Motivation: Positive or Negative

A few days ago I posted an item about the kinds of things that motivate me - every day.

Over the last week I've had a huge wakeup call when it comes to getting things done. It's not because I wanted to do these things - as in - these were goal items and I was working my way to getting these things crossed off my list. No, these were things that had happened to me - and I had to get them sorted out. The motivation was simple - I was annoyed.

A week ago, some delightful person or persons unknown removed (ie stole) my rear number plate and bent one of my windscreen wiper arms. So, I had to do certain things. I had to get the car re-registered, fill in the required forms, signed affidavits that said my plate had been taken and where it had gone from. Then I had to go to the garage with new plates in the front and rear windows of the car to get them fixed back onto the car. For some reason - the car I own doesn't have standard holes - so the plates had to be drilled. The damage to the wiper arm assessed and the part ordered....which was fixed on saturday. All in all, a nuisance, and none of it my making, but I had to get it sorted. My motivation stemmed from the fact that I couldn't run a car without plates and trying to clear my windows was impossible.

Imagine then my utmost annoyance when i left my home this morning to find my car had been broken into and the windscreen damaged. And interestingly enough this time my car was parked in the carport of my home - last week it was parked on a street in a nice neighbourhood. My only consolation this time is the CD's they took were unlikely to be their kind of music, and there weren't many of them. Serves you right. Thankfully they left the $200 pair of runners I had in the back of the car.

So, again the motivation is there. Don't get me wrong I would prefer not to have to spend my time getting these things fixed, but I know I have to. I have to get the windscreen replaced. And I am now looking for companies that can fit garage and security doors. Things I had planned to do - just not NOW - today.

Well I have to do it all NOW because now it is important and urgent.

Now, translate that to every goal you have - are you as motivated to do those things on your list? Or do you only kick up a gear when you have no choice?

Like I said - I had - organise garage door and security screens on my list of household tasks - (and no they're not goals - just tasks) - saving for them might be the goal !! but organising the company to come round and do it - no, just a task.

They needed doing, but weren't urgent - whilst we can live our lives in a state of "what if" so and so happened.... it may be time to look at your tasks and goals in a slightly different way. What would you do if you HAD to get some thing sorted out - because not doing so would impact on your life in a negative manner? Would you be more likely to do the work?

I'll give you another "for example". You know you need to stop smoking and lose 30lbs - but you can't be bothered. And then the results of the doctors results come through.

Put a little urgency and a different spin on your goals - and see if that motivates you to get on and do them.