Regular Bathing, Regular Motivation

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

How can you and I possibly use this leadership quote?

Motivation is the desire to do things. It’s the difference between staying in bed and getting up in the morning. It’s the crucial part of setting and achieving goals.

Provide the conditions

You can influence your own motivation. In fact, I am strongly convinced that motivation can only come from within. If you are in a position to motivate others then I suggest you must come to terms with that. Accept that you can provide the conditions for the motivation of others and the leadership to help them find a way but ultimately, they must find the motivation in themselves. So, in my view, the very best way to provide those conditions for self-motivation is to respect people and trust them.

Inspirational Leadership Quotes: Motivate yourself

As for motivating yourself, I have a few suggestions. There are plenty more where this came from and I’d really like to hear some from you. So, put a comment in the box below with your ideas.

Clarify your vision

The first strong recommendation is to make sure your vision, purpose and goals are crystal clear. Unless you do this, how can you be motivated? I tell you now, if you don’t do it you will not be motivated.

Change your habits for the better

Work on changing your bad habits. Find those you don’t like and force yourself to think of different ways of doing things. Don’t expect to change everything at once but do expect to improve slowly step-by-step over a period of days, weeks and months. You will only do this if you identify what you need to do and how you can improve.

Make a new habit of reading a motivational quote every morning (well, I would say that wouldn’t I?). But seriously, use the quote as a thought provoker. You don’t have to spend long on this in order for it to help. Think of the person who said it, think of what they did with their lives and what adversities they conquered. Use that to motivate yourself.

Go with it anyway

Don’t fear failure. As American Basketball legend Michael Jordan said:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

That’s another quote on leadership we can discuss another time.

Watch out for time wasters – they demotivate you

Spend less time on Facebook or watching TV or doing any of those other things which, on reflection, you will see as a waste of your precious hours and minutes.

Keep looking for different ways

Do the same things differently and do new things. “I am always doing things I can’t do, that’s how I get to do them.” – Pablo Picasso. Don’t expect to master them the first time but be sure to improve each time you do them. If you can’t find out how, find somebody who can.

Regular bathing!

Be sure to remember what Zig Ziglar said about bathing and motivation. Don’t forget motivation needs refreshing regularly!

So figure out what you want, push yourself through the pain and procrastination and start being who you want to be, living the life you want to live. Starting right now.

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Books on leadership for further reading:

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