Motivation by the Minute

Motivation is like fog - easy to define but hard to pin down and almost impossible to create - or so it feels. I, like most people, struggle with taking action on the things I dream about doing, the tasks on my list, the phone calls to dial and emails to write. Hell, some days, I struggle to even get out of bed, or to take a shower (see, you're not alone!). Why is that? Why is it that we feel some unknown force pressing us to be average, to be mediocre, to give up and park ourselves on the couch for a Netflix binge?

I want to be ON FIRE - with purpose, with passion, with determination! I've done these things before, I've felt the fire, the passion, the purpose; I've driven myself to new heights, felt the exhilaration of success - so why is that vague thing - motivation - so hard to keep? How do we create it ourselves so that we have it when we need it? How do we get out of our OWN way?

Capture the moment - much like the Eminem song, we have to choose to capture the moment or just let it slip. Do you know how many minutes there are in one year? 525,600 minutes - maybe you've heard Seasons of Love from RENT (the movie)? It came on and was the inspiration not only for this post, but for creating this very website - today. (Yes, modern technology allowed me to make this entire website for free, in one day).

525,600 minutes in one year - the song is poignant and sad, reminiscent of time passed - years that have flown by. As I listened (and remembered the movie), I thought about my life and what I used to think was important and how I got where I am today - and then I thought about what I want for my future. What do I want my 525,600 minutes of 2018 to be? Why should I wait until 1/1/18 to make a plan for that year, when I could seize THIS moment, THIS minute and do something productive, something empowering, something bold, something that matters.

THIS moment, THIS minute - is powerful, is immediate, is actionable. Don't think about it, just DO it - whatever 'it' is. Don't wait, don't schedule, don't plan - capture THIS moment and take that step, just one baby step even - and jump into your life.

Because 525,600 minutes is only ONE year, I've already spent almost 20 MILLION minutes of my life and no one knows how long we get; let's not waste ONE MINUTE of what we have. Time is precious, it is rare, it is not a renewable commodity - so make it meaningful - empower yourself so that you can empower others.