Keeping The Flame Alive

Keeping The Flame Alive
By Arthur Cooper
(c) Copyright 2004

When you are going in to work every day to do a job that
seems boring and routine, how do you keep going?

When the business that you have started up does not seem to
be going anywhere, how do you keep motivated?

When you know that you have talents that are unused and
unrecognised, how do you keep at it?

In short, when faced with these situations how do you keep
the flame alive? The flame of enthusiasm, of interest, of
pride in your work, of satisfaction of a good job done?

It is not always easy.

It is not always easy to sustain a positive attitude in face
of setbacks. It is not always easy to maintain enthusiasm
amidst surrounding lethargy. It is not always easy to keep
working hard when your abilities are not stretched.

But you must.

You must believe, really believe, that there is something
better.
Because there is.

You must believe, really believe, that you yourself can do
better.
Because you can.

The world is full of people doing jobs more interesting than
yours, more challenging than yours, more exiting than yours,
better paid than yours. You have only got to look around to
see that this is true. Ask yourself: 'If they can, why can't
I?'.

Some are employed. Others have their own businesses. It
doesn't matter which. Chose your own path. Somewhere out
there there is something for you.

Don't let other people tell you what you can't do. There are
plenty of people who will do that. Listen to the few,
sometimes very few, who tell you that you can.

That something better that you are looking for may be a new
job or it may be your own business. If this is what you
really want to do, then go for it.

But it may be doing your existing job differently or better.

It may be that fundamentally you could like your job if only
you could rekindle the early flame of enthusiasm, dynamism,
and interest that you once had. You need to become re-
motivated.

Look at your job. Think about it. What do you like? What do
you dislike? What can you change? What can you improve? Whom
can you influence to bring about improvements and change?

Have a dream, a vision, in your head of how you would like
your job to be. Think of ways to achieve that dream starting
from where you are now. Always keep on the lookout for ways
to do things quicker or better. Draw up a list of
improvements and changes to be made and write it down.
Little things. Sometimes bigger things. Everything.

Then pick something small from your list and get it done.
The next day pick something else, and get it done. Each day
pick a new item from your list, and do it. Each day and
every day. Cross of the completed items, and keep the list
with your crossed off achievements showing. Look at it each
day. See the progress you are making. Feel your goal getting
closer every day. Remind yourself why you are doing it.

If you do this on a regular basis you will make
improvements. It is certain.
You will see the progress.
You will be enthused by the progress you have made.
You will be proud of what you have achieved.
You will be motivated to achieve still more.

Therein lies job satisfaction and happiness at work.

Be happy. Stay happy.

About the Author

Arthur Cooper is a business consultant, writer and publisher. For his mini-course ‘Better Management’ go to:
http://www.barrel-publishing.com/better_management.shtml