How do successful people stay motivated when their initial excitement fades?

Did you know? Successful people are not always motivated. Here’s what they do instead.

Ever wondered whether successful people are always motivated or is that just a myth? Most of us have often wanted to know the secret behind what keeps them going without motivation, is there a shortcut to success and how exactly to develop a mindset that treats challenges as stepping stones rather than setbacks.

Successful people aren’t always motivated

Here's why losing motivation does not stop the super successful.(Image by Pixabay)

It is no secret that the beginning of any pursuit is often charged with enthusiasm - be it launching a new project, starting a new business or embarking on a fitness journey. That early spark of excitement can be electric but as reality sets in, the novelty wears off and the inevitable challenges arise and we see that our motivation tends to wane.

Research in psychology and organizational behavior offers insights into strategies that successful individuals employ to stay driven. (Image by Allan Mas)

Transforming productive behaviours into habits reduces reliance on self-control and makes goal-directed actions more automatic. (Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash)

According to Dr Helen Marlo, successful people realise that not all stress is equal and differentiate between “eustress” (a meaningful and motivating form of stress) versus “distress” (a counterproductive, demotivating, and debilitating form of stress). She explained, “They understand that embracing meaningful stress and managing destructive stress are both part of success, which helps them stay motivated after the initial excitement fades. They try to foster more eustress and minimise distress.”

The expert concluded with the insight, “Successful people tie stressors to something meaningful—a project, cause, value, or larger goal—which research demonstrates can positively impact health and well-being. Successful people direct more of their attention to memories of their successes and the consequences such successes have on their lives.”