| | Finding Motivation
It's been twenty-five years since Zig Ziglar reminded me that motivation follows action. Twenty-five years later I don't remember which book or tape the statement came from, but I remember the statement as if I read it, or heard it this morning. I think the reason that statement crawls in and out of my conscious thoughts is because it is so profound. Everything we hear and read about motivation is geared toward getting things started. Mostly, getting other people started.
True motivation must come from within. Each one of us makes the final decision on our "engagement." How engaged, or motivated we are about something can be influenced by outside factors, but like "The Donald", in the end, what we say goes. Unlike Trump, many of us don't take advantage of that opportunity.
One of the most important rules for success is "Control the Controllables." The ultra-successful people apply this rule using both sides of the coin. In other words, every aspect of their lives within their control that brings them closer to their goals, in business, or in life is taken advantage of. If getting to the office at 6:30 am will help them reach their goals, you can bet that they will be at the office everyday at 6:30 am. One critical point must be made. Because something is within our control, does not mean we are in control of it. You are not in control of anything until you take control.
The ultra-successful do not concern themselves with things beyond their control. Understanding what is beyond your control, and letting go of the things that stretch beyond your reach is critical to managing productivity, stress, and fulfillment. Regardless of your reach, you will never be able to reach back in time. The past is beyond your control. You cannot change it, but you can learn from it.
So what does this have to do with motivation? That's a good question! In order for you to make the leap to ultra-successful you have to start "Controlling the Controllables" including your own motivation. Before I go deeper, I want to re-visit the Zig Ziglar statement that motivation follows action. Let's stay with sports, and let's use golf as an example. Everyone who has ever played golf at any level is familiar with the feeling you get after hitting a great shot. It is absolutely true "you only need one" good shot to keep you coming back. Even when your scores were well above 100, there was no substitution for that one shot where you held that pose, and watched that ball fly over the fairway, and land inches from your target.
All your motivation to keep playing came from that action. Every time someone asked you to play you imagined yourself in that same pose, watching that same ball landing in that same exact spot over and over again until your next great shot took it's place.
Sometimes your motivation comes from seeing someone else's actions. If you witness someone else either succeeding, or failing, often times that gets our juices flowing to go after the same excitement we feel when we hit the 300 yard drive, or sink the double bender for birdie.
Controlling your motivation means taking an active role in managing it. Throughout your day, you are being offered by the world, many opportunities to springboard your own motivation to higher levels. Unfortunately, you're too busy to notice them. Take the time, energy, and effort to see what is offered to you by the world around you and use it to motivate you into massive action. Massive action will result in Massive results, if you continue to control the controllables, and let go of the things you can't control.
I urge you to look for those springboards and get a running start when you find them. Action leads to motivation. You don't need motivation to start something; you need it to finish. So finish what you started, and look for motivation, use it to your benefit, and re-live the joy of holding that pose as your shots get closer and closer to your target.
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