Motivation means more than anything else in life. It doesn’t matter how much you’re paid, how big your house is, or whether you have the latest version of your iPhone. In one study of 2,500 workers it was found that giving workers meaning but paying them 10% less actually led to a higher standard of work.
It demonstrates that motivation is an essential part of getting ready for the day ahead. One easy way to get started is a quote. These profound and simple messages can make the difference between starting your day with a smile on your face and starting your day stuck in a rut.
“The Way to Get Started is to Quit Talking and Begin Doing.” – Walt Disney
The 21st century continues to be the century where people make grand plans and they talk about what they’re going to do. The problem is they never get past the talking stage. Don’t let this happen to you. Every time you go back on your plans you’re just standing there waiting for something to happen. You’re wasting your life.
Stop talking about what you’re going to do and start actually doing something.
“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty in Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees the Opportunity in Every Difficulty.” – Winston Churchill
It’s easy to adopt a pessimistic outlook when things aren’t going your way. The problem is this only drives you deeper and deeper into pessimism. You lose your ability to see the good in things. That negative view will stop you from taking the opportunities that could take you to the next level.
Work on becoming a ‘glass half full’ sort of person. Relish in the difficulties life throws at you and take them on with a smile on your face. You’ll soon discover that every day is a pleasure, no matter how difficult life can get.
“Don’t Let Yesterday Take Up Too Much of Today.” – Will Rogers
The thing about yesterday is there’s nothing you can do to change it. It’s there and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to alter those events. Yet people will still reflect on what came before. They’re not thinking about how they can improve, they’re agonizing over the mistakes they made.
You shouldn’t let the events of the past run your life. Dedicate some of your time to looking back at your mistakes, but don’t let those mistakes take priority.
“You Learn More from Failure than From Success. Don’t Let it Stop You. Failure Builds Character.” – Unknown
It’s easy to feel bitter about a recent failure in your life. You want to be successful and you want to move forward. But you should start seeing failure in a different light. See it as a chance to succeed going forward. Letting a previous failure wear down your confidence will stop you from doing anything going forward.
The fact is the best lessons in life are only learned when you make mistakes. Without failure you’re never going to push forward. And when failure does come you won’t be able to stand it because you’re not used to it.
The most successful people in the world have failed the most.
“If You are Working on Something that You Really Care About, You Don’t Have to be Pushed. The Vision Pulls You.” – Steve Jobs
Think about why you’re not enthusiastic about the day ahead. There’s no rule that says you have to wake up feeling like you don’t want to get out of bed. The biggest names in the world are excited to get out of bed every morning. They want to see what the new day brings.
And the reason why they’re so excited about each day is because they love what they do. The greatest gift you can offer yourself is a life where you’re doing what you’re passionate about.
That passion will drive you forward. The people who hate Mondays and live for the weekend are those who don’t like their jobs. They hate what they do and they wish they could be somewhere else. For the doers in life, Monday is the greatest day of all.
Looking at a quote isn’t going to change anything. You need to look at a quote and think about what it means and why the person said it. That’s how you take in the lessons they’re trying to teach you. Take them to heart and look at the difference it can make to your life.
What is your favorite quote?
About the Author
I am a regular writer for Forbes, Inc., Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Media (among others), as well as CEO and Chairman of Alumnify Inc. Proud alum from 500 Startups and The University of San Diego. Follow me on Twitter @ajalumnify