How to Stay Motivated

Written by Darren Kime

Most people, from to time, face a lack of motivation when working to change their lives in some way. Whether trying to improve your health, or increase your wealth, the necessary steps may seem difficult, unpleasant, or even unnatural because you are forming new habits. Obviously, if you do the same things that you have always done, you can expect the same results. Since you have decided to change your life for the better, you are going to have to learn and do new things.

Since you have found your way to this article, you are most likely interested in having more money so that you may have the dream life that you envision. Money is not everything but those who have it will tell you that it can solve about 95% of your problems. The focus of this article will be to stay motivated in your pursuit of MORE MONEY.

Hopefully, you have a list of clearly defined, well thought out, goals that you review constantly. If not, please read my article, “How to Get What You Want in Life”.

Often, when setting financial goals, people simply pull numbers out of the air that sound good. Currently, the Median income for an American worker is somewhere in the mid to high $50k’s. Many people will decide that if they were to earn $10,000 per month that this would be enough to make them happy. While it is true that this increase in income could make a big difference to many people, it may not be sufficient to provide the lifestyle that they REALLY want. Likewise, some people come up with a Lump Sum of Money that they want to have in their Bank Account because they feel that amount of money will give them the life that the want…but how do they arrive at that conclusion?

I am about to propose a simple exercise that will give you true clarity about the amount of money that you need to live your ideal life.

Once disclosed, this exercise will seem obvious and yet many people don’t do it.

I did not come up with this procedure but the moment that I learned of it, I could see its awesome value.

What I want you to do is…

Create a spreadsheet listing your monthly expenses. What???

I know, I know…you are probably thinking, “Hey Darren, are you serious?” or “I just read through this whole article to get THAT suggestion?”

Well just hang in there while I elaborate.

I DO NOT want you to fill in that spreadsheet with your current expenses.

Simply imagine your Ideal Lifestyle and fill in the spreadsheet based on what that Lifestyle Costs.

For example:

Your current monthly mortgage payment may be $1,200 per month. Let’s say that your ultimate lifestyle includes living in a much bigger home in a better neighborhood. So perhaps you would list your monthly mortgage payment at $10,000 or $20,000 per month or whatever you determine it would cost to live in the home that you want.

Perhaps your current car payments are $300 per month but you want a more sporty or exotic car so you list a monthly car payment of $1,000 per month. Or perhaps you want multiple cars. What would that cost in monthly payments?

Perhaps you want to help those who are less fortunate but in your current situation you struggle to donate even a few hundred dollars to charities each year. You could enter $10,000 per month under Charitable Donations or whatever you feel motivated to do in your Ideal Lifestyle.

After taking the time to go through this exercise, you will determine the amount of money that you need on a monthly and yearly basis to live your Ideal Lifestyle. Armed with this information, you can adjust your goals accordingly.

Now, as you review your financial goals each day, you should be extremely motivated. You know that when you accomplish those goals you will have exactly the lifestyle that you desire.

I’m sure that some of you reading this are thinking that you don’t know how to create such a spreadsheet.

Well…here’s some good news for you…

You can download that exact spreadsheet HERE. (Yes, it’s completely FREE)

Now you have one less excuse not to do this very useful exercise.

This spreadsheet is quite extensive and may include categories and line items that do not pertain to you. Simply fill in what makes sense for your Ideal Life.

As you complete this exercise, only enter dollar amounts in the white spaces (cells) under Estimated Monthly. All other numbers will be calculated automatically. If you enter a number in the Gray area or under Estimated Annual, you will wipe out the automatic calculations. In the example below, I entered $1,000 for Gifts under Estimated Monthly and $10,000 for Donations under Estimated Monthly. All of the other dollar amounts that you see were calculated automatically.

Remember…as you are filling out this spreadsheet, DO NOT be reasonable or logical. Do not base the numbers that you enter on your current situation or things that have happened in the past. Let your mind soar and put EXACTLY what you want.

I am confident that if you download this spreadsheet and complete the exercise that I have outlined that you will find it very beneficial. Knowing exactly how much money you need to live the life that you want should be quite motivational. Remember that on your path to success, you will sometimes have to do things that are inconvenient or difficult. It is because you are motivated and persistently doing what is necessary to accomplishment your goals that you will one day live your Ideal Life.

I wish you Success!

Darren