podcast with a positive message. Watch something that makes you laugh. Surround yourself with some things you love. Live a life of giving not just for the benefit of others, but most importantly for you as well.
4. Prioritize the items on your list.
Make a list of the things you want to do and must do. Then, take that list and post it somewhere visible. Tackle something from that list every day. Focus first on the smallest item from your list as a short-term goal to achieve this week. A small win this week can be very motivating during the month. Next, work on those items from your list that inspire you to take action and complete them this month. Eat the elephant one bite at a time. You will be amazed at the number of small items from your list you will accomplish during the month. The more small wins you accomplish this month, the better you will feel during the year. You will quickly become motivated to take action during the year to complete some of the bigger things from your list.
5. Remember your big picture.
If your motivation is low it helps to step out of your daily tasks and remember why you are doing what you do. Allow yourself to be motivated by your big picture and let your goals drive you. Remembering why you are doing what you do in business can most certainly help you find some new energy to keep going. Your goals will help motivate you to get back on the road to productivity and success in no time.
It is nearly impossible to feel motivated all the time. Sometimes it can feel like we are in a real doldrums slump. In this video, I expand upon these five tips for getting inspired when you’re lacking motivation. You will glean some powerful insights on what is causing your low motivation and how to become inspired to take action.
What do you do when your motivation level is lacking as well as your self-esteem? What do you do to regain the motivation needed to move on with your plans and pursue your endeavors? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
ABOUT DR. IVAN MISNER
Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization. Each year, BNI passes millions of referrals resulting in billions of dollars worth of business for its members.
Dr. Misner’s Ph.D. is from the University of Southern California. He is a New York Times Bestselling author who has written 26 books including one of his latest books – Who’s in Your Room? He is also a columnist for Entrepreneur.com and has been a university professor as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of La Verne.
Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by both Forbes and CNN, Dr. Misner is considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world.
Among his many awards, he has been named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Red Cross and has been the recipient of the John C. Maxwell Leadership Award.
