Last week, we talked about how to motivate your team. This week, I want to back up a little, and talk about how to stay self-motivated as well.The self-talk -- what we say to ourselves as the day goes on -- can either help you get ahead or ensure you stay behind. I'll give you an example of how I used this to start my business.In my 20s, I was working myself to death trying to get ahead. I had proposed to my girlfriend, and we wanted to buy a house. And she wanted to be a fulltime mom. So, my income had to make up for the income we'd be losing when she quit her job.I printed out an 8.5X11 sheet of paper with the words, "How can I make an extra $500 today?" on it. And I thumbtacked it to my office wall.I know it sounds corny, but it was the first thing I saw when I got to work each morning. And, when I was wrapping up my day, it was the last thing I saw as well. If I hadn't made that $500 that day, I often stayed and worked just a little more.

At the time, I was a commissioned consultant. And my average commission was a couple hundred dollars. But with the sheet right in front of my face everyday, I started asking customers to double up orders to get a bigger discount. Many did.A few times each week, I surpassed that $500 goal. It became very common for me.So, I ripped down the paper and replaced it with, "How can I make $1000 today?"

Within a year, I was consistently pulling that amount in a few times each week as well.

Today, my sheet says, "How can I make $100,000 today." And, although it isn't as common as when I had the $500 goal, I do hit that number often in a given year.All that changed was the way that I talk to myself. And we're going to explore that concept on today's episode.

Show Notes: What Do You Say When You Talk to Yourself?

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/what-do-you-say-when-you-talk-to-yourself/)