10 things that motivate me

There are many people who have so much trouble getting things done because of lack of motivation. The sad truth is that if you’re not a self-motivator, you will continue to struggle to get to where you want to be. I hear people often say, “I need someone to push me to go to the gym,” or “I’m too tired to do this,” or how about “I have writer’s block!” Well, I’m not saying that we must always be motivated, but there are always ways to get you going. Here’s a list of 10 things that motivate me.

• Books – I love to learn and the best way to learn is through books. Books such as, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, KaChing by Joel Comm, Live It, Love It, Earn It by Marianna Olszewski, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom to name a few, have all motivated me in one way or another.
• Magazines – Like books, there are many great magazines where I get great ideas from. Success, Fortune, Entrepreneur, HOW, and The Artist’s Magazine are just some of the ones I subscribe to.
• Movies – There’s a long list of movies that motivate me every time I watch them. Here are a few that I can think of: Goodwill Hunting, Great Expectations, Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Remember the Titans, Braveheart, The Last Samurai, Vitus, Finding Forrester, The Pursuit of Happyness, Gladiator, Forrest Gump, Casablanca, The Notebook (yes, The Notebook), Life is Beautiful, and Rudy.
• Blogs – With new media becoming more popular and the web being so accessible, there are many websites and blogs that are full of great resources and valuable information. Here are some of the blogs that I like to read periodically: Freelanceswitch.com, Joel Comm’s Blog, Seth’s Blog, and Entrepreneur.com
• Positive People – There are many people who inspire and motivate me: my daughter, my parents, Robert Kiyosaki, Russell Simmons, Edward Bok, Oprah, Lionel Messi, Joel Comm, Junot Diaz, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Collis Ta’eed from Envato, and Anthony Robbins.
• Negative People – Yes, just as I get that push from positive people, I also get it from negative ones. Whether as a challenge or because they envy you, there will always be those who don’t believe in you or that don’t want you to succeed. I will not give any names because the truth is that these people are not important in my life. They’re just a motivational wind for me.
• Material Things – Let’s not lie to each other! Wouldn’t it be nice to be driving a brand new Range Rover Sport? Don’t you want the financial freedom to buy your dream home or studio? Money and material things are not the most important things, but lets face it, who wants to be broke? Money is not the root of all evil; it’s what you do with the money that might cause evil! So don’t give me that crap that material things are not important to you and do not motivate you!
• Love – Have you ever fallen in love with someone who wants nothing to do with you? Even if you’re a Brad Pitt or a Jennifer Lopez, I’m pretty sure that you’ve been in love with someone who just doesn’t love you the same way. Some of the best love songs, poems, paintings, and creative ideas have been inspired by such love or lack of. Being in love could be a double-edge sword, but it’s up to you to make that decision. Will love motivate you to do your best or will you perish in pain and misery? I think I rather paint a masterpiece than rot in a dark room. Who knows, I might impress that person I love
• The Weather – Have you ever woken up on a Saturday morning to the smell of Fall, where the wind hits your face and the sun is perfect to take a walk while the falling leaves pave the way? That works for me! Nonetheless, some people love the rain, others the snow, and a couple of coo-coo puffs get a kick when there’s a hurricane! Whatever it is that motivates you, take advantage of those days and get cranking!
• God – People who believe in God will always tell you that in life you must always put God first. Well, this list is in no way in order of importance, but the main reason I put God last is because to ME, it is important. Every time I write something I make sure that I have a strong introduction to grab your attention, and a strong conclusion to make you think or take action Because I believe in God and I am grateful for all His blessings, He’s the only ONE I depend on for everything, including motivation. The rest of the list is simply a decision.

Tell me, what motivates you? What gets you going? Leave your comments.