7 Mental Motivation Hacks to Try Today

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison - Positivity is an immensely powerful thing - and maintaining a resilient sense of optimism through struggles in your professional or personal life can mean the difference between making the leap and falling short. Don’t be discouraged by what may seem like failures - all this means is that you haven’t arrived at the solution yet. Keep your eyes on the prize - whatever your ultimate aim happens to be - and you’ll have the motivation required to succeed. Simply moving on to the next thing puts you back at square one with nothing to show for your efforts.   The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus. Bruce Lee - Success is about finishing what you start - and without the focus to power through, uninterrupted, it can be impossible to make progress. Rather than expecting things to fall into place the way you might like, exercise perseverance and commit to your goals - because you’re the one with the power to make it happen. Making sacrifices to make progress can be hard - but they won’t feel like sacrifices once your diligence and dedication pays off.   Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Steve Jobs - Thinking outside of the box is the ultimate way to separate yourself from any peers or competitors you may have - and a little creative thinking goes a long way on the hunt for success. When you’re feeling demotivated, take some time to assess your situation - looking at unconventional solutions to the problem at hand. When clichéd advice and the usual quick fixes don’t work, it’s time to access your inner innovator and go against the grain to get what you want.   If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. Jim Rohn - Those without the drive to excel themselves are doomed to settle. If you’re facing a seemingly insurmountable obstacle at work, identify ways you can develop to a point where your objective becomes achievable. Whether it’s adapting a more confident mindset or eliminating any barriers that stand between you and your goal, a healthy willingness to take risks will enable you to achieve far beyond what you might expect from yourself.   Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. Albert Einstein - If ‘success’ itself is your only goal, you’re unlikely to achieve what you want. Seek to add value wherever you can, not merely completing tasks to the necessary standard but offering some additional worth in any way possible, performing beyond expectations - you’ll be recognised for your unique merit and reap the benefits of your extra effort.   As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others. Bill Gates - Motivation isn’t self-perpetuating - and it doesn’t happen in isolation. A strong and encouraging support network is essential for maximum success, and this needs to be reciprocal. Surround yourself with positive influences - and particularly with positive people - who are invested in your success, and practise mutual motivation so that you can empower your peers and find empowerment for yourself.   If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission. Anonymous - The most valuable motivation technique you will ever learn is to understand that, while reciprocal encouragement is an excellent way to stay driven, your success is ultimately yours alone. This shouldn’t be a worrying or daunting thought - what this means is that no-one else has the power to interfere with your progress, and that you have all the tools you need to get where you’re going. If you want to be more motivated and productive at work, it’s down to you - and when you reach your goal, you can bask in the satisfaction that you made it on your own terms and earned your reward.