From Meh to Meaning…A Framework to Stay Motivated

Today, I'm answering a question from one of our sisters in South Africa, who, as part of our Ask Me Anything series, inquired, “How do you keep yourself motivated all these years [and find] the strength to be consistent? Life happens to us all, and I assume even to you, but you seem to be motivated.”

First, Sis, thank you for the compliment. Honestly, it made me laugh a little bit because there are many mornings when I want to seize my pillow, not the day. Fortunately, motivation doesn't have to depend on how we feel in the moment.

At its most basic, motivation is the driving force that inspires our actions. This driving force has been studied in millions of ways over the years. One of the more significant debates about motivation is whether external factors, such as pay, or internal factors, like purpose, drive it.

As I've shared before, for me, staying motivated comes down to POP: Purpose, Ownership, Process. Reflecting on motivation recently, though, I would add another letter S…for Sisterhood.

If you've ever been in a coaching session with me, a workshop, or a class, you know we begin by defining our Purpose and articulating our big why.  This is because purpose is a powerful north star that informs our big and small choices.

Personally, when I understand how my day-to-day activities connect to the bigger, it gives me the energy to keep going. Focusing on purpose makes it less about the task and more about the impact it can have.  For example, creating slides was never the most exciting part of my day; but when I'm working on slides for Accelerate, my professional development course for women, I am hyped! Why? When I think about the difference that class—and that one slide—can have in a woman's life, even the mundane starts to feel like a privilege.

The second key to motivation is Ownership. Why ownership?  Because many of us, in particular women, weren't taught to be intentional about our careers.  There was a standard narrative growing up: go to school, work hard, get a good job. Many of us have done that, and now it's like, okay… what next?  Hang out in this no man's land for the next few decades?

I once had a coaching session with a client who wanted to make a career change, but she doubted she could take the steps toward something new. When I asked her how she felt about her current line of work and how motivated she was, she responded, “I don't hate it.” Friend. It will be hard to feel motivated if, at best, you don't hate what you're doing.  This is not a sentiment that leads to inspired action, which is why ownership matters.

As Maya Angelou said, “Nothing will work unless you do.”  Angelou's words are an essential reminder that no one but you has the power to make your dreams come true. So we must unapologetically own our futures and do what's necessary today to create the tomorrows we want.

Our third element: Process.  If I waited until I felt like doing things, I would be waiting until the end times. To help myself along, I build systems and routines so I don't have to rely solely on willpower or vibes.  For example, I am not a big fan of admin, but the paperwork must be done regularly.  So I have a standing weekly appointment to make sure it happens.

Having a routine, checking in with a coach or accountability partner, or even having an appointment to work alongside someone, are all process-based tools that can support you to stay on track.

And finally, Sisterhood. My community plays a huge role in my staying motivated. Sometimes when I'm struggling or questioning whether my purpose really matters—when I wonder if maybe I should just focus on something easier—I think of all of you. I think of my mentees and the example I want to set for them. I want to be able to offer insight from a place of integrity, having done the hard work. I think of the women I've been privileged to coach over the years, who by walking in my purpose I've been able to better equip to walk in theirs.

If you'd like some support in identifying and creating your POPS, consider coaching, book a discovery call today.