Thank you BB&T for sponsoring this post.
From your career to your classes, there is always an opportunity to be a leader and make an impact in your community. The best leaders are always working to better themselves and stay motivated. You know that saying though – “put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others?” I am working on graduating college a year and a half early, running a business, making time for friends and family, and staying healthy – it can be a lot to juggle sometimes! I’ve worked hard to get where I am today, and I am often asked about how I stay so motivated.
Motivation is required for success in life, especially with leadership. With the help of the BB&T Leadership Series, you can gain insight on leadership topics from today’s best and brightest thought leaders. Here’s one example from author and speaker Dan Pink.
You can view the full interview with Dan Pink on the BB&T Leadership Series website.
7 Ways I Stay Motivated
1. Be okay with failing sometimes.
A lot of people seem to believe that once you fail, you are permanently a failure. Despite my successes, I have failed many different times. The key to “failing properly” is to grow from it. Whether it’s a test or a blog post that didn’t get as many views as I had thought it was going to, I try to find out what went wrong and work from there.
In his video, Dan Pink describes failing in law school. Despite this, he never let this stop him in life. Accepting the fact that failure can help you grow in the end has motivated me, even when it’s frustrating.
2. Be able to accept criticism.
Accepting criticism can be tough. After putting a lot of work into a website design, it can be disheartening to have somebody tell you that you need to completely start from scratch again. BUT – look at criticism as a positive (that person believes in you enough to want to help you improve!), and don’t take it personally.
3. Have a growth mindset.
A leader must be constantly looking for opportunities to grow. The BB&T Leadership Series provides examples of today’s thought leaders who are always working to better themselves, no matter their circumstances.
4. Adapt and always be learning!
With some trial and error, I am always working to adapt. From Pinterest marketing to pageantry, if something isn’t working, I will try to find something that does. Sometimes, I can figure it out (thank you, internet!), but sometimes I need guidance from others.
Dan Pink describes mastery as one of the key tools to help increase motivation. Continually being willing to learn is a trait of a strong leader. No matter how you absorb information best, always be ready to learn and change!
5. Be willing to learn from others.
I am always learning from others. Whether it’s peers, my parents, historical figures, or professors, people who have different life experiences can teach us so much.
This is why you should check out the BB&T Leadership Series. The people featured have incredible life stories and great advice on how to improve yourself. Daniel Pink’s TED Talk, The Puzzle of Motivation, has over 20 million views and is one of the top 10 most-watched TED Talks.
6. Focus on the end goal.
Throughout my education, pageants have helped me pay for college, and taught me so many different life skills. With pageantry, hours of practice comes down to only a few minutes on stage. With school, hours of time spent in class and studying result in a hard-earned diploma.
Remembering your “why” – why you started, why you continue to work at something even when it’s difficult – can help you pursue your goals. For me, my biggest priority was graduating a year and a half early. Even though it resulted in me taking a crazy amount of credits, the hard work paid off and I’m able to save tens of thousands of dollars.
7. Remember someone is always watching.
Occasionally, I’ve considered the ease of pursuing a “9 to 5” job instead of the 24/7 job of an entrepreneur. It seems as when I get discouraged, I receive a small reminder that I’m helping somebody. A teacher from the other side of the US will email me. A stranger who knows me will give me an encouraging word. Remember that somebody is always watching you, even when you don’t realize it.
In the day-to-day grind of life, continually looking for ways to grow is the key to becoming a better version of yourself. I hope these tips help you work to stay motivated and improve yourself as a leader in your community. For more inspiration from today’s best and brightest thought leaders, see all of the topics from the BB&T Leadership Series.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
