Have you ever lost momentum while chasing a goal?
Maybe you set out to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, but after jogging 30 minutes daily for a week, the scale hadn't budged.
Or perhaps you worked hard to build strong relationships with coworkers, only to undermine it all with an angry outburst over a casual lunch comment.
Your side project might be just 25% complete, three weeks past your self-imposed one-month deadline.
Whatever the scenario, feeling unmotivated—especially mid-pursuit—is demoralizing.
The good news? Rekindling that drive is easier than it seems.
Here's the strategy: Share your goal publicly with as many people as possible.
It's straightforward and highly effective.
Choose your audience carefully. Ideal partners are those who are:
– Close to you
– In regular contact
– Trustworthy
– Caring enough to call you out when needed
– Whose opinions matter to you
– Ready to offer helpful advice
Why it works: It's far harder to let others down than to disappoint yourself.
As a freelance writer committed to posting daily, keeping this goal private would likely lead to inconsistency. I'd easily rationalize skipping days: "Who cares if you miss today, Issa? Just push it to tomorrow."
That's a recipe for failure in freelancing.
But sharing with family, friends, fellow writers, and mentors changes everything. I don't want them seeing me as irresponsible, flaky, or scattered.
This exact approach pulled me out of a month-long writing slump. Despite a few articles, true consistency returned after confiding in a veteran freelance writer mentor—leading to daily writing for the next month.
Internal motivation is ideal and irreplaceable. Relying solely on others risks fragility. Yet, when your inner fire dims, seeking accountability is smart and effective.
Photo credit: Chris Florence
