Oct
09

Follow Through for Motivation

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October 9, 2007

All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man has taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.
-Vince Lombardi

Incomplete Projects Kill Motivation

Failure to follow through is a part of a cycle that can be difficult to break. Lack of motivation can lead one to give up on a project, and incomplete projects can make it difficult to find motivation to follow through with future projects. However, when we let go of the absurd notion that that past will predict the future, the cycle can be broken.

Can the Past Predict the Future?

The past predicts the future when we tell ourselves that it will. “It’s always been this way, so why should I expect anything different?” Answer: “Because life changes all the time!” That’s why we spend time concentrating on personal and spiritual growth and development.

Just over 17 years ago, I was stumbling drunk and high through the streets of my home town thinking that was just how life was. Today, I barely recognize that life as my own. Read See the Miracle in Everything if you’re interested in hearing more about how much my life has changed.

Change is the Only Constant In Life

In my personal experiences and the experiences of those around me, change is the only constant in life.

My past is full of incomplete projects, creations and skills I had given up on. Had I used evidence from the past to predict my future, this website would not exist. I would not have a bachelor’s degree. I would not own a home. And, I certainly would not be running my own business.

Tips for Follow Through

Try to complete one project before starting another one.
Limit your number of simultaneous goals. Too many simultaneous projects can slow them all down to a point where it doesn’t feel like any will be finished.
Once you are determined to complete a goal, make a habit of taking some action on that goal regularly. It could be monthly, weekly, daily or whatever you can commit to.
Be selective about your goals.
Review your goals periodically. As with everything else in life, our motivations change over time too.

Daily Action

Review you goals today. Choose one to focus on and make sure the completion of the goal is easily measurable. Decide on a set amount of time you can commit to at regular intervals until completion.

This post is part 7 of a series: Motivation to Complete Your Goals.

Continue on to the next article on the motivation building process:

About the author

Danny

I am Danny Kohn, writer and designer for this site and owner, software engineer and consultant for Inspirations Software Design. My three greatest passions in life are sharing time with my family, software design and sharing inspiration with others. I have the incredible privilege of being able to spend a significant amount of time every day doing each of those three things. I am a single father of Tristen, our 6 year old son. It has been such an incredible joy to watch him grow up and learn so much. Everything he does and says overwhelms me with adoration. We have a wonderful evening ritual of reading books together in a beanbag chair. Nearly every night, we have a laughing attack together. I smile and giggle constantly in his presence and feel truly inspired.

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