[hasti]

You don't need motivation to get out and work, you just need to get out and work.  Bring the body and the mind will follow.  This works in all areas of my life; from work, to running, meditation, and even sex (I'm middle-aged).  I just take the action.  I don't need to feel like taking the action first, I just do what needs to be done and the feeling will follow.

Fake it till you make it; just take the action - get yourself in your van - and work.

Motivation will follow.

Sorry Tosh

Wrong way round
Without motivating the mind body doesn't response that well , you only have to look at any top professional sports person and you notice that even some of the top players cant play well some times, and thats due to not being motivated enough.

So the mind is key player in all this. 

[Jakey boy]

Excellent response by tosh

Motivation is only the thing that gets the ball rolling, what you are looking for is commitment and discipline.

When you decide to do something you do regardless of how you feel motivated or not it doesnt matter, dont feel like it today? tough youve decided. Action is all that is required

Your spot on,

Never let your feelings lead your life, there will be ups and downs, but discipline is key and working no matter what your feeling is the answer,

Unless you are unwell, but that's different.

Don't lead by your feelings

[rosskesava]

Sorry Tosh

Wrong way round
Without motivating the mind body doesn't response that well , you only have to look at any top professional sports person and you notice that even some of the top players cant play well some times, and thats due to not being motivated enough.

So the mind is key player in all this. 

I don't think that someone who is at the very top of their sport is a good example. I doubt if they got there by being motivated 100% of the time from when they first took up the sport. Motivation is a part of it but not necessarily the most important part.

I'm fortunate in that I'm never motivated to work so I don't have to worry about being motivated in order to work.

What I do every day is simply accept that I have to leave home, get in my van and drive to the first job. Then on autopilot, I clean the first house without thinking about what I'll be doing next. Then I drive to the next job, etc, etc, untill it's time to go home and be lazy which I'm good at.

The hardest part of this job is putting one foot in front of the other and waving a pole around in the air which sprays out water.

[gary999]

Just putting one foot in front of the other doesn't work for me
I more or likely would take the first step then change my mind
and lie down on the sofa with a pack of digestives.

I set myself a target of money I want to earn each week and if
I have a day when I cant be arsed it means I have to work harder
on another day even if it means working in the rain.

Same with my running...I run 5k at parkrun each week and the
running I do inbetween each parkrun is to give me best chance
of getting a personal best.

I need things constantly to aim for...or I wouldn't bother moving

[paulben]

I think back to 27 years working in a factory, now in fresh air take a few days off in caravan every 5 weeks pack up early without having to ask the boss .That's all the motivation I need .  I work to a target but if having a bad day have a minimum target which I don't stop til I reach unless weather stops me .

[Window Lickers]

I feel motivated when work is coming in. I feel motivated when my plans are working, when the future looks bright and things are on the up.

Planning on at least one more van by the end of summer, as well as expansion plans in other areas of cleaning. 2015 looks good so far.

[JackieW]

You don't need motivation to get out and work, you just need to get out and work.  Bring the body and the mind will follow.  This works in all areas of my life; from work, to running, meditation, and even sex (I'm middle-aged).  I just take the action.  I don't need to feel like taking the action first, I just do what needs to be done and the feeling will follow.

Fake it till you make it; just take the action - get yourself in your van - and work.

Motivation will follow.

That's very good, haven't thought of it that way before, thanks.

[Positivity]

Lost it loads of times - I'm not a very positive person despite my login name I just call myself that in the hope it may affect my mental attitude!!!!
Great forecast for today last two days have been unworkable here, going out to do a double day if it doesn't get dark too soon then few days off.
Motivation who needs it!!!

[Tom White]

I struggle with work sometimes because money doesn't motivate me.  I'm a bit like Wossy, I just take the actions, without motivation - I just do what needs to be done.  Good routines and being organised helps a lot.  I also work with Wor Lass, so she'll kick me up the backside if I need it.  She's not a normal human being either - she's very driven.

I wish I could be a bit more like Matt, he seems to be well motivated - looking at his post.

I know what motivates me, but it's difficult to bring that to window cleaning.

[Window Lickers]

I wish I could be a bit more like Matt, he seems to be well motivated - looking at his post.

Lifes good, that helps. But it is what you make it.

Just taking actions without motivation isnt easy, especially if you are of the depressive sort, particularly clinical depression, its those guys who'll struggle. Sometimes its just a case of sticking your head up your arse and holding on tight. No amount of anything helps in those situations except identification from another human being and some time. Give time time. Once your through it - crack on.


Right I'm off to get some new tyres for the van, pick up a parcel, fill up with fuel, post some cards, buy my christmas dinner, fit a couple of switches to my pump, wash up, light the fire. Have a happy christmas everyone

[Tom-01]

I feel motivated when work is coming in. I feel motivated when my plans are working, when the future looks bright and things are on the up.

Planning on at least one more van by the end of summer, as well as expansion plans in other areas of cleaning. 2015 looks good so far.

Same here. It's easy to let things knock your confidence and things can go a bit awry sometimes, but the thing is to learn and keep trying.

I used to really struggle with motivation a few years ago, I found having something to aim for helped. Personally my aim was to be able to provide for my soon to be wife and have a bit of money behind us. Also to have other business interests in the future - cleaning can be very profitable so this is a stepping stone.

I used to think 'Oh I've got to go and clean windows all day on my own' - which can be very demoralising. I then started thinking 'What can I do today to make my business grow?' Four years ago I set up properly and now it's doing very well. Life isn't all about work but we spend most of our time doing it so it makes sense to make it rewarding.

The alternative is to go back to working in an office all day for someone else until retirement - no thanks. That's my motivation! We do a few offices and everyone seems so bored in them.

[Tom-01]

My other motivation is to keep being better than Matt Bateman. It worked in 2014 so I can't see 2015 being any different.

 



I'm just pulling your cracker Matt! 

[Tom-01]

My other motivation is to keep being better than Matt Bateman. It worked in 2014 so I can't see 2015 being any different.

 



I'm just pulling your cracker Matt! 

It's only because that now I am a CIU God that I have gone all Billy Big Balls.

[Window Lickers]

 

Have a happy Christmas. We can compare notes at the end of 2015, see how we've done.

My turnover in the last year has increased by about 20% I'd imagine, not got my figures in front of me. I think it's quite easy to increase turnover, it just means putting in more more work generally, all things being equal. I'm hoping to get another van on the road and branch out a bit into other areas, commercial work. Not necessarily windows though. So that'll be a new experience. But it involves investing more resources that are new to me. I'm probably going to use Becci Swan and Nath Jones. I've always done my websites but haven't had time this year to go anywhere near them. I want to overhaul them all really and take on another one too for the new ventures. So, it's all time and money but expect it to pay back.

[Tom-01]

Sounds like we're pretty much doing the same thing.

This year was good in terms of pressure cleaning and gutter cleaning on bigger commercial jobs for us. It can be daunting at first and a bit of worry the night before a big job but it's good to learn. One job I got I outsourced and it still made a very handsome profit.

We increased domestic work by about £30k per year too, I think it's very important to have a full, regular round of work. Big one off jobs are great but I look at them as bonus money and to pay for holidays (and a wedding!) and a new motor etc.

Enjoy your turkey Matt!