Motivation is the fuel that propels you to achievement.  A high degree of motivation is essential for achieving lofty goals.  It’s difficult to achieve anything significant without being sufficiently motivated.  Consider those tasks you avoid.  You’ll probably find that for most, if not all of them, you don’t have much motivation.

Each person has their own varying degrees of motivation for the many areas of life such as finances, family, friends, social acceptance, education, status, lifestyle, recreation, health, and happiness.  What motivates you is an individual matter.  It doesn’t matter what motivates others.  What’s important is what motivates you.

People find themselves bogged down when they follow paths with little motivation.  Understanding what motivates you is important in deciding what goals to pursue.  Whatever your endeavor, your chances for success are substantially boosted as your motivation increases.  Choosing a path for which you are not motivated is a waste of time.

There is typically a higher level of motivation for your needs compared to your desires.  Something that is a need is essential for your well being.  Desires, on the other hand, can be put off without any adverse consequences.  It’s important to understand what you want and why you want it so you can separate your needs from your desires.

The most effective motivation comes from within yourself.  External motivation may get you started or push you along a bit, but its impact is temporary unless it coincides with your own internal drive.  Although you can be nagged into action, you won’t have much enthusiasm.  When you are truly motivated, not only will you begin without any urging, no one will be able to stop you.

Losing weight is a perfect example of this phenomenon.  A person may start a diet because of pressure from family or friends.  However, unless the individual really wants to lose weight, and keep it off, they won’t stick to the diet or will regain the weight once the diet is completed.

So motivation comes down to deciding how badly you want something.  If you want it badly enough, you will do whatever it takes for however long is necessary to attain your goal.  This is the essence of motivation.

Comfort is motivation’s adversary.  When you are comfortable, your motivation to attain goals or make changes is diminished.  Since you are complacent, you have no intense driving force.  There is no time pressure.  It doesn’t matter whether you act today, tomorrow, or whenever.  So procrastination sets in and before you know it, you have put something off indefinitely.

When you are in this situation, you have to push yourself into action.  You can influence your own levels of motivation.  Taking that all important first step today is essential.  Procrastination will cause opportunities to be lost while allowing dreams to go unfulfilled.

A great way to fan your motivation is by listing in writing all the benefits that will accrue once your goals are attained.  Review your listed items daily.  This repetition programs your mind and intensifies your desire, which in turn strengthens your motivation.

Motivation also emanates from the need to avoid negative consequences.  Filing your income tax return, when you owe money, falls into this category.  However, negative avoidance motivation is never as strong as the desire for positive gains.

Monitor your level of motivation constantly.  Keep yourself moving forward, especially when you encounter problems, obstacles, or setbacks.  Those without motivation drift through life without any clear purpose or destination.  It doesn’t matter where you are today.  It’s never too late to get motivated.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2011 Bryan Golden

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