How rapport can help motivate you
- By C L Haden -
- Sep 11, 2012
Can rapport help motivate you? Or should you go it alone on the road to entrepreneurial success? Here's a guest blog on battling the motivational engine...
“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life – Charles Darwin”
The ironic thing is, even though you know how important is it to invest a major amount of time and energy into your business, to see results. Sometimes, it doesn't stop you from coming to a standstill!
I know all too well what it's like to battle with the old motivational engine. And then, there's that realisation of , if you don't get it done, there's no one to take the blame but you! They say that the toughest boss is yourself.However, when working on your own, there's a real chance of after you've been angry with yourself, you're more inclined to console yourself with a box of chocolates, telling yourself it will be better the next time (not so tough now are we?)
So a few weeks back, I Googled 'I'm lacking motivation – what should I do?' and it gave me all sorts of options. It suggested that I joined a gym, (already done) improve my eating habits, (getting there) take some time off (that's what got me into trouble in the first place) and the last option of finding a new job (unthinkable!)
It was only when I received a newsletter off a self development company, that made me sit up and really think about my situation. It posed the question of 'What would you get done, if you had someone to rapport back to every hour?'
A very good question indeed, because thinking about it, when I've worked on projects whether at College, University or with other Freelancers- having that input off another person is most of time, enough to kick start you. After all, there's nothing worse than being told off by another person for not getting the job done! And if you've been employed, you'll know that your managers bark can be as equally painful as their bite!
It made me wonder how I could apply this question to my life and get me back on to the road of motivation!
Here are a few tips that I've been finding very effective:
Coaching - useful indeed, even if you can only have a few sessions. They will work with you to identify why you're procrastinating and feeling unmotivated and they will help you to set a plan of action.
Action plans – following the SMART analogy (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic to you, and timed.) I found that by publishing my plan of action via my blogs meant I was more likely to get it done. There's one thing knowing that your unmotivated, but everyone else knowing is just shameful!
Social media - I use mine to update about projects that I'm currently working on, as I find that when people ask me about them, it encourages me to get started asap.
Goal partners- It can be a friend, family member, coach, or work colleague. Did you now that research has now found that people who have goal partners, are 52% more likely to achieve what they set out to do?!
Essentially, applying the 'What would get you get done, if you had someone to rapport back to every hour?' question, is a concept to be used for the idol child within us! I recommend using it, even for us stubborn types.
And if that doesn't work, well, there's nothing like a good old guilt trip – take a look at the following video, it really makes you think about the hours of the day. http://www.peopleperhour.com/
By C L Haden.
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