Momentum... The Underutilized, Rarely-Talked-About Tool That'll Have You Achieving Your Business Goals Fast

It's easy to write down your goals, isn't it? Even mapping out the steps for achieving those goals is rather straightforward. And imagining the end result is probably the sweetest part of them all.

So why is that most people never start actually working on their goals even though they're motivated and easily skate through the pre-game process?

It's a lack of momentum. Plain and simple.

A lack of momentum can keep you stuck in the same place indefinitely. But even the smallest of moves can be like a butterfly flapping it's wings in Madagascar, which in turn causes a hurricane in Hawaii.

There are four ways to flip on the momentum switch:

1) Get started.
An obvious statement, and yet so completely underutilized.

When I have a salesletter to write, the last thing I can afford to do is stare at a blank screen for hours on end. Doing so would put me in the poorhouse.

So I start with one sentence. Not necessarily the first sentence. It can be a closing remark. Or just some random bit of info that pops into my mind. And it doesn't have to be perfect. It's just vital that I begin filling that blank screen with words.

Once I get the momentum going it's like riding a bike downhill. But it all starts with a single (often random) sentence.

2) Get educated.
It's okay not to know everything when it comes to running a business. But the thing that stifles momentum is when you're not willing to educate yourself on the skills you lack - and those skills are necessary for momentum.

Let's say you don't consider yourself to be a marketing guru. You acknowledge that marketing is necessary for the success of your business. But you're scared to launch your business because you know that your marketing skills aren't quite up to snuff.

Instead of sitting in the dark, turn on the light. At the very least, the lightbulb over your head. Go to your local bookstore/library and read at least five different marketing books. Read marketing blogs. Get a few sessions with a marketing coach.

And when you're done, re-visit step #1: Get started.

3) Do the easy part first.
While many motivational experts suggest you do the most difficult tasks first, I have a different outlook.

In my opinion, a difficult task can cause mental paralysis. So much that you don't do anything because you're afraid to make a mistake. In other words, if starting task is too difficult, you'll never establish momentum.

That's why I suggest you start with the easier tasks first. It's a psychological boost to know that you're already on the path doing something. And by the time you get to the harder stuff you'll be compelled to keep moving because you've already got a vested interest in succeeding.

4) Do something every single day.
If a pebble is rolling down a hill and it stops, it doesn't have momentum anymore. And the same thing applies to business goals. When you stop working for even a single day, you lose momentum.

If it's easy to justify a one-day break, you'll find it just as easy to justify two days. Two days can turn into three before you can blink an eye. And before you know it, you're back at square one.

Remember, working towards achieving a specific business goal isn't a lifetime committment. The time to rest and contemplate is when the work is over. Keep moving and momentum will remain a faithful friend.