Share your strategies for staying motivated...

[Vagabond]

We all go through times when we're super pumped and excited and then times when we may get anxious or unmotivated.

What are your tips/techniques for staying positive and moving forward?

I'll go first (beware of some cheesy tips coming up)

- I read a ton of books about marketing and small business. I find this keeps everything top of mind and when I'm constantly learning it keeps me interested

- I carry the 4HWW on me at all times and take it out during any down times. I carry a gym bag to work everyday so I will randomly take it out and open to a random page and start reading or start from page 1 and start going through it again.

- I tivo and watch The Big Idea w/Donny Deutsch when i get home from my day job. Yes it's kinda corny but he has some really good interviews and some really inspirational stories. Plus being tivo'd I can skip commercials and useless segments like "Big Idea/Bad Idea" and "Does it fly in Peoria"

- I daydream about the fantasy life of having a successful and automated online muse.

- I check for RSS feeds from all my favorite "escape-the-cubicle" type bloggers


Anyone else?

[lolpie]

Whenever I get unmotivated I think of this quote:

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his catch. “How long did it take you to get those?” he asked.

“Not so long,” said the Mexican.

“Then why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was quite enough to meet his needs and feed his family.

“So what do you do with the rest of your time?” asked the American.

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evening, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar and sing a few songs. I have a full life.”

The American interrupted. “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”

“And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“With the extra money the bigger boat will bring, you can buy a second boat and then a third boat, and then more until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants. Pretty soon you could open your own plant. You could leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York! From there you could direct your whole enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.

“Twenty — perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.

“And after that?”

“Afterwards? Well, my friend,” laughed the American, “that’s when it gets really interesting. When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” said the Mexican.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a beautiful place near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take siestas with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends..."

[badhank]

Good tips, heres some of mine

-I also put a lot of audiobooks on my ipod, mostly of the business/marketing/self improvement genres and listen to that instead of music. also have a fm transmitter so i can listen in the car.

-On my phone (which is also a palm pilot) i have a few pdf's of the above categories.

-If you do a little of something every day, write it on calender, that way you can see how much ur getting done even when it doesnt fell like it, and u can see where ur slacking.

-I write in a notebook my initial ideas and try to keep them updated as i progress

[Vagabond]

Whenever I get unmotivated I think of this quote:

I remember first reading that quote in a real estate sales book given to me by an agent when I was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Definitely a great quote...

I've always liked this one and printed it out and put it on my wall..


The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
-- Theodore Roosevelt

[lolpie]

Good tips, heres some of mine

-I also put a lot of audiobooks on my ipod, mostly of the business/marketing/self improvement genres and listen to that instead of music. also have a fm transmitter so i can listen in the car.

I have audiobooks (of novels) too, but only because I'm too lazy to read :cool:


Forgot to add another motivation thing - I worked hard through high school, but that was only for 4 years. I have no intention of doing hard work for the next 40-50 years. Right now I'm in college, but after that I'll be free if the muses take off

[Vagabond]

Good tips, heres some of mine

-I also put a lot of audiobooks on my ipod, mostly of the business/marketing/self improvement genres and listen to that instead of music. also have a fm transmitter so i can listen in the car.

-On my phone (which is also a palm pilot) i have a few pdf's of the above categories.

-If you do a little of something every day, write it on calender, that way you can see how much ur getting done even when it doesnt fell like it, and u can see where ur slacking.

-I write in a notebook my initial ideas and try to keep them updated as i progress

Yeah I agree its really important to track the momentum to help keep it up when it may otherwise fade a bit...

Plus, I don't have a group or "mastermind" of people who think like me and totally accept the status quo. Even people who I got to read it really liked it but never really did anything with the information. So I think reading 4HWW constantly, reading blogs of like-minded people and watching the Big Idea helps to provide some of that positive anti-mainstream groupthink.

Before I read the 4HWW I actually thought and believed in some of the principles but felt like I was crazy since they were so out of line with the mainstream. The 4HWW made me realize I wasn't crazy and that everone else is just comfortably numb...

[TimW]

It's hard to find folks for a "master mind" group. I'd started an Internet forum with just such an idea...promoted it locally to entrepreneurs...and had exactly zero people sign on to try and help each other out.

[badhank]

I have audiobooks (of novels) too, but only because I'm too lazy to read :cool:

lazy? reading is for suckers :cool:

It's hard to find folks for a "master mind" group. I'd started an Internet forum with just such an idea...promoted it locally to entrepreneurs...and had exactly zero people sign on to try and help each other out.
Thats brutal, wanna try again this time privately invite ppl from this board (i'l b watching my inbox hoping i qualify)

[webgal]

Forums are difficult to start. They're trying out a forum robot that posts and makes it look active. The robot is pretty good but there is something sort of unsavory about that. I think they work best if you already have a following for something.

And I think BH is hinting that you may have a following T.

[padma]

Motivational books and programs no longer really do it for me. I find that the only thing really keeping me motivated is, and I don't really know how else to describe it, "that I just feel it is coming." I let ideas come to me instead of grasping for them, and when they hit me I can feel the momentum. I think that is what really motivates me...a sense of purpose.

Lastly, there is certain music that helps me visualize my future. I listen to flamenco and think about my future in the tropics, on a boat, sipping fruity drinks through a straw and realizing how great I have it.

I also look at all the people trying to bring me down and realize that I'm glad they disagree with me. Every person I find different from myself is one less competitor.

[Vagabond]

Forums are difficult to start. They're trying out a forum robot that posts and makes it look active. The robot is pretty good but there is something sort of unsavory about that. I think they work best if you already have a following for something.

And I think BH is hinting that you may have a following T.

whats wrong with this forum? :)

I do wish it was a bit more active but we got a good bunch ;)

[TimW]

What are your tips/techniques for staying positive and moving forward?

Hookers and blow. :)


@Vagabond
I like this forum a lot. Just there are some limitations on what you can do here that I wasn't imposing on mine, such as "advertising" your business to get folks interested, etc. There are certain downsides to that, but also some upsides. Ferriss' decision to limit some of it here has worked well for this board, I think.

@Webgal
One person's interest does not a "following" make. Maybe a stalker. :D

@Badhank
I am just kidding. :)

[MyOwnSuperhero]

In order for me to stay motivated, I have to have a number of different projects to work on, cycling between them as my motivation fluctuates. That way, even though I'm loosing the zeal to pursue one, I'm gung ho on another. Since I know that this is how I work, I've simply got a few different things going all the time.

[Vagabond]

Hookers and blow. :)




hahahah

i guess you mean no outright advertising because people share their muses all the time...

and italianjob seems to get away with his sale-hoo affiliate link.. ;)

[TimW]

Sharing your muse is one thing....a blatant "if you want to know the secrets of making big money by picking your nose, then sign up at my affiliate link" is another thing completely.

[Vagabond]

Sharing your muse is one thing....a blatant "if you want to know the secrets of making big money by picking your nose, then sign up at my affiliate link" is another thing completely.

Oh gotcha, I think its a good rule though... many a forum have been ruined and thus abandonded by overbearning spammy posts...

[webgal]

The member you mentioned has been warned.

[italian_job]

this guy has taught me the power of Clickbank + Adwords.

And his video has helped me tremendously.

Go crazy, dream and dance!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lUl3Dy6w4UA


To the dreamers of this crazy world!

[padma]

I don't know if the dude is legit or not, but it definately caught my interest enough to check it out.

[Vagabond]

I don't know if the dude is legit or not, but it definately caught my interest enough to check it out.

i am HIGHLY skeptical of this dude..


I just bought the perry marshall definitive guide to adwords and theres been some good information so far. It was recommended by many reputable people so I took the leap of faith

[webgal]

Yeah, but I can tell you that most his money will be made from that list he is building.

[EditorDude]

Going back to motivation strategies again - one thing that works for me (though it seems corny and mundane) is from Brian Tracy - write your three most important goals throughout the day whenever you get the chance - this really does keep you focussed.

But other than that - audiobooks are great, taking advantage of commute and travel times, mainly - Tony Robbins stuff ofcourse (especially Get The Edge) - and Brian Tracy, who I mentioned already.

Also, though not everyone here is fond of David Allen's GTD methods, it does work for me - it helps keep track of things and a calendar schedule to aim for.

But sometimes you just want to do other stuff - which is great - go do what you need to - and when you are refreshed and reinvigorated - get back to your muse stuff again. Audiobooks are good for these sort of times too - they keep you 'thinking' about stuff (even if seemingly unrelated to your muse) which is an essential thing to do too - which in turn improves your muse strategies.

But other than those, I find regular time for exercise and going out for an hours walk daily - in other words keeping yourself fit - helps maintain balance and optimum energy. (Tony Robbins covers this stuff anyway).

Thought I'd share some of my experience - hope it helps. Thanks to everyone for sharing yours.