Tag Archive for accomplishment

Motivation is a skill that can be perfected

November 28, 2013 Family, Friends, motivation, Networking No comments
Motivation

Practice, practice, practice!  We have all heard this phrase before when we learn something new like a sport, musical instrument or even a complicated math formula.  Like all of those things, keeping motivated is a skill that can be mastered.

Motivation is an internal force that drives us. We can nourish and feed this which allows us to grow and succeed.  And sometimes, as human beings, we let it slip away and get too content with just the “being” part.

Do you ever think to yourself, “my favorite sports star is such a natural talent, it must be easy for them?”  True, their ability to master certain aspects of their game may come a little easier for them than for others.  But they do not lack the motivation and drive to prefect themselves.  That motivation keeps them going, makes them get up and go practice more and more until they achieve the nuances and subtle improvements that separate them from the good to the great.

Have you ever started something, had the best intentions to move it forward and then just kind of let it stall? I have.  Sure we always have excuses like, I ran out of time, life got busy, something came up or I just “didn’t feel like it.” Because our motivation is internal and we can only answer to ourselves, it can often seem easy to brush it off and get lazy.

If we reflect on our favorite stars and role models, do they have the same 24 hours each day, do they have families, friends, do they sleep?  Of course they do!  The biggest difference is that they have learned to master their internal motivation and they do not accept the excuses, especially from themselves.

There is one thing that I see that truly sets them apart, their motivation.  This is not a new or hidden concept.  Why else would we see so many people succeeding as or being trained by life coaches, mentors, inspirational leaders and other downright great folks? It is because we often look for help to get us “out of the rut” or “off the couch” and we want someone to motivate us.  Well guess what, they can’t!

I do not profess to be life coach yet, but I am fortunate to know many of these people, some personally and some from connections I have built through online networking. They are great people with great messages.  I have heard and seen amazing tools like vision boards, daily affirmations, and specific, targeted goals.  I think these methods are fantastic ways to get you inspired, however your motivation must come from within. In most cases, these great folks have used these methods to feed their own motivation and it is through their successes that we can feel inspired by them.  This post is not about the benefits of using or not using tools and connections like these to get inspired.  I think they are great, but use what works for you and remember that only you control your own motivation.  Only you can decide to do what it takes to push yourself towards your own target or goal.

I have learned that motivation needs to be nurtured and respected and you can only truly be great if you practice and keep practicing that motivation until you begin achieving your goals.  And once you see your success building, keep reminding yourself of the next milestone and only YOU can push yourself to get there.

Motivation comes from within, only you can do that for yourself. Reading through to this point in the post means you have motivated yourself enough to find out more.  Transforming these thoughts into words has helped me to increase my own motivation.  Some other tips that have helped me along the way include:

  • When you first get up in the morning, think positively and assign yourself a goal or goals that will help move you towards your ultimate target (vision boards can certainly help with the “dream” target)
  • Don’t accept excuses, especially from yourself!
  • Don’t forget to have fun, make leisure and  fun part of your planned activities to keep your motivation thriving (just don’t let the leisure part take over)
  • Celebrate the small successes and victories, they matter
  • Answer yourself one question each day, “did I accomplish something today to move me further towards my goal?”
  • Lastly don’t let setbacks stop you.  We all have moments like that, the greats know it, accept it and move on.  There will be bumps along the way to your dream, it is how you respond and drive forward that will keep your motivation alive.

Thank you for making it to the end of my post.  I know I cannot motivate you directly but I hope that you have been inspired to take your own steps to your success.  Please feel free to leave me a comment, tell me how you push yourself towards success.  I would love to hear from you.

Things I learned from my Dad – A Father’s Day Tribute

June 16, 2013 Family No comments
Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day

 

Once again I want to make a special post on a day that means a lot to me, both as a Father and a son.  Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Friends and family members that have been blessed with being a father or father figure.  None of us would be here without our Dad’s, so I want to honour this day by doing a special tribute to my Dad and all the things he has taught me so far.

It all started many years ago in the same small town where I grew up.  My father met my mother, they dated, they got married, things happened and 8 months later I was born (yes I decided to arrive early).  A couple of years later my sister was born and our family was complete.

Fast forward to now and I am happy to outline some of the great lessons I learned from my Dad. Only 5 are listed here but there are so many more.

  1. You can do anything you set your mind to – My father has always shown me that you can achieve whatever you want if you put in the effort to make it happen.  I never felt held back from accomplishing new things because of it. My Dad taught me about computers before anyone really had any. He has built some amazing things with electronics, wood working and home improvement and taught me so much about many things.  He truly showed me to never be afraid of a challenge.
  2. Be Strong but Fair – as a man sometimes we feel that we have to be harder and more aggressive because it is in our nature but we should never forget to be fair and to recognize when someone just needs a hand up.  Showing respect is the best way to receive respect in return.
  3. Making mistakes is fine, as long as you learn from them – We all make mistakes in life and when I did, I learned that I could do better the next time.  My Dad always showed me that it is very important not to quit, but to take the lesson and move on.
  4. Accept Responsibility – My Dad always showed me that taking responsibility for what you do is not only important but integral in building careers and friendships.  When you feel that moment of uneasiness, it’s important to step back and realize what you could have done differently to make it better.  As an adult I realize how important it is for me to see that people understand how their actions and words have consequences and I try to remember to accept that for myself whenever I can.
  5. Be Generous – not just with money but also with our other valuable assets which include our time and effort.  My Dad (and Mom) taught me that helping others whenever you can is a great way to build long-lasting and meaningful relationships.

I watched my Dad work hard, take on new challenges and build great things.  He was always kind and welcoming to my friends, allowing them to use the “special ring” of hitting the door bell twice and then walk in.  He showed me that being kind and generous is the proper way to be a man.  He also taught me that giving back is important.  My father was a volunteer firefighter for many years and served on the town council.  Those examples gave me the confidence to be on several student councils and committees to this day.   My Dad loves his grandchildren, is always willing to help when I have home improvement projects and we always have great conversations about cars, electronics and politics.  I Love You Dad, you are important to me and have shown me how to be a great Dad too.  I personally take great pride when I ask my young son what he wants to be when he grows up and he says “I want to be a Dad.”  Thank you Dad, I owe a lot of that to you.  We all love you very much and we appreciate everything you do and we need you to keep doing it for many more years to come.  Happy Father’s Day!