As Tony Robbins schooled us in my last post, taking action towards your dreams and goals is the best way to make powerful decisions. That being said, it’s a challenge to stay consistent and build momentum to that BIG success over time. How do you motivate yourself to continue working toward your goals day in and day out, especially when you face challenges? Although some of the following strategies will motivate you more than others, it’s good to experiment with different ways of finding your groove. Then, when the chips are down, you can get back on track without spending too much time feeling disappointed in yourself.

1. Commit to doing just one thing per week.

I talk a lot about taking baby steps because whenever you’re working toward a big goal, it’s critical to break it down into smaller pieces so that you actually feel like you can achieve it. One of the best ways to do this is to make a promise to yourself that you will do just one thing every week to move forward. This commitment is so simple to fulfill because no matter how busy you are, you surely can find the time over the course of an entire week to devote to your goal. For instance, if you’re unemployed and looking for a new job, your small step might be to submit just ONE really good job application each week or go to just ONE networking event in your city. The beauty of this strategy is that most of the time, you will actually end up doing MORE than just one thing because the act of taking one action naturally leads to another. Then, even on your “off” weeks when you’re not feeling it, you’ll still be productive and accomplish a little something vs. a lot of nothing.

2. Give yourself rewards and incentives for reaching certain milestones.

One thing I used to do back when I working at my job 40+ hours a week AND building my business on the side is to reward myself at the end of the week. For me, it was usually something simple like taking myself to a nice restaurant for dinner or giving myself permission to take a whole Saturday to stay in my pajamas and read/sleep/do absolutely nothing. I’m not one to shy away from hard work, but when I know there’s a treat waiting for me at the end of the race, it’s always easier to push myself to run a bit faster. You can schedule in all kinds of rewards and incentives for yourself depending on the goal. For example, if your goal is to earn an additional $1,000 in your business this month, your reward for achieving that might be to take the weekend off and go on a day trip to a spa or a winery.

3. Find an accountability partner.

Don’t be afraid to ask other people for support. This is still a personal growth area for me, but I’ve been getting some painful reminders that there’s only so much I can accomplish all by myself! Challenge yourself to find someone – ideally a mentor, colleague or coach – to help keep you on track with your goals in life and business. It’s amazing how easy it is for a year, five years, or even 10 years to go by and you still up there talking about how you’re “trying” to start a business, lose weight, get back into the dating game, etc. An accountability partner is someone you can check in with on at least a weekly basis either in person or over the phone to talk about your goals and the action steps you’re taking to achieve them.

I personally believe that you can do anything you want with your life, as long as you commit fully to the possibility of your own success through consistent action. The thing is, most of us already KNOW what we need to do to reach our goals. We know the steps, it’s just that we need help and a little kick in the butt to take action. It’s not always easy, but if you can stay motivated, you’ll reach whatever goal you set out to accomplish.

Leave a comment below: How do you stay motivated on the journey to pursue your goals? Have you used any of these strategies successfully or have other tactics worked better for you?

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