How to Get There

Direction. Inspiration. Momentum.

People that know me know that I like to boil things down to their simplest aspects.  It might be because I’m slow or not quite as smart as the rest of us out there, but that’s not the point.  Direction, inspiration, and motivation as I see it, are the three things I need everyday to succeed.  You might disagree, and want to talk about being prepared and planning and all the rest of the things people tend to focus on.   To me, that’s missing the forest for the trees.  To clarify, here is a bit about each point.

The first aspect, Direction, is fairly simple.  There is no middle when you are working regardless of whether its for you or for someone else.  Business (and life for that matter) is full of choices.  You need to meet those choices head on, pick a direction and start moving.  The beauty in this strategy is that you can ALWAYS redirect yourself at a later point to adjust.  Your not just “stuck” going down a path.  Picking a direction just trains you to get moving.  The importance of this can’t be overlooked.

Inspiration is another straightforward thing, albeit a bit tougher to define.  We all need good reasons to get things done.  For me its more than good pay, although that is of utmost importance to make sure it is in line.  There needs to be someone or something getting you excited about what you are doing.  You might be making a widget that 1 person in the world will use, but if you FEEL inspired to make that widget then it will be made with extreme intensity and care.  Inspiration is around every corner and can be simple as a conversation with someone, or it can be as complex as complete this project and you might have a monetary bonus involved.  Finding ways to inspire should be on your list of things to accomplish if you want to be a leader instead of a follower.

Momentum is the final piece of the puzzle for me.  There are lots of reasons why I save this for last but it all really comes down to a single aspect.  Once you’ve picked your direction and gotten inspired, completing tasks will “feel” easier.  And with each completed item, you’ll get more and more excited seeing that finish line getting closer and closer.  It’s infectious.  It’s the part of the puzzle that when you look at your watch you can’t believe that 5 hours have passed.  That’s momentum.  Complete disregard for other things and serene focus.

In my mind, all three of these items need the other’s to succeed.  It’s not easy either.  Its work to get the first going, put the second in place, and then follow up with the third, but getting them to work together will all but seal the deal in a successful project.

So contact me. Talk to me about why I’m wrong.  Who knows, you might pick a side, find some encouragement, and start getting things done at an alarming rate.