As you climb the corporate ladder, you’ll find life can often be lonely at the top. As a leader, there are usually fewer people giving you motivation or pouring into you in any capacity. To fill your cup, you need to have sources of motivation on tap and readily available to you in times of need. In psychological circles, there are three fundamental components of motivation. They include activation, persistence, and intensity. Understanding how these components can work for you will help you stay motivated for a productive year ahead.
Activation
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. The activation component involves the decision to initiate a behavior. Pablo Picasso said, “action is the foundational key to all success.” We’ve found that a great way to get started is by narrowing your vision. Instead of seeing the year ahead as 365 days, why not break it down into quarters, months, or weeks. Success fuels motivation, so starting with an easily accomplished goal will inherently motivate you to crush more goals. You can’t meet goals you haven’t made, so take some time this month to get intentional about targeting areas of need, and setting goals that are sure to fill your cup once achieved.
Persistence
Making goals is a great first step, but it’s not everything. Persistence is the continued effort toward a goal even though obstacles may exist. As leaders, we have to have fuel to keep us going. If you fill your cup with the proper fuel, you’ll see much more consistent results. Creating accountability for yourself where needed helps get you through the unexpected. That could mean having an early coffee date with a friend before work once a week to check-in, or having a reward system in place for yourself if you stay on track. Make sure you’re surrounding yourself with people who believe in what you’re doing and aren’t afraid to help guide you back on track when you’ve lost your way.
Intensity
Finally, intensity plays a big role here. It can be seen in the concentration and vigor that goes into pursuing a goal. Sure, you’ve made a goal and put in place people or systems to help you reach it–but ultimately, what are the stakes? If you want something bad enough, you will move mountains to achieve it. Sometimes it’s hard to put that kind of intensity into your own personal needs. It’s important to see the need to fill your cup as a legitimate cause worthy of time, effort, and vigor. There are just some things you need to do for you to stay motivated. You’re not a robot, you’re a human being. Validate yourself by prioritizing motivation sustainability.
Everyone needs motivation, no matter how senior your title. If you’re running on empty, that will be reflected in your work. Hopefully, with activation, persistence, and intensity, you can work to fill your cup day in and day out. We can spot burnout a mile away. Having someone on your side that understands your vision and will work with you to accomplish something special is invaluable. Ready to see how your cup can overflow? Give us a shout. We may have just what you need.
