Another flip of the calendar brings renewed motivation to set new challenges for yourself: higher-than-ever revenue, expansion into a new service area, or even mastering a new business skill like utilizing AI for outreach.
However, most people abandon their resolutions entirely by mid-February.
That may be a sobering fact. Thankfully, it’s not hard to stay on track; you just have to adjust your approach.
Take a look at some ways to stay motivated as you work to achieve even more in the months to come.
When something is hard, do it anyway.
One of the best books you can read about business motivation is Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. It’s an essential for anyone looking to overcome challenges in their professional lives.
Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL, motivational speaker, and triathlete. He runs ultramarathons, bikes incredible distances, and seems to excel at everything he does.
Goggins has a mindset that allows him to beat unreal odds, along with an amazing ability to follow through. His “do it anyway” philosophy could motivate you to step up your game in unexpected ways, no matter the challenges you face.
The honesty in Goggins’ attitude is his superpower. He states that there is no magic thing that will help you get through the hard times. Instead, it’s a decision to persevere.
Stop looking for the magic formula. Whether it’s working to outdo your competitors, contending with rising costs, or looking to correct bad customer feedback, some things are just plain hard. Do them anyway.
Find power in consistency.
Goggins also talks about the power of self-talk. When you work inconsistently or without a clear goal in mind, you’re only hurting yourself. To hone your focus, tell yourself you’re a champion. You can and will achieve whatever goal you have in store for the year.
Goggins writes about his experience as an ultramarathon runner. He was 50 miles into a 100-mile race, and he felt physically broken. But he reminded himself that he trained for this every morning for 6 months.
David ran over 6,000 miles to get to where he was. At that point, what was 50 more miles?
From that perspective, almost anything is attainable. You’re a champion because you did the little things that add up to something big.
Listen to an exclusive interview with another inspiring David—best-selling author and speaker David Meltzer—here. He explains how doing something for two minutes every day is better than doing it for twenty minutes on a Saturday. The secret: consistency is key to not just getting through your task list but working toward major goals for your year.
Remember: January 1 is just a day.
ReminderMedia president Luke Acree recounts a particularly bad start to a year:
“I started off 2020 really sick. It was the sickest I’ve been in a long time. I lost my voice, which plays a crucial role in what I do every day. And the effects were instant. When you start out the new year, you’re motivated. But when you’re sick, it’s really hard to stay motivated. I realized how easy it is to let your mind take control, taking you to a negative place.”
These physical limitations made it harder for him to hit his goals in both his personal and practical life.
But he realized a key lesson: he was being too hard on himself! Had this happened to him in December, Luke recounts, he would’ve simply dusted himself off and resolved to do better in January.
Whether you’re reading this in March, April, or December, you shouldn’t get so hung up on what month it is. New Year’s resolutions are ultimately arbitrary. What really matters is that you continue to work on yourself and your business every month, no matter the month.
If you slipped up yesterday, last quarter, or even last year, start again today. Don’t give up. Remain committed to yourself, and you’ll do incredible things.
Want to take steps today that can make big waves for your business? Click here to send ReminderMedia’s personally branded magazines to your circle, and sign up for our digital marketing services to automate your outreach for an entire year!
