Motivation question

[Nick55]

Hey guys, I'm new here and I've got a question:

Anyway, I have a sort of 'strange' personality when it comes to being motivated about things. I can get motivated about doing a particular thing very easy, and can quite easily work constantly, and basically live and breathe what I'm motivated about at the time. However, these 'spurts' usually last for no more than 2 months or so, and then I get motivated about something else and do the same thing over again.

For example, I might find myself really motivated about my university studies, and I'll simply just start working flat-out on my homework and actually enjoy it (believe it or not, lol) until it wears off after a couple of months. Then I'll latch on to something completely different, and do the same thing there... and basically keep continuing the cycle.

On the bright side, I don't have any lapses where I'm lazy and don't feel like doing anything, so I feel that there's got to be a way so I can stay on track with one particular idea/task for a much longer time. However, I'm not really sure how I can go about this! The only thing I can think of is possibly 'replenishing' my motivation levels by reading relevant books, etc, or possibly trying to cut down a bit on what I am motivated about in case I'm 'burning out'.

Is it just me or does anyone else have a similar personality? Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can resolve this?

[lena7]

sounds you have some aries energy in you.. the first thing i would ask myself is why you want to change your personality? do you feel that life would be more meaningful or fun if you were interested in the same subject? maybe you simply like to give energy to different projects and try new things and explore this magical world we live in? there's nothing wrong with it and it does in no way have to come between other hopes and dreams, money etc.

If you find you enjoy this type of energy, why not use it as a valuable tool to enjoy life to the fullest. That type of energy which gets things going is wonderful, you can maybe participate with people that has a different energy and that likes to follow with one thing for a longer time. You can be the spark that gets things going and luckily, others can be the fuel that brings your ideas and inspiration into manifested, grand things.

And if you feel you really want a personality change, then there are many ways to go about that. You can do it with NLP or hypnosis, many are the ways to change our programming if we really want.

I wish you all the best and know that you are valuable and able to be do and have anything you want!

love and light / lena

[selfemploymentcoach]

You know you have the entreprenurial spirit in you when this happens. I use to do the same thing.... part of the reason I have started and sold so many businesses. I start something with great momentum and then change directions... It is the spirit within that drives you... To resolve this, I started actually creating a plan of action and sticking with the plan until I see the results I am looking for... I also really try to be realistic about how long something will keep me excited (I get bored easily)... IE: Now I am a selfemployment coach for other entreprenuers - so I can share in their excitement of getting started and becoming successful... and now I am not so bored anymore. I love my work and it is always changing. You need to find something that continues to offer new, exciting things to keep your attention. Maybe contact me - and I would be happy to give you a free 30-minute consult! Good luck in the next adventure!

[rogercbryan]

I think it has less to do with motivation and more to do with lack of discipline. I was the same way in my early 20's. This made it very hard to get a real business going. I'm currently working with a 17yo in Ireland and a 18yo here in Washington, DC trying to help them get their business started. I swear every time I think they are starting to get something going they come at me with a completely new project.

Discipline is an important component to success. It's not that your motivation has changed.. its that you haven't gained the discipline needed to follow completely through on a project. It will come in time. The early you can learn to stay focused the better off you are. If you are under the age of 25 they you are not alone. This is normal and common. Give it a little time and a little more effort.. you'll come around!

[Jay Brass]

Hey guys, I'm new here and I've got a question:

Anyway, I have a sort of 'strange' personality when it comes to being motivated about things. I can get motivated about doing a particular thing very easy, and can quite easily work constantly, and basically live and breathe what I'm motivated about at the time. However, these 'spurts' usually last for no more than 2 months or so, and then I get motivated about something else and do the same thing over again.

For example, I might find myself really motivated about my university studies, and I'll simply just start working flat-out on my homework and actually enjoy it (believe it or not, lol) until it wears off after a couple of months. Then I'll latch on to something completely different, and do the same thing there... and basically keep continuing the cycle.

On the bright side, I don't have any lapses where I'm lazy and don't feel like doing anything, so I feel that there's got to be a way so I can stay on track with one particular idea/task for a much longer time. However, I'm not really sure how I can go about this! The only thing I can think of is possibly 'replenishing' my motivation levels by reading relevant books, etc, or possibly trying to cut down a bit on what I am motivated about in case I'm 'burning out'.

Is it just me or does anyone else have a similar personality? Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can resolve this?

FINALLY! I'M NOT ALONE!!! Yeah man, I do this all the time but my spurts last for around 3-4 months, not 2...usually. I don't really know why either, but it seems like (for example), if I hear about some dude making billions per year on eBay, then I'll learn as much as I can and try to make money off of eBay. When that fails (which it did), then I move onto the next thing.

Right now, I'm doing some website flipping, and I must say, I do enjoy it...for now.

[DennisChang]

I think that's quite common among many young people. They are still uncertain about what they want, and they have lots of energy & enthusiasm, so they would try out new things passionately until they are bored with it or found other new stuffs to explore. Don't have to worry too much.

[byzantium]

The parts of the brain that control impulse control, decision making, and ability to focus aren't fully developed until about age 25. That's why people under that age are less able to objectively evaluate options and make a rational informed choice, and why they often act on vague impulses and go all out on an action based on vague feelings.

If you look at entrepreneurs younger than their late 20s, it's usually the case that they're backed up by rich family members who have connections to people who can help the youthful entrepreneur make decisions that he/she would otherwise be unable to. Sometimes a young person will be used as a front person for an entrepreneurial team. This is especially true when it comes to products geared towards a young audience. The "entrepreneur" will be the public face, but older managers will run the business day to day. Typically, the front person knows little about the business, he/she is there to make the product more appealing to its target consumers. If you're 21, would you sign up for a social network if some 35 year old fuddy duddy who is starting to turn gray is pitching it, or if another 21 year old is doing so?

The vast majority of under-25 entrepreneurs fall into one of those categories. Expecting a 20 year old Joe Entrepreneur to mimic what is more of a public relations gambit than real dorm room entrepreneuring is unrealistic. A handful of early maturers such as Bill Gates and Michael Dell have pulled it off, but most college students simply can't. That's why in today's college classroom all the students will be playing around on their Blackberries instead of paying attention.

I've seen both sides, having attended a vocational school where every student was under 25, and a community college where most students were working and had families and had grown up a little, and I could see the difference. Many societies put off higher education until later for youth, usually having them serve in the military for a few years, because of this.

[Nick55]

First of all, many thanks to all of you for replying!

lena - The reason I want to change is that I never really manage to do that much of anything because I'm always moving on to something else. I feel it would be of great benefit if I could just focus on a few things, and accomplish lots in those areas.

S.E.C - Thanks for the kind words, and to be honest a plan of action is something that I need to work on more. However, when I do create one, when I move on to the next thing I am motivated about it just becomes 10X harder to follow through on the plan

rogerc - You could be right there as well... I tend to have a VERY addictive personality which may come into play. It can be good or bad - if I direct it in the right direction I can get heaps done, but if I get hooked on something bad it's hard to get myself away from it. Being in the army reserves has taught me some level of discipline in recent times, but it's still a struggle

Dennis and byzantium - To be perfectly honest, thats something I've never even considered before (ie. that it is to do with my age) and since I only just turned 20, it seems valid. It seems to be a positive trait though, hopefully when I'm a few years older I'll be able to concentrate my energy more effectively on the one task.

My relatives on one side of the family (mainly two of my uncles) are very similar to me when it comes to getting passionate and motivated about something... except that they can stick with it for years instead of months! Perhaps the fact that they are much older than I am can account for this difference.

I don't really know many others my age like this though, for example if a friend gets a new videogame and we all go around and play each other... everyone else will go home and do their thing like normal, I'll be the one spending a few hours looking up guides on the net so I can know everything about the game and beat them, if I know we're going to play again. Again, probably the addictive personality coming into play

[rejoice]

sounds like you have the motivation... we could get all philosophical and psychological with your question but in reality if it doesn't impact your life to the detriment... then why worry? if it is a problem for you and stopping you from achieving your goals... then work on yourself... some call it personal development... others call it self help... whatever you want to call it... work on yourself if it is a problem and just keep living if it isn't

[trendsetter37]

always hold the finished product in your head as if it has always happened

[fated]

I thought that you need to really set goals. You might start out really excited but without goals, you will slowly falter and fall. Set a long term goal and slowly work towards it.

[Librazoe1982]

So many ideas and so little time to do it all.

[Sully22]

Ill be honest, it sounds like ur not too different from quite a few entrepreneurs. Owr minds travel a million miles a minute and i agree, sometimes its hard to stay focused. You need to find something that you are personally passionate about and the long term focus with follow!

[unlimited22]

I don't really know many others my age like this though, for example if a friend gets a new videogame and we all go around and play each other... everyone else will go home and do their thing like normal, I'll be the one spending a few hours looking up guides on the net so I can know everything about the game and beat them, if I know we're going to play again. Again, probably the addictive personality coming into play

[/QUOTE]

There's your clue right there. You're looking at your difference as if it's a poblem. You need to just calmly allow yourself to find out what makes you different and capitalize off of that.

Write down your passions even if it seems quirky. There's a goldmine in it somewhere. Once you stop criticizing yourself and accepting it, you will see a jewel emerging.

Be patient. Keep asking. Don't discredit it when it surfaces.