Sometimes you are just tired. It is hard to motivate yourself, hard to keep working, hard to focus.
This can be for any number of reasons, both physical and psychological.
There are ways to make it easier to handle though.
Our energy, focus and motivation follow in many ways the same laws as the laws of physics. What is in motion stays in motion unless effected by an outside force. What is still needs energy to start moving, once it is moving though same amount energy will help it gain speed instead of just maintaining it.
If you get sick or have a setback it is like pushing down the brakes of a fast moving car, you slow down, but don’t necessarily stop. If you can keep your momentum going forward all you need to do is generate some more forward power and you will start accelerating again.
Acceleration
I noticed this when I got sick this Christmas. I had been working hard for weeks at a pace that surprised most people around me. When I got sick I started slowing down, but still kept working, I held this pace for about 2 weeks before I was forced into bed and complete rest.
Once I was feeling better I decided to continue where I left off and tried to work as hard as I had before. But just as with a car, you need to accelerate.
I realized I couldn’t keep the same tempo, I had to slow down first and slowly work my way up to full speed.
The speed is up to you
Your acceleration is up to you, but you don’t have to accelerate faster than you feel comfortable with. What is the most important is that you keep your acceleration constant. If you can keep increasing your speed you will continue improving your results which is the most important thing.
As long as you improve it is improvement
Many want to go from 0-100 mph in under 4 seconds, but as long as you are slowly increasing in speed it doesn’t matter how long a time it takes. Before too long has past you will be moving at 100 mph, 200 mph and producing better results than everyone around you.
The slower you accelerate the easier it feels
Maintaining speed is simple. Once you have taught yourself to produce a certain amount, you will out of habit keep that pace. Energy is only required to accelerate and a slow acceleration takes a lot less than a fast acceleration.
Therefore if you feel that your current load is your limit, just add a little at a time, don’t try to accelerate quickly, just add a little today, a little tomorrow, a little next week and so on and before you know it you will be producing much more than you currently are without putting in more effort.
3 steps to increasing your momentum
- Clarify your goals – You need a reason to work hard. Clarify your goals so that you know why you are putting in the effort.
- Start small – Like I said above, don’t try too much too fast, go slow and steady.
- Make a weekly plan – write down everything you need to do in a week and plan your days. Make sure you know what speed you are going at now, before you try to accelerate.
Conclusion
You can produce more, even if it feels impossible right now. Don’t do too much; just add a little every day or every week and you will quickly start improving your results.
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Photo Credit: jpctalbot
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I like #3 Clarifing your goals and starting small. Make the big goal, but with lillte steps then you don’t feel overwhelmed. thanks for the reminders Daniel
Debbie
Hey Debbie.
That is a very good filosophy. Starting small and building up. It is all about what you are comfortable with. Many like setting high goals, even if they don’t complete them all, the goals are exhilirating and even if they only get 80% of the way, that is a big difference in their lives.
May I ask what your greatest experience with goal setting is Debbie? The biggest difference it has made in your life.
Heck Daniel, I’ve watched you maintain a break-neck pace for over a year man, it’s amazing you’re body held out that long
But seriously man, I’m glad you’re back in the game and this article was excellent my friend.
Marcus
Right back at you Marcus.
You have done amazing things with your blogg and you never slow down.
What do you think has been the number one reason you have been able to keep up the pace?
I’d agree completely on the importance of momentum, Daniel, but something I’d like to see think about and write about is the value in and the creation of networks. What I have realised in my current venture – setting up a new Manchester corporate finance network – is that whilst I can keep working at a good pace myself, the momentum in the overall operation can develop so much faster if I develop strong links with other people who can help me. Obviously this will not work for every sales activity BUT I think that a lot of sales advice tends to concentrate on the individual to the exclusion of network development AND the boom in social media is meaning that many people are taking the easy option of digital networking over the hard slog of actually getting out there and building a physical network as well.
Great point Malcolm!
I have a lot of posts planned, but writing about networking and bringing more people into your circle that can help you is great advise and something I definitely should write about.
Thanks Malcolm.