Join over 90,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.
Free registration at the forum removes this block.I don't think about it.
I have my to do list. I work on it. I don't need to justify why I should or shouldn't do it, and I don't give myself a chance to. I just do what's on the list that I made the night before. I do not sleep until I finish my 'one thing to do' daily.
I have my vision in mind as I focus on it daily. Perhaps that helps keep whatever 'motivation' is required locked in so when I have time to do, I just do and don't waste time thinking.
at the risk of sounding corny:
not having money
not having a social circle
coming from a cultural background where family and relatives expect you to be "educated" with a prestigious status-signaling career, otherwise you're seen as a failure.
getting tired of living through the same depressing BS cycle every year. all 4 seasons.
/vent.
dont feel bad for me though. i got a prospecting list to make
Gents, many thanks for the feedback and for sharing your personal solutions. I should have mentioned that yes, as you've both discerned, I am a morning person. I can typically wake up at ~5 without much of a problem, but sleep deprivation catches up to me.
Waking up at 4 would require a reorder of my current practices and a big modification to my sleep. Laughingman, you nailed it, sleeping on time is the key.
With that in mind, maybe I can ask a better question to solve my problem - what are some practices that you employ today to make sure you're asleep by ~10PM? Do you have a winding down ritual? Do you workout in the evenings? Around what time do you consume your last piece of caffeine?
Cheers, and thanks again for your advice!
This is something I am grappling with currently also. Most of my best entrepreneurial ventures came about when I was broke in college and had my back to the wall. I have had bursts of great progress post college but struggle with maintaining long term discipline. I think somebody already said it in this thread but it comes down do "how bad do you want it?" and the answer/reasons to why for that question will be something only each individual can answer themselves. For me currently its to build the lifestyle I envision for myself in the future, working a job will not get me there.
Ill be keeping an eye on this thread, hopefully somebody has some insight that can provide a more concrete answer.
I have the same thing. I get motivated in bursts of energy but being that I have a comfortable life, it dies down so I feel your pain.Now that I've graduated, made the grades, got the job and the comfort, and am no longer in starvation mode - I've become soft...
I need some of that energy back! Come on down and rain some disaster on my life to give me some juice lol.
With that in mind, maybe I can ask a better question to solve my problem - what are some practices that you employ today to make sure you're asleep by ~10PM? Do you have a winding down ritual?
Build a habit , then another and another until its a ritual.
[...]
Read. Exercise and feed your mind. It's your biggest asset so spend some time nurturing it and allowing it to grow. When I read before going to bed it is to turn OFF the worries and concerns of the day and turn ON the planning and dreaming stage that my mind feeds on. Soon this will be a part of your day that you look forward to. I work and fight to get ahead in the day - at night I set my mind free, and in the morning I spend a good amount of time contemplating what I thought about during the night, which helps me to focus better and plan my day.
Reading is so enjoyable that I buy books much faster than I can read them. I have over 50 on my list ready to go as I get to them.
[...]
Thanks man - I've gone back to the drawing boards this week and have abandoned all other studies/efforts in the interim. I'm focused 100% on improving my systems and practices. I read Atomic Habits a while ago and found it very powerful - my mission now, instead of being scatter-minded across 5 different projects, is to commit the time, effort, and diligence necessary to establish strong sustainable practices to support my long-term plans.
Thanks mate for the detailed and thoughtful response. You nailed it, I am young and don't have much to lose on the line. I paid off all my debt, have a cushy savings in the back pocket, and crushing it at work while making a name for myself among in the inner circle. So I don't often feel rushed. I'd love to regain my freedom and autonomy, but I'm not necessarily rushed by anything.
I had a baby scare about 2 years ago - that, for 3-4 months, totally changed who I was. All of a sudden, I came to the realization that my selfish ambitions would have to stop - I no longer would live for myself, but for this family, this unit. That was really motivating - it pushed me to work harder than I ever had. Turns out it wasn't my child... But I get what it could potentially do for me to have a wife/family, I'd just hope to create that for myself for other purposes than to fulfill my need for extra motivational juice
I exercise every day, and read frequently but my reading is not scheduled. I love the idea of using reading before bedtime every night. I'll do this from now on and report back with how it impacts my sleep.
I once heard someone describe the act of writing as forcing your mind to think. So I've been journaling a lot this week. It's helped put a lot into perspective and help me stay focused every day. Still working on marrying my journaling and daily planning into one exercise, but maybe they don't need to be one in the same?
Again, many thanks to everyone for your contributions in this thread - I truly truly appreciate all the feedback. I'm so grateful to be surrounded with you inspiring and generous badasses!
It sounds that you feel your willpower diminishes throughout the day, the same thing happens to me. I feel that people fall into either morning people or night owls. Based on what you mentioned, you might be more of a morning person than night owl if you feel you have a lack of energy in the evening. Why not try waking up earlier to work on your business first thing in the morning instead of after work?
I set an alarm for 4am and get out of bed without hitting snooze. Once I'm up, it's easy to make myself work as I've already gone through the "painful" part of getting up.
Making sure I go to bed early enough is key and has taken a lot of practice to change old habit. I used to go to bed gone midnight every night, but now being up at 10:30 is a very late night for me.
Taking time to plan is also key. I have a master list of everything I need to get done, but don't overwhelm myself each day. I just pick 1-3 tasks at a time to get done each day.
I split my to do list between Urgent and Important. Often I find urgent tasks aren't actually important and then I can stop and question if it's really urgent if it's not important. Doing this clears the "stuff" tasks that can often eat up my time without moving me forwards.
Not feeling bad, that used to be my main motivator. Now that I've graduated, made the grades, got the job and the comfort, and am no longer in starvation mode - I've become soft...
I need some of that energy back! Come on down and rain some disaster on my life to give me some juice lol.
Hmm what's the rational behind no alcohol 4 hours before sleeping?
Now that I've graduated, made the grades, got the job and the comfort, and am no longer in starvation mode - I've become soft...
Short version for me is that I'm forced into a lot of it. If I have a vacant rental it's probably costing me $30 a day...making me $30 a day if occupied. It's hard for me to focus on property repair more than a few hours on Saturday and Sunday. I get bored. Coffee help. Adderall helps more (I have a legal subscription from doctor but I only use it like once a week).
So, weekdays are sometimes like this: I work 9-6 about 90 miles from home home and rent a room near work. After work once a week I'll drive back to a vacant rental property in my hometown, getting there around 7 pm. I get some caffeinated drink for the road. Caffeine is a drug that motivates, causes you to feel energetic, and causes feeling of euphoria. Use it!
I get to the house and work hard for NO MORE THAN 3 hours. Any more than that I feel dread and don't work as hard. When 10 pm comes (or 10:30, as I don't always watch the clock), I shower in the empty house, change clothes, and drive 90 miles back down by work. I treat myself with bar food and a beer at midnight. Then I head back to the apartment and sleep.
People at work think I'm nuts and mister energy man. In truth, it's friggin' $30 a day I'm losing that motivates me the most. They have nothing losing (or making!) them money so they play video games and get fat. At least I have something I working for, win or fail, at least I'm trying.
Unlike many threads here, your post and replies are a pleasure to read. It's so refreshing to encounter someone like you that is looking for advice and insight and actually weighs and considers the benefits of what others say.
Hopefully, you will not become hardened and jaded and close your mind. By your answers, I can't see that happening at all, but I mention it so you can be aware of it and take steps to avoid it.
You remind me of a young man my wife works with. He has very little experience, but he tries to learn as much as he can and he works like a horse. Despite being very "new" to his job and having nothing of importance to show on his resume, every department is fighting to have him in their departments. He has done several extraordinary things which have impressed everyone. When I heard the stories about this guy I had my wife invite him out to supper with us. I felt it was a just reward to him for just being such a great person, and I definitely wanted to support and inspire him in any way I could so that he would continue in the way he thinks and interacts. This young man will, no doubt, be very happy, very successful, and very appreciated. He is a true inspiration to me, and I will happily do whatever I can to be of help to him. We have since had several more getaways, and I am sure we will be lifelong friends. He appreciates our (my wife and me) advice and truly tries in incorporate it to his betterment.
People like that are very rare. You have the same qualities, and I am completely sure that you too will be very successful in everything that you do.
Remember to listen to everyone. You can learn on your own by making mistakes, or you can learn from others that have already done things. There is no such thing as failure. You either succeed or you learn. The more you learn, the better your ability to succeed. Once you succeed, never stop listening, learning, and growing. Help others. You cannot lift yourself up by pulling someone else down. Be nice to everyone. You have two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk. Show dignity and class to everyone. That's all you need to know. The world gladly awaits people like you!
Join Fastlane Insiders.