Sometimes it happens in the middle of the night when you least expect it. Sometimes it’s on the heels of a big success. But when that moment of euphoric motivation happens, how do you make sure it doesn’t slip away?
We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council what they do when they’re feeling empowered—what’s one concrete way to act on that motivation? Here’s their advice. Use it. Don’t lose those moments of greatness.
Related: 19 Quotes About Motivation
1. Take the first step right away.
If you’ve been waiting for that empowered feeling and you finally have it, take the first step to whatever it is you want to accomplish and do it as soon as possible. Once you’ve taken that first step, the next steps get easier and easier. The first one is always the hardest. Make sure not to let the moment pass you by.
—Diana Goodwin, AquaMobile
2. Sign up for something new.
Sign up for a new workout class, group lesson or experience while you are on an empowered high. Committing yourself to something new is a great way to keep your momentum and motivation engaged. Additionally, conquering a new skill or task will help to refuel your endorphins, thus giving your motivated high a longer runway to enjoy.
—Kim Kaupe, ZinePak
3. Write down your ideas.
I don’t know how many times I had a great idea slip away because I didn’t document it. If you can act on a new idea right away, then do what you can to implement it. But if you can’t do anything immediately, don’t let your ideas dissipate. Write a note or a short game plan that you can come back to and execute later.
—Zev Herman, Superior Lighting
4. Get others involved.
Getting people involved in a new idea forces you to be accountable. When motivated, the first step can be easy. It is everything after that that is sometimes difficult. But if you’ve already included other minds in your project, it makes it that much more difficult to walk away.
—Abhilash Patel, Recovery Brands
5. Do the toughest job.
Try to benefit from your strongest moments to take on the most difficult and daunting jobs. When you are tired and unmotivated, a difficult job will not only seem insurmountable, but it will take double the effort. I leave my most difficult customer calls or toughest business decisions for when I am feeling empowered. Typically, this will be when I make my best decisions, and when they matter most.
—Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors
6. Rally your team.
Feeling good? Spread it around. A great, motivated mood is the perfect time to tell your team how great they are and how much faith you have in them. It’s also the perfect opportunity to deliver some close mentoring. An empowered mood is contagious, so make sure you spread it around as much as possible.
—Matt Doyle, Excel Builders
7. Make a statement.
I love feeling empowered and motivated because that’s the best time to present an idea to the world. I like writing my blogs and social media releases when I’m in this kind of mood, because it feels like putting my best possible foot forward. It allows me to speak with conviction when a project is doing great.
—Adam Steele, The Magistrate
8. Create an actionable plan.
Set your goals and create an actionable plan on how to achieve each one. Make sure each step of your plan is measurable, realistic and has a clear deadline. Although you might be feeling motivated at the moment, making each step like this will make it easier for you to continue in the right direction even when the motivation tapers off.
—Bryanne Lawless, BLND Public Relations
9. Stop talking and get to work.
Now is the time to put fingers to keys or pen to paper and get to work. When you’re motivated, it’s easy to talk about it and generate a buzz of energy, but if you talk too much, you’re just wasting that energy by not putting it toward action. The best time to work is when you want to work… so get to work and stop talking.
—Robby Berthume, Bull & Beard
10. Take a risk.
Whenever I feel motivated and confident in my ability, I know it’s time to step out of my comfort zone and take some risks. Even if it can be scary at times, the worst thing that can happen is that I might fail. I have realized that the lessons learned from a failed attempt are still worth the risk.
—Patrick Barnhill, Specialist ID, Inc.
11. Record a video.
Record a video of you talking about your dreams and aspirations, and your plan to make these things happen. Say words of encouragement and smile while you’re doing the video. That way, you will not just remember the plan you made, but also the feelings you had while making the plan. Watch it the next time you feel down and low.
—Daisy Jing, Banish
Related: 11 Ways to Stay Motivated From People Who Refused to Quit
Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprising the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
