I love ideas.

I love jotting them down like little gems in my pretty, hipster notebook.

“That’s a great idea.” With emphasis on the idea part.

Without something to motive me, the ideas sit, sit, sit like diamonds in the rough.

Lesson learned: Without action, ideas don’t mean much.

One thing I’ve realized since quitting my day job is that money is a good motivator. Money is why people sit for years in a gray cubicle without running away screaming and flailing their arms.

So what becomes of your non-purchased ideas? What about passion work, like a blog or novel in progress? Maybe your gig is painting, mosaic stepping stones or a piece of jewelry. Whatever you do, it’s easy for motivation to get squashed when there’s no guarantee it will sell. Worst case scenario, you’re working for free.

Whoa, hold on, our time feels too precious for that.

Enter: a thousand distractions. Things like Twitter, cinnamon rolls and another load of laundry totally derail the day. Motivation to do something amazing is lost.

Need a kick in the pants? Here are some simple ways to get motivated and get stuff done:

Use money to motivate. If you don’t have a day job, wish you didn’t have a day job, or work for yourself, use money – and the potential for money – as a motivator. Divide your daily activities into three categories: ”Makes money,” “Doesn’t make money” and “Spends money.” As you go through the day, take a few seconds to fill in the list.

For instance:

Makes Money (or has the potential)

• Blogging
• Learning how to wire-wrap beads
• Picking up scrap tile for mosaics
• Pitching a column idea

Doesn’t Make Money (and doesn’t have the potential)

• Napping
• Exercise
• Blow-drying your hair
• Cleaning the house
• Eating a cinnamon roll

Spends Money (not a bad thing, but note to self: don’t let this list get longer than the first two)

• Drinking wine
• Grocery shopping
• Lunch at the cafe
• Pedicures

Next step: Start each day by making money, literally or in theory.

In other words, farm the land, cultivate success, write a chapter, pay the bills.

You can still enjoy the second and third categories after that. But start the day with focus, with intention. Don’t let the other categories define who you are.

When you start each day with action, you give your amazing work the respect and attention it deserves. Make it a daily priority by following these tips:

Set office hours. What hours of the day will you be working? When you have a schedule in place, it becomes routine to get stuff done. The beauty of working for yourself is you get to choose when and for how long, unlike a typical day job. Office hours can also help family members adjust if you are doing passion projects at the end of a typical work day.

Get dressed. Take a shower, gussy up a bit, shave your legs. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you have to languish away in your ratty sweatpants.

Sit in a supportive chair, feet on the ground, back straight.

Start each morning with a list of three Most Important Things. This is a doable list. Now, get started.

Set the timer and work until it goes off.

Finish something everyday. A draft, headline, chapter, blog post, pair of earrings. Don’t quit in the middle without a clear vision of what was done. Finish something and define to yourself what it was.

Set a quitting time and take vacations. With your payroll budget wide open, working for free could go on all day and night. Set some boundaries. Give your mind a chance to rest from what you want to accomplish. If you feel like “working overtime” later in the day, no problem, go for it. But definitely give yourself the permission to quit and live your life, too.

To your success.

SEE ALSO:

How to Defeat Burnout and Stay Motivated

Acorns to Oak Trees: How to Grow Great Things

If my writing helps or inspires you, please share it with other people. xoxo Melissa

Photo by Sumlin