It can be difficult to stay motivated when you’re working toward a long-term goal and not seeing immediate results. But in my experience, many of life’s biggest achievements come when you have the discipline to keep moving forward at a consistent, steady pace. 

Whether you’re saving for retirement, working to make your 9-5 optional, or pursuing any other long-term goal, here are some principles I’ve learned that can help you stay committed and focused. 

‍Celebrate the Small Victories

If you’re working to achieve a big goal, it’s often helpful to break it down into smaller milestones. For example, when I was trying to build the Going Long Podcast into one of the top investment podcasts, I knew that success wouldn’t come overnight.

But because I’ve been intentional about celebrating successes throughout the journey, I’ve been able to remain motivated.

Some of those victories were metrics based — like getting a certain number of downloads or publishing my 50th episode. But qualitative victories are also worth celebrating, like getting better at the skill of hosting or having the opportunity to talk to your dream guest. 

This same concept is valuable in your financial journey. If you’re working toward a major goal like retirement, make sure to stop along the way and acknowledge wins like your first quarterly return or a certain number of dollars in your retirement account. 

These things may feel small in the grand scheme of things, but don’t let the distance you still need to go distract you from celebrating just how far you’ve already come. 

‍Don’t Lose Sight of Your “Why” 

When I decided I wanted to make my 9-5 optional, I became laser focused on using the morning hours to acquire specific knowledge, make tangible investments, and build my network. 

I did this consistently for many years, but do you think I was motivated every single morning to wake up and do this extra work before going to my job? Absolutely not. 

But any time my motivation failed, I tried to remind myself of the goal I was working toward. It wasn’t just about being able to leave my job, it was also about the life that kind of flexibility would afford me. When I focused on my “why” — the ability to spend more time with my kids, travel, and create my own hours — I was able to keep progressing even when I was tired or felt discouraged. 

Find Inspiration in the People Around You

It’s hard to imagine a better life for yourself when there’s no one around you who’s already living that life. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself not just with people who have similar goals, but also with people who have already achieved those goals. 

Life is not a competition, so rather than getting caught up in comparing yourself to others, try to draw inspiration from their success. And don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for advice or mentorship, too. 

If you’re looking for a partner who can come alongside you to help you both imagine a better life for yourself and invest in tangible assets that will help you turn those dreams into reality, you may be a great fit for FGCP^TM. Send us a message if you’re interested in learning more about our direct, tax efficient investment opportunities.