What Motivates You?
It’s that time of year. I’m pretty aggressive about analyzing the year before and planning for the year(s) coming. I check in once a week, but I try to focus on the small steps on a daily basis.
Hence the need to step back once a year and look at the larger picture.
And I’m puzzled. I nail all my “idea” goals. Like “Be real” (2006–totally); “Live outside the window” (2007—took me two years, though); “Be more mindful” (2008—didn’t really succeed at that one yet); “Live slower” (2009—check).
Every year I also set “numbers” goals, what they call “SMART” (smart, measurable, achievable etc.) goals, like write X number of words a day, exercise X number a week, lose X number of pounds. “They” say these goals are THE way to make goals, but I don’t buy it. I fail those almost immediately. Those kinds of goals don’t motivate me and they don’t work for me.
So I’ve been reading a lot on the science behind motivation. This is the time of year where I’ll skim through a ton of self-help books. I’ve found that 2009 seems to be the year for “real” help, rather than rah-rah unuseful stuff.
I’ll let you know what I’ve come up with in the next few days.
In the mean time, Dean Wesley Smith is doing a repost of his Motivation series. Good food for thought when thinking of your annual goals.
- Motivation #1
- Motivation #2
- Motivation #3
- Motivation #4
- Motivation #5
- Motivation #6
- Motivation #7
- Motivation #8
People are motivated by different kinds of goals. Some prefer way easy ones, like 100 words a day, and generally do more. Some prefer perfect-sized, like 1,000 or 2,000 words a day. And some thrive if they put out a wild goal, like 10,000 words a day… even though they never achieve that, they get a lot of work done.
What kind of goals motivate you? Historically, which kind of goals do you nail? Which kind of goals do you drop almost as soon as you start?
PS: Here’s a link to an Excel spreadsheet I made, with the help of Meljean Brook, if pretty graphs and tracking numbers help motivate you. It works for up to six books, but you can plug in more or take away some, if that suits.
PS2: My offer in 2009 still stands in 2010; I’ll be happy to customize one for you, as long as it’s for Excel 2007. I can try for Excel 2003 and the like, but I’m not sure it’ll work.
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I don’t know, really. I think my main goal is going to be just finishing grad school. Oh, and paying off more debt. I’d like to think I will write, but most likely not.
One other goal that sort of sits on the back burner for me all the time is to (inexpensively) indulge my creativity/love of beauty whenever I can. I’ve been needleworking more and just doing little things to my world that make it more lovely to be in, if that makes sense.
The teachers kind of set the goals for you there, huh? Good luck, Elizabeth!
That’s awesome! I’m knitting again!
What motivates me are deadlines. I never miss deadlines. Once I have a deadline then I also know how much per day I need to produce. On the other hand, if I don’t have a deadline I find it hard to write at all.
Speaking more generally, not of writing, but just to keep getting on getting on despite the bastards, I find an excellent motivator is sheer spite.
Deadlines and I, after a long and fruitful relationship, had a falling out this year.
Spite, however, is AWESOME! Totally, Eric!
As you might have noticed, I’m in LOVE with goals.
Although the 1001 days things has made it a little different for me this year. I do like your themes for the year. That’s a great idea. I might have to copy and do the same. Also, thanks for sharing the motiations link. I love the one about streaks. That’s another thing that I might have to copy 
Lauren, I love your goals, and your 1001 list! Way cool! I keep meaning to do one like yours. Yours is fun, while mine feels like work!
I find that the things that get me to produce are the pre-activities. If I get into work-out clothes and put on shoes. If I sit at the computer and open up a document (and put on headphones). If I open up the dishwasher and gather the dishes. Then what comes next always follows–I exercise, or write, or clean. So, for me, it must be making a routine. Triggering the activity. So, in 2010, I’m going to figure out how to trigger a writing routine, every day. And deadlines work for me–but my brain knows when they are fake deadlines.
Triggers are SO awesome. Those work really well for me, too, Heather.
So is routine. If I can get in a routine, I’m golden. Getting there is the challenge for me!
Thanks for this awesome article and spreadsheet. It’s so important to really think about your past goals that you’ve achieved and how you achieved them. That way you can go on confidently to new ones! We’d love if you shared this spread sheet on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/office
Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Outreach
Thanks, Andy!
No problem, keep up the great posts!
Andy
MSFT Office Outreach
I thrive when there are others around to hold me accountable. That’s why I do best during NaNo, when everyone has the same goal and checks in with each other.
NaNo rocks, Jill!
Last year I failed my goals. This year I’m just setting a goal for my WIP, to finish the first draft in 3-4 weeks. I’m good at revising, so that won’t be a problem. I’m not sure what I’ll do after that. Revise an older book or write a new one.
I’d love to LOVE more. Life, my husband, myself. Appreciate it all. One of the successful goals I’ve set for the past couple years was to make every book better than the previous one. I still want to do that, but I’m going to add the love and appreciation goal for 2010.
I’m not too pleased with my writing goals last year, either, Edie. New start soon, though! I really like your plan.
Oh! I have to send you a link. I just found a site you’d LOVE!
Can I have one of those spread sheets? What do I need to do?
Sure! I emailed them to you, but you can also click on the link!
Energized images are the most motivational for me, Natasha. If I can see, smell, touch, taste and hear what it is I want to accomplish, the motivation surges through me like I’ve touched a live wire.
That’s awesome, Rick. I’m going to try that this year. I need all the help I can get, for sure.
I think being accountable to someone else helps me the most, as long as they don’t let me slack off. A little competition also helps, though I hate to admit that even to myself. I like to believe I’m above such pettiness.
I’ve been trying to open your spreadsheet but my computer is SO SLOOOOWWWWW. I love spreadsheets. I made one today that really helped me focus where I should place my goals this year, and as soon as my darn computer quits slowing down, I’ll blog about it.
Competition really gets me going, Kate! Usually!
I love spreadsheets too!
I’m an underachiever when it comes to goals. Thus, I rely on my “buzzer-shot” style, which works perfectly for me. For instance, this past term I coughed up my mid-term essay for US Hist in a day and a half the weekend before it was due, although I knew about it weeks in advance. When a test was coming up, I’d study the day before. (I did review lessons each week so they’d stay fresh in my stale mind.)
My ONE goal, which I hope to achieve for the coming year, is to get through it while avoiding the “Debbie Downers” of life. You know the types: negative people who prefer a half empty glass of WHINE.
I seem to be an underachiever, too, and I really want to change it. I work exactly like you. It works with some things, but with novels, for me. Long-term goals are a killer for me!
I do best at goals that require mental effort rather than physical effort. And goals that allow me to do several kinds of things at once, that aren’t monotonous.
LOL, I’m the opposite, Charles. Unless it’s cleaning.