Often, people look at this time of year as the time to set new goals and resolutions for the following year. Setting goals is great, but 80% of new year’s resolutions are abandoned by February. Why is this and what can we do to change the cycle?
You can try to reset your mind, but if you don’t actually instill the needed discipline for change, it won’t last — no matter how motivated you might be in the moment. You have to match up your discipline and actions, along with your drive, in order to keep moving on days you don’t feel as motivated.
So is there a difference between drive and motivation? The short answer: yes.
From my perspective, entrepreneurs who give off the persona that they never lose motivation for what they do and can work like crazy without taking much time off just simply paints a false journey of what entrepreneurship really looks like.
You should absolutely do something you love, but that doesn’t mean you only revolve your life around that work without taking time to focus on self-care, family, and friends. Previously, I wrote an extensive blog post on work/life balance or integration highlighting the following:
First, let’s quickly review the concept of work/life balance. Work/life balance does not mean an equal balance. Few people have found a single definition for the concept of work/life balance.
In other words, there is no set formula. We all have our own idea of what is comfortable, tolerable, and acceptable. Our secret power is recognizing and accepting that what we need now—in this very moment—to create balance is different than what we will need in 12 months or 2, 5, 7, or 10 years from now.
When I think of my own experience and the advice above, I realize that when we talk about balance, it doesn’t mean an equal amount of time between work and non-work endeavors. It means that the amount of time you spend at work is acceptable compared to the time you spend outside of work. But this idea is starting to seem dated because more and more people have less traditional office jobs.
For some, thinking about a balance between work and personal life creates tension rather than harmony. Put differently, thinking of them as entirely separate places them in competition with each other. You’re almost setting yourself up for more stress because you imagine that the two can’t coexist. But with the idea of integration, they can.
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With all that in mind, the key takeaways in today’s blog will center around:
- The difference between drive and motivation
- Why both drive and motivation matter for entrepreneurs
- How can you leverage both drive and motivation to your advantage
The Difference Between Drive and Motivation
Motivation is the willingness to do something, or something that causes willingness; whereas, drive is a planned effort to achieve something. Both are similar in nature, as they involve setting goals and having a greater vision. However, motivation is more about ideation, meaning that you haven’t taken the necessary steps to achieve the goals. Drive, on the other hand, is all about taking action to achieve the goals you have in place, as well as the bigger picture.
Why Drive and Motivation Matter for Entrepreneurs
It’s one thing to say that you want to run your own business or six-figure side hustle and then another to actually do it. For this reason, I always say that ideas are a dime a dozen. Having the drive to get shit done is going to propel you forward and allow you to actually learn what works, as well as what doesn’t.
More specifically, the top motivation for someone to open their own business is that they’re ready to become their own boss. As such, 82% of successful entrepreneurs never doubted themselves in terms of having the proper experience and qualifications to run a business. Having that belief and using it fuel your actions to achieve smaller and larger milestones will help ensure your entrepreneurial success.
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Let’s take a look at some charts that detail what the secret to motivation is:
High rewards motivate you, but not when they’re seen as unattainable. On the flip side of things, if your drive to succeed surpasses the obstacles in place, your potential for success is also going to be higher.
Motivation is at its lowest point at the mid-point between the start and end of a goal. With this in mind, it’s clear that having the drive to succeed — even when your motivation is at its lowest — will help push consistency with your actions to achieve your goals.
Striking a Balance and Making It Happen
The pressures of making money to sustain your entrepreneurial path is one that continues to be a top concern for anyone who is a business owner. In fact, 33% of entrepreneurs cite that the lack of capital is an obstacle. This doesn’t mean it’s all negative — it actually is quite the opposite because many entrepreneurs will use the ‘fear of failure’ as a way to motivate them and further fuel their drive.
Here are some key things to keep in mind:
- Always look for opportunities and keep your options open.
- Be willing to listen more than talk. You’ll learn a lot doing that.
- It’s okay to take time to rest. Self-care is so critical to success.
- Institute processes and daily practices that will help keep you moving even when you’re lacking the motivation to do so.
Wrapping It Up
So what are the next steps forward? In short, it’s about having a greater purpose than just making money, right? Otherwise, you’ll find that even as you make more money, your happiness will take a nosedive and eventually the actual drive to sustain that lifestyle won’t be as appealing.
Make sure that your perspective stays clear as you have the drive and motivation to grow and learn as an entrepreneur. You can define ‘success’ however you want, but also know that both drive and motivation will need to be present in order to attain larger goals.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. I only recommend products and services that I use and stand behind, and if you decide to try them, I will earn a commission at no cost to you. Doing so helps me run this blog and provide free content for you, my readers.
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