Jason's Blog

Dear Friends,

I hope you are well. The end of the year is upon us, and it can be hard to stay motivated to finish our programs with the gusto we had at the start! I ran across Chris Widener's "Top 6 Ways to Stay Motivated", and wanted to share them with you.

1.     Get motivated everyday

Zig Ziglar was once confronted about being a "motivational speaker". The guy said to him, "You come and get people all hyped up and then leave and the motivation goes away with you. It doesn't last, and then I have to go and get motivated again." Ziglar reminded the gentleman that baths are the same way, but we think it is a good idea to take a bath everyday!

It is true that motivation doesn't last. We have to renew it each and every day. That is okay. That doesn't make motivation a bad thing. We simply have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over the long term, it is something we will have to apply to ourselves each and every day.

2.     Have a vision for your life

The root word of motivation is "motive". The definition of motive is "a reason to act". This is the cognitive or rational side of motivation; it is your vision. You must have a vision that is big enough to motivate you. If your vision is too small, then completing it won't be enough of a reward to get you excited about the challenges you must overcome. So, set a big enough goal to inspire you to do your best. Also set out a strategy to get there: have a plan and work out the plan.

3.     Fuel your passion

Much of motivation is emotional. I don't know quite how it works but I do know THAT it works. Emotion is a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is an emotion, so fuel your passion. "Well, I like to work on logic," you may say. Great, now work on your passion. Set yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for your goal, whatever it is. Do whatever you can to feel the emotion and use it to your advantage!

4.     Work hard enough to get results

ou can build on your motivation by getting results. The harder you work, the more results you will get and the more results you get, the more you will be motivated to get more. These things all build on one another.

5.     Put good materials in your mind

As University students, we are lucky on this one because we are constantly surrounded by knowledge. When you find a good book, take the time to read it. Read books that teach you new ideas and skills. Read books that tell stories of successful people. Buy great music and listen to it because it will give you energy.

6.     Ride the momentum when it comes

Sometimes your work will feel like play, and other times it will be very challenging for you. That's okay. It is part of the cycle of life. When you aren't clicking, keep plugging away. But when you are clicking, make sure you push yourself and keep going to get as much done as you can while you are movtivated to complete it. Momentum will help you get larger gains in a shorter period of time with less wenergy - that is the Momentum Equation! When you are feeling good about how your work is going, ride the momentum and get as much out of it as you can!

These principles struck me, somewhat related to Dr. Kimberley Amirault's presentation on April 8, as great advice to springboard into our futures.

All the best on your final projects and exams!

Jason Motkoski

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