Self-Motivation

I've been 'on the road' since January. I'm taking some time off. Off the road that is. Still working but sitting down more.  'In the office' requires a different mindset. On the road sort of just happens: the event is booked, planned, organised. There's a timetable, outcomes, expectations and an audience. It motivates itself. In the office there's just me and a list of tasks. No audience (except you, that is). And a list of distractions (this blog, for example). A perfect arena to study self-motivation (another distraction).

My task list:
Create magazine issues 10, 11 and 12
Plan next month's events
Chase up enquiries
Write next EBook
Arrange meetings with colleagues & like-mindeds
Catch up on professional reading
Review and audit website
Learn to properly use Prezi & Sony Vegas
Review website homepage
Examine business strategy and marketing

My distraction list:
Email
This
Coffee (I have a capsule nespresso machine ever calling me)
DVDs (I Love Film rentals)
Email
My kids (welcome)
Coffee
Email
Admin. that could wait

We've all got our task list. We've all got our distraction list. Where we place our time and attention seems to come down to 3 things:

Purpose
Need
Resilience

I'm asking myself how congruent each item (on both lists) is with what I've chosen to do with my life; I'm asking myself how supportive each item is of my human needs; I'm asking myself how much determination, follow through and self-belief I have to choose (and keep choosing) the tasks over the distractions. And I'm realising that strength of purpose draws me to the tasks. When I really know what I want to do, why and how, then distractions fade.

Phew.

Time for a coffee. Ristretto this time I think.