Maintaining Momentum

One of the biggest struggles in my life has been maintaining momentum. I’m sure you can all relate: You get all excited about an opportunity and then get hit by a challenge that completely throws you off cloud 9.

I’ve always wondered to myself how to keep momentum going consistently. To be on the top of my game even when those challenges appear. Well I’ll tell you one thing, there is no one sure-shooting answer that will work for everyone. All of us have our own recipe in keeping momentum going. There are however, some basic principles in which each recipe is built on:

1) Momentum Begins with Why

If you don’t know why you’re doing something, you’ll never STAY motivated to get it. Think about it: if you had a baby and they were in a burning building, you would do whatever it takes to get the baby out. Why? Because you love your baby and would do anything for it. Alright let’s flip this situation: You work for the weekend. Why? Because you hate work. Do you think you’re EVER gonna get or stay motivated at work. “Oh but I got a raise Ryan!” Great… that’ll get you motivated.. your lifestyle will change.. you’ll want more money.. there goes the motivation. As for having money as a motivator, like I’ve always said: Money is merely a shadow of value. Shadows don’t motivate you (at last mine doesn’t). Reallllly understand why it is you’re doing what you’re doing, and that applies to everything. I workout regularly to keep myself healthy and have the energy to continue to make a difference in this world through empowering communication. I don’t work 9-5 for my career because bringing new ideas to life for our clients sometimes involves more time, and flexible time. Remember your why. If you don’t know what that is? It’s time to take a step back and reflect.

2) Momentum Builds with Integrity

7 Habits of Highly Effective People defined this one the best: Integrity is conforming reality to your words. Simply said, it’s doing what you say. If you commit to something DO IT. If you don’t, own up to it. Plan your work, work your plan. It doesn’t matter how many ideas you have, if none of them are brought to reality, they don’t exist. This is not easy, it requires a lot of self-discipline and consistency. I still struggle with it (you know how long I’ve been saying I’m going to do a blog a day.. argg!), but what keeps me motivated in getting better at it is my WHY and curiosity to get better. Find your WHY and live with INTEGRITY and just watch what happens to your life. Again don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Here are a few other tips in finding your recipe:

• Get in communication – TALK to people.. not email.. not fax (if that still even exists)… talking to people will help you learn things about yourself you can’t see for yourself. Having an open and honest conversation about something can really allows someone to give you a fresh new perspective on your situation.
• Get curious – Curious George didn’t just exist to be a funny cartoon monkey. He was trying to teach us something. How can will you ever learn or get past challenges if you aren’t curious to learn. You reallly gotta stay curious in your life.
• Surround yourself with positive – Whether it’s videos, pictures, quotes, and most importantly people, surround yourself with genuinely positive things. People who are curious and life to learn. Videos that get you energized. Music that pumps you up (My favourite..used to dance around in my room, now I have a whole apartment #craziness!!)