Motivation: Getting Things Done Efficiently

We have all done it at one point or another; we have something important to do, but end up putting it off until tomorrow.  And what happens when tomorrow comes?  We put it off again.  The next thing you know, time continues to fly by and what could be a simple task becomes a burden. 

Instead of getting up off the couch or out of bed at a reasonable hour in the morning, many people choose to sit around and collect dust.  With technologies such as iPods, theater-size plasma screen televisions, and of course video games, there are all types of distractions that keep us from doing what we need to accomplish. 

Everyone knows that person who plays way too many video games and seems to have little control over his/her life.  This person’s hygiene may be lacking, there may be dust everywhere you look, their grades may be suffering, and they do not take the time to socialize and connect with others.  Why can’t people realize that video games and endlessly watching television will not get you anywhere?  When was the last time you saw a rich, successful person sitting on the couch for two days straight while playing Playstation and eating Cheetos?

You never see the more successful people in this world sitting around all day.  They don’t sit around and vegetate; they have motivation.  They realize that certain activities will not accomplish anything for them in this world, so they spend their time on those activities which will advance them in life.  Take Donald Trump for example; he wakes up every morning around 5:00 AM, and works all day and into the night until approximately 1:00 AM.  That’s right; he only sleeps for four hours on average.  And all he has to show for his small amount of sleep is billions of dollars.  He does not watch television shows that will not make him smarter and more business-savvy.  He spends several hours every morning reading papers and learning about the world and what is happening in the financial markets.  Trump spends his days learning about money and what will make his corporation even better in the future.  He has figured out the formula for success and he is taking it to the bank, literally. 

But motivation does not only have to do with making a substantial amount of money.  You can also be motivated to learn, to help others, to have a healthy body, or simply to connect with others.  Most people will graduate from college with their bachelors, masters, or PhD, and figure that their learning is complete.  Once you graduate from college you simply enter the world and get a job, and school is a thing of the past.  However, why should one ever stop learning?  School takes money, but isn’t paying a couple hundred dollars well worth it if you are taking classes to keep your mind fresh and to learn about a topic you have a deep interest in?  Many grown-ups continue to learn by taking community college classes at night after work.  Men and women have the options to take classes on dancing, cooking, welding, martial arts, economics, nursing, etc.  Pick a topic and study it!  Who cares if the class is graded and you are bad at tests.  You have nothing to lose, and knowledge to gain.  Plus, chances are you’ll meet some interesting people and develop friendships. 

Or why not spend your free time volunteering or running a side business to help others?  Soup kitchens, churches, youth organizations, and hospitals/clinics always need people to help out.  You may be doing a medial task such as slopping food on a homeless person’s plate or doing paperwork at a medical office, but you still get to interact with others, you are doing something to make yourself feel good, and you learn to appreciate life in a new way.  Or start a non-profit organization.  Starting a company is not as hard as one might think.  You could start a company to send items to U.S. soldiers in Iraq, or collect money to buy discount clothes and books for the homeless.  There are millions of possibilities, you just have to try. 

Lastly, if you do not care to volunteer or pay money to take classes, why not join a gym or take up running.  Research shows that working on your body and doing cardio exercise several times a week will make you a healthier, happier person.  Your heart, lungs, and mind will all be in better shape for spending a few hours a week at the gym.  Plus, if you notice your body looking better, you will likely develop confidence to finally go out and start a business or meet that special someone.  Physical fitness has a huge effect on one’s mind and is extremely underrated by a large population in the United States. 

An engineering professor in college told me that if you are not working on school work or studying, than you are falling behind.  I firmly believe this idea.  If you are not working on school work or business or advancing in your career, than someone out there is ahead of you and you are not doing the best you can.  And why do something if you are not going to put your all into it?  If you want to have a multi-million dollar corporation, then don’t spend your days playing video games and taking naps.  Get on your computer and do some marketing and research, or call up an associate or friend just to chat.  You never know how valuable a friend can be.  They may know someone who knows someone, and the next thing you know, your business is taking off. 

People do not become millionaires by sitting on the couch and wishing.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and many sleepless nights.  The lesson to take from this is, don’t sit around if you have the ability to get up and do something.  Television and video games are fun, but are they really getting you anywhere?  Think about the things you really want to accomplish in life, and go for it.  If there’s a will there’s a way and the only person who can hold you back is you.