Develop a momentum maintenance system

Do you want passion in your career? How long are you willing to pursue it?

I'd love to have a magic pill to offer that would let you create a career that lights you up, but for most of us it isn't a just-add-water path. Like many things truly worth having, it takes time and effort.

It's easy to come out of the starting gate in a blaze of energy, committed and excited about change. It's harder to stick with it for the long term, taking the steps day after day that will turn the dream into reality.

As I've mentioned before, one of the things I talk about in my work helping people find passion in their careers is developing a momentum maintenance system.

When clients are working with me on a weekly basis, it's easy to maintain momentum, because our work together helps them keep moving forward.  But what about when we've wrapped up? How do they be sure to keep building on our work together and not stagnate or backslide? That's where creating a momentum maintenance system comes in.

At the heart of it all are these simple questions:

• What motivates me?

• What gives me energy?

• What inspires me?

• What helps me take consistent, persistent action?

It's all about identifying the things that will keep you moving forward and consciously incorporating them into your journey.

Next week I'm going to explore some specific ideas to incorporate into your own momentum maintenance system. Until then, spend some time with the questions above. What might your system look like?

[Update: Here is a compilation of my momentum maintenance posts.]

The big picture view

What motivates you?

Play with inspiring playmates

Create accountability

Ask, "Why am I doing this?"

Download The Occupational Adventure Guide

Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM

 

Comments

[Tom Volkar]

Hey Curt, good post and great questions, especially the last one. I asked it of myself and was surprised by my answer.

"What helps me take consistent, persistent action?" Agreements. Good old-fashioned agreements where I am honor-bound to follow-through. This question reminds me of two great ones I got from Nathaniel Branden. What possibilities for action exist? What can I do? I'm looking forward to your follow-up post on momentum maintenance.

[Curt Rosengren]

Thanks Tom. What possibilities for action exist is a great question. Not least because the more aware we are of the options, the more we feel like we have choices. And the more we feel like we have choices, the less stuck we're apt to feel (and the more likely we are to actually DO something to move forward).