"100 Ways to Motivate Yourself" ~ Steve Chandler

"Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation" ~ Edward Deci

"Harvard Business Review on Work and Life Balance" ~ HBR

Are you motivated to achieve what you really want in life?  How hard do you push yourself to get things done?  Wanting to do something and motivating yourself to actually do it are two different things.  So what's the difference between those who never reach their goals, year after year, and those who achieve one goal after another? Often, it's their self motivation.

Self-motivation is the force that keeps pushing us to go on - it's our internal drive to achieve, produce, develop and keep moving forward.  When you think you're ready to quit something, or you just don't know how to start, your self-motivation is what pushes you to go on. With self-motivation, we learn and grow.  That's why it's such a fundamental tool for reaching our goals, achieving our dreams and succeeding in business life. 

Factors in Self-motivation

Self-motivation is complex.  It's linked to your level of initiative in setting challenging goals for yourself; your belief that you have the skills and abilities needed to achieve those goals; and your expectation that if you put in enough hard work, you will succeed (or at least be in the running, if it's a competitive situation).

Four factors are necessary to build the strongest levels of self-motivation:

1. Self-confidence and Self-efficacy
2. Positive Thinking
3. Focus and Strong Goals
4. Motivating Environment

To learn more about building your self-motivation by practicing goal-setting skills, combining those with positive thinking, creating powerful visions of success and building high levels of self-confidence and self-efficacy, read more..... 

The myth of Superwoman has been dogging us for decades.  But that fantasy that we can do it all is based on persistent sub-myths.  Most of us had mothers who didn't work outside the home, kept the house immaculate and served fresh green beans for supper.  But times have changed and it's hard to hold down a job, drive kids to sports practices and prepare green beans. In "Women Don't Ask," Linda Babcock reported that women wilt full time jobs outside of the home do more than 33 hours of domestic chores a week. When asked how they do this, they say the just juggle things around. But what happens when the juggler has all the balls in the air - ultimately they drop. 

As you look at your own rebalancing strategies, what can you do differently? What is one thing you can eliminate, one thing you can change, one thing you can take on that will make your life a little better?  Look at tasks you can outsource or delegate. Look at beliefs and myths you need to relinquish. Be aware of others' expectations and how you deal with them.  Finally, turn the myth of Superwoman into your own version of a Super Woman in the workplace and at home.

This is an extract of an article that Bev Rosen wrote and will appear in June's issue of "Women to Women" magazine.  To learn about 5 specific alternative strategies to avoid being the fictitious Superwoman, read more.....