Find your motivation to achieve your goals

I don’t know about you, but at the start of the year my Facebook feed was awash with motivational quotes and images. I had friends starting the new year with a health kick, launching a new product or just super excited about what the year will bring.

And right about now…some of that motivation is starting to fade. It’s really easy to feel energised after a break and then the complexities of life start to impact your goals.

I must say even though I’m usually focused and goal orientated, at times I also have motivation slumps where I just can’t seem to shake off the lethargy to making things happen. Here are some of the things I do to change that.

1. Remind yourself why you wanted it in the first place

What’s your why? What is the deepest reason you set out to achieve your goals or vision? What did you want to feel when you reached it? It’s so important to write that down so you can revisit it when you’re feeling challenged or unmotivated.

2. Maybe you’re ready for a change

Have a think about why you’re unmotivated – it could be for a reason. Maybe something needs to change in your life, or you’ve achieved a goal and need to find the next one. Do some honest self-reflection and think about your abilities, your ideas, and understand you determine where your life leads.

3. Sit with it

On Sunday afternoon, I binged watched the TV show Younger (hilariously funny show on Stan). I didn’t go to Barre with my friend. I didn’t go to yoga. I sat on the couch for hours eating brownies a friend made for me. I mean, you can’t get more unmotivated than that! But I tell you, I felt so energised the next day. I just needed to sit with that feeling, and not fight it.

4. Checklists

Oh I love a checklist. They visually show me what I need to do reach a goal and what exactly needs to be done, and to keep track of the progress that I’m making. Break down your goals into bite-size, manageable chunks and enjoy crossing those items off the checklist.

We all have so much to achieve and we need to keep motivated to kick those goals. Let me know what you do to stay motivated!

Tweetable: 4 tips to get over your motivation slump and kick your goals @CatrionaPollard bit.ly/2lJAqyr

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Passions can be about changing the world…or not

There is so much written and shared about how we have to live and strive for passion and purpose, and I don’t necessarily agree. I see passion and purpose as ways of informing our lives.

I think we can live adequate, happy lives just hanging out. Doing what we do each day. And I think that’s great, if it works for you. But some people are compelled to explore meaning and purpose. And you may have guessed, I’m one of them.

Last week I was asked to share my thoughts about passion and purpose on a panel at the CBA Women in Focus Conference (if you ever get a chance to go to this amazing conference, seriously take it). The opportunity forced to me articulate what I live and breathe every day, but never really talk about.

I see passion and purpose as separate yet interrelated. It’s like a campfire. My purpose is the wood (sculpturally arranged of course!) and I purposefully light it at times with my passions. The beautifully arranged wood can exist without the flame, but the flame can’t exist without the wood.

My purpose is not grand. It’s not going to save the world or end world hunger. It’s simply to feel the earth beneath my feet, and connect to the universe and spirit every day. To actively live with compassion, empathy and an open heart to experiences and growth.

My passions change. Now I’m exploring art and nature and a bunch of other business things.

What I think is critical to understand is that our passions don’t need to be massive. They can be simple.

We can get caught up in the idea that we have start something big, but then we become immobilised by not knowing where to start. It can be as simple as buying someone a coffee and having a conversation about a topic you’re thinking of exploring.

Passions can also be about changing the world. Absolutely. And if that’s what you want to do, please go do it, because we need as many change makers as we can get. (I see myself as a change maker, but in my own way.)

So what are you passionate about? What’s your purpose? Passions are ultimately about action so I’d love to hear all about yours.

Tweetable: Do we really need to live with passion and purpose? @CatrionaPollard http://bit.ly/2cEh6Pj

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How Swapping My Computer for Outback Telly Opened My Heart

I’m dusting red sand off my clothes and washing the smell of campfire out of my hair. I’ve just come back from a very special visit to the ‘Red Centre’ where I went camping and hiking in outback Central Australia.

I loved swapping my computer for outback telly (a campfire) and see the wondrous beauty all around me. For me, the power of natural beauty energises me; it makes my soul sing. I get snatches of nature in the city, but immersion has such restorative power.

See with your heart – on an Aboriginal sign at start of the walk at Kata Tjuta it read: ‘Hold in your heart the knowledge that this is a special place. Walk quietly, tread lightly.’ I think this applies across our lives.

Car chips start friendships – we were the last on the truck so we had to sit up the front with the driver (who was also our guide). I always take potato chips on long drives – I call them ‘car chips’ – and the words “would you like some car chips?” opened up days of fascinating conversations, insights and camaraderie with our guide.

When it rains, it’s beautiful – it never rains in the desert. Umm…yes it does. We got three out of the 12 days of the year it rains in Central Australia – not great when you’re camping and hiking. But it wasn’t until the sun came out that I realised how lucky I was to see the desert in the rain. The colours and light were beautiful.

Car cricket reminds you to never give up – in the country it’s tradition to wave to the driver of the car going past. Car cricket scores the waves – 5 points for a full hand wave, 1 for a pointer finger and so on. We played for beers with the guide and our goal was 50 points. Over the day we got to 50 but lost six because we were overtaken. We had lost! But at 7pm, on a dirt road, in the middle of nowhere in the desert, we came around a bend to see an ancient Bedford truck which slowed down for us to overtake. That was 6 points! We won! You never know what’s around the corner…

Oh, and take a backup torch – no electricity with a broken torch…means that you get changed in the dark and you’re probably wearing the same undies as yesterday!

Stepping away from the computer and your everyday brings moments you’ll never forget and new knowledge that you learn, not through your eyes or memory, but through your heart.

Maybe it’s time for you to stop, go quietly, tread lightly and open your heart to new experiences and beauty.

My Passions, Uncategorized

Get your Personal Branding Secret Weapon: NETWORKING Resource Guide

As it’s the Year of Your Personal Brand, this month is all about networking and I’m starting by giving you my Personal Branding Secret Weapon: NETWORKING Resource Guide with bonus list of over 500 Networking Groups – for free!

Go here for your FREE Networking Resource Guide

If I had to only choose one strategy to grow my personal brand and business it would be networking.

This Guide and your bonus list of Networking Groups around Australia is the information I wish I had when I first started networking.

The Networking secrets in the Guide are the exact same secrets I personally used win over a million dollars in new business and land a coveted speaking spot at TEDx.

And the impact on my personal brand was phenomenal too. From the connections I made while networking I’ve had international speaking engagements and been featured in the majority of Australia’s media.

This is my way of supporting you to build your personal brand and help you get the exposure and make the connections you need to achieve your goals.

I’d love to hear how the Guide helps you, so feel free to leave a comment below. I read all the comments and look forward to hearing from you.