Freelancing Success Takes More than Motivation

Attention freelancers!

Are you ready to have your motivational bubble burst?

Many of us seem to be under the impression that our creative muses decide whether we can produce good work or not.

Without "feeling it", "being in the moment", we really can't be expected to deliver to our full capacity, right?

Hold on to your ergonomic standing desk, folks, because we're about to challenge that assumption and prove that motivation is completely overrated.

Motivation - Holy Grail or Load of Crap?

Picture this:

You wake up tomorrow morning feeling inspired and motivated to tackle the day, but by lunchtime, your motivation has flown the coop.

Goodbye motivation...

Sound familiar?

Consistently relying on motivation can lead to a vicious cycle of ups and downs and it puts the long-term trajectory of your career at risk of being derailed by your day-to-day emotions.

We're going to tell you something you probably already know:

The world doesn't stop spinning just because you "aren't feeling it" today.

Most people don't get to choose whether they feel motivated to wake up and work as a banker, cashier, hair stylist, or whatever...

If they call their boss and say they're not showing up because they aren't motivated, they get fired.

And frankly, that's how it should be.

Imagine if your house was on fire and the fire department didn't come because they weren't feeling motivated!

Imagine if your toilet was backed up spilling sewage all over your floor and the plumber quit halfway through the job because the creative juices weren't flowing (pun intended).

Freelancers fly solo and are often missing the direct feedback of a boss or colleague who would see and correct their attitude towards only working when they feel like it, which is why the consequences don't seem as serious when you're out on your own.

The sad thing is that this is the type of issue that can only be recognized years later when you're sitting there wondering why you still haven't made any progress.

So what can you do about it?

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Discipline - The Ultimate Source of Power

What is the antidote to those times when motivation is lacking?

Discipline.

You tell 'em, Tom Hanks

Discipline and work ethic are the glue that holds a successful career together.

When motivation wanes, these qualities keep you pushing forward and producing high-quality work.

Professionals understand that success is not predicated on being motivated every moment.

It's about consistently putting in the work day after day, month after month, year after year.

The reality is that there is no fountain of unending joy you one day find that makes freelancing different from any other job.

It is still a job.

It still needs doing on days you don't feel like it.

Your clients and their deadlines don't care about your motivation.

They need to see results.

If you aren't a person who delivers quality work consistently, you will never establish yourself in any industry.

Maybe that sounds harsh but that is the reality of the world we live in.

Projects don't come to a screeching halt because you're not feeling it today, especially the awesome, big-budget projects that you'd probably most like to work on.

To achieve your goals, you must become the type of person who shows up time and time again, regardless of how they feel, and does the work that needs to be done.

These are the people who make things happen.

These are the people whose dreams come true.

Takeaway

Motivation may give you a quick burst of energy, but it's discipline and work ethic that will keep you pushing forward and producing top-notch work.

Don't get us wrong, it's great when you have a surge of creativity or motivational boost every now and then, but relying on that feeling to do any work at all can only hurt your chances for success.

"It's impossible to be motivated all the time. You have to learn to be disciplined."

Unknown

So put down the motivational quotes and get to work!

Your dream freelancing career awaits!

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