Arbutus Coaching’s Blog

Welcome to Because Life Isn’t a Dress Rehearsal, a blog written by life and business coach Kathy Santini, owner of Arbutus Coaching. This blog contains coaching tips and advice to help you become the most self actualized, effective person you can be, both personally and professionally. If you’re serious about “growing your possibilities,” and transforming your life, then you’re in the right place. My goal in writing this blog is to help you create a life that is easier, bigger, richer and more rewarding than the life you’re living now. So let’s get started shall we, because life isn’t a dress rehearsal and time’s a wastin’.

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Success Tip – The Key to Motivation is Having a ‘Why.’

By arbutuscoaching | February 11, 2010

At a workshop I held in January, called from Goal Setting to Goal Getting, I spent almost half the two hours helping participants find their why. If your why isn’t strong enough, it doesn’t matter how many tools or strategies you have to help you reach your goal.

I asked them why they wanted to achieve their particular goal. What would happen if they did? And if they didn’t?  What would the gains and losses be short term and long term? (This is using the carrot and the stick.)

Having a compelling why helps you remain disciplined and focussed. It helps you keep going when the going gets tough. Ultimately, it helps you reach your goal because it is the key to motivation.

The more specific and clear you can be the better.  If the question was why you wanted to get in better shape, see the difference between these two answers: “Because I’m tired of being overweight,” or “Because if I don’t lose weight, my blood pressure will remain high, there’ll be a greater chance that I’ll die of a stroke or of heart disease and I won’t be able to enjoy my life as a grandmother with my recently born grandchild.” The second answer outlines in the why in detail, which will keep you motivated.

Tip: Keep a copy of your ‘why,’ around you, in highly visible places like on your bathroom mirror, kitchen cupboards or office. It will keep you motivated when you find yourself losing your resolve.

Topics: Success |

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