What’s the biggest problem faced when attempting to achieve goals? Not knowing how or when to start  – so we often don’t start at all. Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion was right in this respect: a body at rest tends to stay that way – unless acted upon by an external force.

Why is it that people just can’t seem to take the initiative when it comes to their own goals? One reason is they know that failure is right around the corner. This fear of failure can be influenced by procrastination or setting unrealistic goals.

Yet, there are some who excel so brilliantly, they make their mark on the world. How can you motivate yourself even in a challenging environment?

Understand Your Why

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” -- Mark Twain

Find your purpose, understand it and let it fuel your drive to go on. Would you feel a strong a sense of purpose if you were told to sort through a box of potatoes and throw away the rotten ones? Or would you treat this job in a mechanical manner, feeling only like a cog in a dull machine? What if you were told that by sorting out the bad potatoes, you would actually be helping a local food bank in their bid to supply fresh, healthy food to needy families in your area?

Knowing and understanding the purpose of your work changes your attitude. Employers, too, have a responsibility to instill such a sense of purpose in their employees so everyone is working toward a common purpose and understands the bigger picture.

Look Around You

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.”   --Oprah Winfrey

The company you keep makes a lot of difference in your general outlook on failure and disappointment. Surround yourself with people who are positive; their attitude can be contagious.

Finding motivation is easy; Think about what you want to achieve. Visualize it. Focus on it. Need some prompting and more help pushing toward success? Read motivational speaker Steve Gilliland’s book Enjoy The Ride.