How to assess your motivation and find strategies to help you reach your goals.
We live in an instant world. Isn’t it nice to get ready-to-eat gourmet meals delivered to our front doors? Receive courteous answers to complex questions simply by asking our smartphones? It’s possible to purchase a new pair of shoes on one app and then click over and check our bank balance on another. And let’s not forget the gratification of downloading and listening to an audiobook on one road trip. Remember when we had to wait for books on hold at the library?
Success Is Worth the Work
Despite the instant availability of information, learning and applying skills is still a process. The things that matter most still take time. I can’t learn everything I want to know about how to write and publish a book from my author friend by taking her out for coffee—even if I pick up the tab. Nor can my husband restore his classic truck to pristine condition overnight. Some cliches still ring true: Rome certainly was not built in a day. Nor could it be rebuilt in a day—even with our technological advances.
The same holds true for big dreams. Which ones keep swirling around in your mind and how do you make them happen? Let’s discuss how to move from thinking about them to doing something about them. And while we’re at it, let’s plan ahead for when you feel like quitting—because you will.
Three Questions to Set You Up for Success
When it comes to an action plan, we can’t go all Forrest Gump about it. He started running because he felt like it and ran for several years until he decided not to anymore. No, there’s a danger in thinking that constant activity is the same as making meaningful progress. We need to be intentional because that leads to persistence—the grit that keeps us going even when facing challenges, disappointments or failure.
God created you with a divine plan and purpose that connect with your unique gifts and abilities. The following questions will guide you toward actions that lead to your achievements.
- What’s my motivation? Knowing why you want to achieve something can be a powerful motivator when progress feels like trying to run in deep sand. Those steps are slow sometimes, and our “why” matters.
I’ve met writers who want to have a bestseller. But that’s outside of their control if they write nothing worth reading. And if sales look grim, they quickly give up. Their motivation has to be to make a difference in the life of every person who reads their book, even if only one. They will persist in learning the craft because being passionate about the meaningful outcome brings fulfillment.
You’ll want to establish meaningful outcomes for your aspirations too. Here are some very generalized examples of goals followed by more precise, abbreviated motivations:
- Career advancement (titles, promotions, status, self-confidence)
- Fitness and nutrition (better health, look good, quality of life)
- Financial security (pay off debt, be fiscally independent)
- Mastering a hobby or skill (satisfaction and joy, a sense of accomplishment)
- Leaving a legacy (share faith, inspire others)
- Achieving an educational degree (establish a career, make a difference)
- Writing a book (become a full-time writer, start a fun hobby, teach others biblical truth)
- Traveling and exploring countries and cultures (foster adventure, learn, serve)
- Starting a business (earn money, philanthropy, meet a community need, creative expression)
- Retirement (personal fulfillment, self-care, enjoyment, recreation)
Some aspects of these aspirations are outside of our control. For example, economic changes can affect careers and financial goals. Health changes can alter physical goals. Relationships change, and external factors impact outcomes. Sometimes, God nudges us in a different direction. However, if we know why we want to keep pressing forward, we’re more likely not to give up when the unexpected hits.
As you establish ambitions, ask yourself if they satisfy your underlying motivation. Do they fulfill your God-given desires? For example, I finished college and worked as a registered nurse. While it met financial goals and my desire to positively impact others, that career lacked critical elements of what fulfills me at the core: independence, creativity, and my passion for words.
- Where do I need to grow? Once you know what motivates you, the next question to ask is about what skills or knowledge you’ll need to develop and what tools you’ll need to acquire. Remember how I said I couldn’t learn how to write a book over coffee with a friend? That took about 20 years of learning via conferences, books, seminars, writing groups, and heaps of practice. And a lot of money. Where do you need to grow, and how much time and money are you willing to invest?
Your toolbox might include formal education or vocational skills. Or maybe not. I know many people who put in the hard work of becoming self-taught. But even self-taught “goal-getters” need skills and tools. And they need to fund that learning too. Brainstorm a bit to see which of these would help you grow toward success:
- Networking with others
- Online courses
- Apprenticeship or internship
- Books or software
- Tools or supplies
- Video tutorials
- Seminars, workshops, or conferences
- Volunteering
- Experimentation and reverse engineering
- Immersive experiences (like a culinary retreat or art residency)
- Mentorship or coaching
- Observing others
- An entry level job to learn more
Saving up the money for my necessary training included a seasonal job harvesting cranberries and some cleaning and painting jobs. And I did them joyfully because I knew why and how they would help me with my aspirations. Still, persistence to success came at a price too. I’ve shed a lot of tears along the way. Disappointment tested my resilience as I questioned whether I was cut out for the work.
- How can I sustain this? Once you experience the taste of achievement toward your goals, it’s essential to know how you’ll keep the momentum going. Forrest Gump got tired and went home. Sometimes, you’ll feel like quitting. I can’t tell you how often I’ve considered finding a new boss—yes, I’m the boss!
A paycheck isn’t enough to lead to persistence for most of us. I’ve quit jobs that paid well—nursing, for example. I’m guessing you have too. Resilience—the ability to bounce back and keep moving—is more effortless when we have a long-term plan for success. I like to think of resilience as one strand in a braided cord along with persistence and passion. Together, the three have a powerful pull on motivation.
How you sustain your progress has a lot to do with personality. Having several close friends who share similar goals motivates me. I also have a dollhouse-sized bookshelf where I keep adding mini book covers as I write and publish. I save encouraging handwritten notes and emails from readers and fellow writers. Here are a few ideas to get you started on brainstorming what will keep you driven:
- Rewards (progress gifts to yourself, milestone treats or activities, celebrations, launch parties, and anything specifically meaningful to you)
- Vision (a vision board or vision statement hanging where you can see it)
- Support (groups or organizations, friends with the same goals, accountability)
- Inspiration (success stories, feedback from people you influence)
- Progress markers (progress charts or checklists, a timeline, smartphone apps, widgets in a jar, habit trackers, or spreadsheets)
- Next steps (a plan with levels or phases, check-ins and checkups, goal-setting days or weekends)
Flexibility has been a key factor in my own success. It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between procrastination and flexibility if there is no plan in place. Life happens. Crises happen. I put my writing dreams on hold for a few years to work a job that wasn’t in my long-range plan. However, it provided for our family’s financial needs and taught me some skills I didn’t know were missing that ended up taking my dreams to the next level. We can’t plan for every surprise that comes along, and sometimes they turn out to be the best growth opportunities.
Make Your Action Plan for Persistence to Success
Are you ready to create your action plan? Grab a journal, a sheet of paper, or a whiteboard and brainstorm. Write your goal at the top, being specific about what you want to do. Then list the three questions:
- What’s my motivation?
- Where do I need to grow?
- How can I sustain this?
Spend time thinking through each question. Ask God for wisdom as you process your thoughts. You might even want to let it rest for a bit and come back with fresh eyes to see if you missed anything.
Now, select one action step from your list of where you need to grow. Then, write a simple action statement that encompasses each aspect of your plan. Example:
I want to do _______ (your goal) because ______ (your why).
My next/first step is to ______ (one action to grow a skill or tool).
When this step is complete, I will _______ (something from your sustain list).
Here’s mine: I want to write another Bible study book because I love teaching the Bible and want to help people grow in faith. My next step is purchasing the software to help me study Scripture in-depth. After I buy this, I will block out four hours per week for writing.
Repeat, repeat, repeat as you apply your motivational plan. Keep your big action blueprint visible and refer to it often as you continue forward. I like to write my goals as statements that begin with “I will” because it’s a commitment to myself. This is more powerful for me than a list of goals and small steps toward each target.
In your persistence to success, creating a motivational action plan serves as the compass toward the destination. When you set a clear purpose, establish steps, and reward your progress, resilience becomes the catalyst for achieving the desires of your heart. Continuous learning becomes a joy instead of a chore. Adapting becomes second nature instead of a temptation to give up.
Ultimately, you might be surprised to learn that real success isn’t so much in achieving the destination but in the transformative process inside you. That persistence, grit, depth of character, and personal growth have no paycheck or price tag, but they are irreplaceable treasures. I’ll tell you what I would tell my past self if I could go back. You’ve got this! Don’t give up. And make room for fun on your way to success.
