Get Motivated – or – “The New Years Resolution Effect”

You have friends? Friends in higher places that promise to change your life and motivate you? Some may be far removed and only visible on DVDs, Podcasts or close up through expensive seminars. Some of them are incredibly wise to hurl around quotes from a variety of famous people, yet substantially lack their personal input? They’re  are almost omnipresent, where ever you are -they are, with the same smug smile and inspirational quotes? Some still try to tell you there there’s truly not a single cloud in the sky? Yes, you’re one of them Mr. Robbins, Osteen, Clark… Most motivational speakers have one thing figured out; how to come across  momentarily convincing, feeding their message like a drug, just to let you crash once their influence has been removed. In the meantime, they have their hands deep in your pocket. What happens after you paid, after you temporarily committed?It’s a New Years Resolution effect. In the heat of the moment, fueled by a concise message, you’re an adrenaline pumping, change ready and fully committed individual. Ready to absorb their message, buy their books (Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich, Tony Robbins – Unlimited Power, etc), tapes, DVDs, website subscriptions, t-shirts. You’ve temporarily turned into a money spending lemming. Certainly, there are the selected few who are finding success and these are the ones being converted into apostles to preach and distribute the word that that has supposedly helped them to overcome whatever obstacle lay in their way. But you, the common audience participant, self help book reader, when the effect wears off, the endorphins have settled, the resolution effect wears off, reality kicks in and you’re left with a bunch of money spent and the wisdom that you may have to come back for more.

Let’s clean this up, remove the veil and look straight at what’s really going on here.

Motivational speakers feed on your desire to change. Your dreams are their commodity, you represent their capital. Their message is oftentimes fluff, influenced by their ability to charm, and motivate you temporarily. Surely, some may say that even the longest road starts with a small step or small token of motivation, but in the end, how many are truly completing their journey?

The issue at hand is not motivation. The issue at hand is not to dream, to want, or to desire. We all do that. How often have you thought about how you’d spend a million Dollars, influence the world, invent things, travel, etc.

The issue at hand folks, is missing awareness, accountability, consequence and guidance. There’s one saying I subscribe to “What you set your mind to, what you truly want, you can almost certainly accomplish” – within limits. If your eye sight is challenged, you’re most likely not going to become a NASA Astronaut. The rest is up for grabs.

Here’s the sniper’s take on each point:

Awareness: Do you know what’s going on around you? Are you capable of defining your goal in detail? Are you willing to consider the full range of your wants, needs, dreams and desires? CAN YOU PUT THEM ON PAPER and rationally look at them – becoming aware of whether your future agenda is bullshit or if there’s really something to it?

Your remedy is simple: Take 1hr, give or take, to sit down, where ever it’s most comfortable for you, but by yourself. Have a coffee, tea, smoke or eat chocolate. Whatever comforts you, but be by yourself. Then — THINK and start writing. By hand. A PC is not going to give you the same feedback of feeling as a hand written note of your own thoughts. Done? Good. Moving On.

Consequence: Obviously, for every action, there will be a reaction. You must be able to define the downsides of your ventures. YOU WILL LOSE some, but you also stand to eventually gain a lot by clearly defining the consequences of your future actions. Naturally, the term consequences has a negative connotation. Still hear your parents voice ringing in your ears “if you do that, there will be consequences!” Toss it out. Think of consequences as REACTIONS to what you’re about to do. Some may be negative, some (many) will be positive. DEFINE them and write them on a SEPARATE piece of paper. Why separate? Glad you asked.

Just like the definition of AWARENESS, the definition of REACTIONS will morph into different shapes over time. Adapt. They won’t always move lateral. In order to avoid having to rewrite the same thing 100 times over, you might as well put them on a separate piece of paper – BUT – keep both papers in plain sight, visible to you DAILY.

Guidance: No, Master Joda. You’re not the all knowing. You only know so much and you can only assume so much. This is particularly true if you’re dealing with aspects that involve other people. Enlist the help of trusted individuals. Have them read your AWARENESS document. DON’T reveal your REACTION document – the reaction document is your summary, from your mind, based on your experiences, thoughts and adaptiveness. ASK the trusted counselor, which they will inevitable become – most often without them even knowing – for their interpretation of REACTION. You may consider this your personal focus group. It will help you shape your AWARENESS document and it won’t feel like you even had to work for it.  Done? Great! Moving On.

Accountability: Are you ready for the last, but most crucial point of ALL points? The one that separates the ones that turn motivational speakers from the ones sitting in the audience? It’s ALL about accountability. Obviously, I’m not referring to being held accountable for having received a speeding ticket, although similar rules apply. I’m talking about; looking yourself into the mirror each morning, evaluation who you are, where you stand. Are you AWARE of your own ACCOUNT? Probably not. Live moves too fast to truly reflect. You’re most in reactionary mode, rather than progressive, defined and accountable towards your OWN agenda. The issue with SELF accountability is simple: It’s your own accountability, your own obstacles, your own liabilities, fears, thoughts which build your own obstacles. In short: YOU are too CLOSE to the problem. How do you solve the accountability problem!? To begin with, use the steps above. They will help you in disassociating the YOU from the PROBLEMS. The papers and different views assist you in a more objective point of view.

Still doesn’t quite do the trick? Ok: If you have a business idea, talk to a SCORE counselor – they’re free of charge. If your vision goes beyond old fashioned business but concerns life style; Join a local organization of like minded people, get fueled by their fire – mostly free of charge. Or, if you’re willing to go hardcore: Ask someone to assist you with accountability.

How does that work? Again, glad you asked! I (the sniper) have been working with many fine folks in accomplishing their accountability – mostly,..hell almost exclusively, free of charge. (not to the happiness of the significant other, I might add)

Visit with a trustworthy person. One that’s your friend, but not friend enough that you could come unglued when held accountable. Eventually a former boss or colleague who is on friendly terms with you and willing to lend an intellectual hand.

Let the “accountability counselor (AC)” steer you. He/She is the one to ask probing questions, letting you reveal your next step to yourself.

In the process of setting your next steps, you’re also setting your own goals. If the AC steers you diligently, you’re beginning to set your goals at this point. These goals are minimilestones that lead from one bridge to the next, making obstacles seemingly disappear from the surface. Visit with the AC as often as necessary, if possible on a regular schedule. Have an objective look at where you stand at each visit. Redefine your steps, become more accurate, think further. Bounce your momentum off your AC. If you chose the correct person, you’ll be soaring before you know it. The charge for that? I don’t know. There’s no set amount. Business Counselors charge anywhere from $100-$500. An AC can keep you accountable, committed and driven for less than that. Most likely.

What’s the bottom line here: Don’t spend a small fortune on someone who effectively gives a rats ass about your progress. Don’t sit in seminars just to have someone give you a temporary dose of energy. You’re golden to them as long as you are there and keep coming back for more. However, it’s not a drug race, it’s a steady race that asks to be planned and foremost observed by someone who is removed from your potential issues and can act objectively on YOUR behalf.

And if you need the sniper to hold you accountable, consult you and/or kick your ass in gear – that can be arranged. Just email me to: Sniper@SniperMagazine.com and watch the boot come your way!

Get goin’!

Sniper

Tags: accountability awareness Business consequence guidance ideas motivation planning