This week I wrote more about my online income goals and one of the strategies I use to get online writing jobs. It only seemed appropriate to end the week with a post on how I stay motivated to keep going – even when it seems like I am so far from reaching my goals.
There are times that I really, really want to give up. Some days I even convince myself that I will give up, that I am never going to get where I want to be. But, I never do. Even though I have failed multiple times at reaching my income goals, I keep on trying and with each try I learn something new and gain some momentum.
On those days when nothing seems to go right, here are three things that keep me going:.
#1 I See Huge Potential
In the world of online writing, blogging, and building websites the income opportunities are endless. But it takes a lot of time to get where you want to be and I know this. Carol Tice is a professional writer who makes six figures a year, Michele is blogging and on the path to reaching six figures at the end of the year, Crystal works with bloggers and advertisers and makes six figures a year, Pat Flynn builds niche sites and has an income in the high six figures.
There are thousands of people pulling in six figures by working on projects like the above.
Now me, I don’t need six figures. I would be super grateful at $30k (However, I wouldn’t complain if I made it that big) I know there is unlimited opportunity for everyone. However, time and commitment are required to make it. (I got both.)
#2 I Dislike my Job
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate my job, I just don’t like it. I don’t feel challenged at all, in fact most of the day I’m bored. On top of that the pay isn’t too far above minimum wage. Aside, from disliking my job, I absolutely love the people I work with which eases the pain (and boredom) a little.
Needless to say I don’t want to spend the rest of my life where I am at now. Actually, I really don’t want to spend another year where I am at now.
#3 I Want to Be Able to Say I Did It
All of my family owns businesses. They always try to help me out but I won’t take the help. I don’t want to feel like I get a free ride or extra benefits because of who my family is. I want to do things on my own. I want to be able to be proud of myself. To know that I set out to do something and succeeded.
I could think of more reasons that keep me going when I want to quit, but these three push me the farthest. On top of these reasons I just want to be happy. I enjoy sitting down at my laptop and writing and connecting with other people. It fulfills me and makes me happy. What better reason could I need?
What is one of the biggest reasons you keep pushing on to reach your goals?
Alexa, LOVE this!!! I have 4 reasons: my kids. Our debt load has had the side “benefit” of affecting our kids because we cannot do the things we want to do with them, and because they feel our stress about it, as much as we try and hide it. There’s always motivation out there for anyone wanting to become debt free – you just need to find it!
I dislike my job, and that’s what motivates me also! 🙂
Good post Alexa! What you covered is much of the reason why I took the plunge. Not only was I not being challenged, I was just downright miserable. Like you said, there is a lot of potential – especially as you stick with it and diversify.
Sometimes I think that the reason I stick with my goals is because I am too stupid to quit !
; )
~ Christie
My biggest reason for pushing forward is my son. And the potential out there is vast.
Nice job on the blog Alexa; simple and consistent design.
You definitely should keep going, and not only that but when you feel like giving up – get angry at yourself for being so willing to throw away all the progress you’ve made so far in the blink of an eye, then use that anger as fuel to create brilliance 🙂
A lot of brilliance can come from anger… a lot of people I think are waiting until they feel happy or enthused before they start trying to create great things, but that momentum and fire in your belly at the annoyance of the situation you’re currently in really can be flipped and used as gas in the engine when you need to get going…
Not only that but writing when angry or a little depressed or fed-up I think is a great idea too; again, I think a lot of people never learn to harness the dark moods as well as the lighter moods but I think some of the most raw, interesting and honest subject-matter, ideas, efforts and inspiration come from that dark place – as all of the emotions and head-spaces you enter (desperation, exhaustion etc.) seem to serve up all the big philosophical questions subconsciously which only helps to write compelling ideas in an engaging way.
In regards to writing – you should try Fiverr as well if you haven’t; I echo your sentiments on Guru and those kinds of sites, I personally never seemed to gain any traction on those places and there’s always someone in India or Mars which will write a novel for 12cents (I’m actually British, I used cents for your benefit! aren’t I nice!?) – seriously doh, Fiverr may only be $4 profit per article but… if you set a limitation such as 300-500 words – it’s really not that much work and the orders can pile up fast. There’s real earning potential on there, give it a go if you haven’t.