Now back to the motivation idea. The idea behind my original post was what makes your day go a little easier to achieve whatever goal you are reaching for, what things that boosts your morale in the process.
I started my one man biz from the ground up 5 years ago because it was my only way to survive in a cut throat pirate industry. I was an employee and it was hell, most of us were out of work and broke, I spoke to one guy and he was scrapping metal on garbage nights to be able to pay his mortgage. I searched and searched for another career but found a video that made me realize I can stay in the same relative field but going solo in a niche market. My first goal was to get my business license, I couldn't afford to attend classes to access the exams! I scrounged every dollar, I started assembling ikea furniture, assembling bbqs, installing winter tires etc.
There was a month break before the last class/4th exam, the cost of the last class was ultra expensive and money super tight. I told myself I needed to take a short cut risk, to drop the last class and earn the license in advance because the last stretch would push me out of the busy summer season. After that last class/4thexam I still had to pass the second phase exam which is the Masters' and by the time I'd get my license it would be winter and I would be broke/bankrupt for real. So I frantically ordered studying books, I studied and studied every spare minute I had, I even set up a folding table on the can. I reserved my spot in another city where it was the only place available to do both tests on short notice. I passed my 4th exam and Master's and got my license 2 days before the last class resumed. I was literally one month away from bankruptcy when I got my license.
Then by miracle I got a job offer as an employee however it was a very bad employer, the worst one ever! I was building my biz in the evenings and weekends, during the mandatory 2 week vacation, my style of biz was was exempt so I worked for customers that called. A few weeks later I was laid off and with the few hundred dollars at my disposal I decided I was going full time to market this puppy, make it or bust. Anyway the first years I was totally in survival mode and each dollar earned was to be more equipped, more efficient, providing better services. My second goal was just being able to get myself a small paycheck. One day I was so happy I could afford a bag of cheese curds, how strange was that but yeah! Along the way did I ever endure a bunch of crazy stories, (I deal with the public every day) it got to the point I was really depressed and not making a lot of money. In the back of my mind I thought to myself remembering the Italian festival and seeing those Lambos revving down the street, I said to myself I need to reach that level but how? I need a booster!
I thought I'd buy a very inexpensive C4 to relieve stress after work, a trophy for my achievement. The GF disapproved wildly (see the wife thread), but at the end of the year as I was doing my accounting I realized I had enough for a second hand C7 so I bought one. Guess what this achievement actually brought my stress level down several notches and because of that I had a clearer head, I reread my holy grail business book, I made adjustment to the biz and started selecting my customers better. Now I enjoy my weekends with my GF on road trips and I start off fresh on Monday in a good mood.
It's better now but it still not easy with the disrespectful comments, rude attitude I get weekly, the tantrums(a lot less now), the bad reviews, the cheaters, etc. For me these little boosters like my die casts in my truck shuns the little black cloud for a while, it pushes me forward, saving money and reaching for a higher goal like the H proves my theory from the beginning, providing better service than the competitors will pay off eventually. In order for that to work I need a positive attitude, motivation and goals to boost myself over the tidal waves. Getting the ultimate car does that for me, working day in and out without goals and motivation you get complacent, not for me, I've been at the bottom rung too long.