Staying motivated can be difficult over the long haul. A lot of the time, you have a spark of motivation whenever you begin something. That motivation dwindles as things get harder and harder over time until you eventually give up and try something else. This is called “shiny object syndrome”, and it causes people to jump from one thing to another based on what the “new best thing” is. In reality, anything you do can work if you give it enough time and effort without losing motivation and quitting when things get tough. Motivation, or lack thereof can and will make or break your success in anything you attempt.
Dealing with shiny object syndrome
Shiny object syndrome is something that plagues every aspiring entrepreneur at some point in time. I’ve dealt with this quite often myself. What this term is basically a metaphor for is jumping from new thing to new thing without following through on whatever it is you were currently working on due to staleness and boredom. The “shiny object” is the new and exciting opportunity that you feel will ignite your spirit and exhilarate your motivation. The big problem with this is that you fail to follow through on the opportunities you were already pursuing. In the book, The One Thing, by Gary Keller, the first line pertains greatly to what we’re discussing here and resonated with me deeply when I first read it. The line is, “If you chase two rabbits, you’ll catch neither of them.” This is such a powerful line that I think about whenever I feel myself falling back into the pit of shiny object syndrome. The truth is that there are so many opportunities out there and that any of them can work out the way you feel they should. However, trying to capitalize on all of them at once will quickly derail and overwhelm you to the point you won’t be able to accomplish anything you set out to do. Don’t cave to shiny object syndrome as hard as it can be. Stick with your one thing and master it.
Staying motivated over the long haul
Staying motivated when things get tough is what separates the winners from everyone else. It is so easy to say, “this doesn’t work”, and give up on the opportunity you’re currently chasing. The truth is that most things can and will work if you give them the time to. Most people lack the consistency, focus, and drive it takes to reach the highest levels of success. For me, the best way that I’ve been able to stay motivated is by understanding the trajectory of success of anything I attempt from the beginning. Making peace with the fact that you won’t become an overnight millionaire is the first and foremost important mindset shift that needs to be implemented for any sort of success. Anything you do is for the long haul, and you must be committed and focused on learning, failing, improving, and trying again over and over. With this formula, success is difficult but inevitable. Before you start something, ask yourself this question. “Do I really want to commit to this over the next 5-10 years with my blood, sweat, and tears, or am I just in it for the slim possibility of a quick buck?” The answer to this question will reveal to yourself the bigger answer as to whether or not something is worth taking on. Approaching a new endeavor with this mindset will make sure that off the bat you aren’t just going to ride a quickly subsiding wave of excitement. Everything that I’ve done over the last 2-3 years I’ve been committed to fully and completely. There have been so many peaks and valleys (mostly valleys), but I know that success is inevitable if I just keep moving the ball forward. This thought alone is enough for me to take one step closer to my goals every single day. No matter what happens, no matter what goes wrong, I know that I will not give up until my goals are reached. Drive and passion aren’t things that you can learn and must be found within. It should be known right off the bat if you will feel this way so you don’t set yourself up for failure. Motivation comes from passion and drive, and without having these two factors working in your favor from the start, success will elude you.