Do you ever think about why some people do the bare minimum
and some go so far above and beyond, they’re like a real life superhuman? These
people seem to have an abundance of energy that the thought of just makes you
sag with exhaustion.
After much thought, I've come to realize that it doesn't
have much to do with energy at all. Sure your physical state helps, but these
people seem to be driven with an unbelievable amount of focus and desire. The
question is, why? What drives them to exhaust so much more energy when so many
others spend their limited time doing just enough?
"We do what we do at the level
we do it because of self-interest; we think it's best for us. Those who work
hard do so because they believe there is a reward awaiting them that not only
justifies their efforts, but demands their dedication" - says David Niven,
PhD, author of 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People
These people who function like supermen/women know the value
of the things they want and the level of commitment and effort that it requires
of them to get there.
I meet some of the brightest students from all across the
country. Their resumes could put mine and several of my colleagues to absolute
shame! These students volunteer to help children in need, raise hundreds of
thousands of dollars for a good cause, have won every physics contest in the
U.S.; they are working on their second masters or PhD, have their own start-up,
written publications--the list is endless! And they tell me they're working
towards something that they believe will make their lives amazing. So they work
around the clock doing everything, competing against classmates, against
themselves, pushing their limits trying to get ahead. They know the value of
what they want and how much it will ask of them. So they do it. Whatever it
takes. They do it.
So you have a goal--a dream. You're not there yet, but you
want to be. It means that much to you. Ask yourself: how much dedication is it
going to require of me to get there? Write it down. Make a promise to
yourself--that getting there will make your life better. Lay out a timeline,
set progressive goals to meet, and then make it happen.
What I'm telling you may or may not motivate you--motivation
like this only works once anyway. It's up to you to keep yourself psyched and
achieve the smaller milestones you set. This is the true measure of success,
the propeller of motivation—reaching those small milestones one at a time.
That's what will keep you motivated.
Have confidence in yourself that you too will succeed!
My name is Anna, I work full time as a relationship
specialist for a leading software company in the Silicon Valley and I am an
aspiring novelist. One day, my books will sit amongst the shelves of readers
around the world.
That's what drives
me. Thousands of hours are spent on trying to achieve this goal, and I won't
stop until I get there.
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