Do you ever find yourself lacking motivation? When you are by yourself, a small setback can kill your motivation. When you are part of a movement, the momentum of the group helps move past these setbacks, keeping you going.

It all began with a simple box with lights and switches, called the Altair 8800. The inventor of the box had no idea what to do with it. But there was a group of kids who were interested in this box and began tinkering with it. After much experimenting, they soon began to discover uses for the box.

These kids met regularly to show each other their discoveries. Each discovery presented generated hope, encouraging others to push their own limits to make new discoveries. As the excitement for discovery bounced off of each other and multiplied, more people were drawn into their world. Soon the movement hit critical mass and the home computer revolution was born.

Excited to Share

As children, we once took joy in creating and showing others our creations. We did not do this out of pride, but out of excitement and out of desire to share good things. As we age, it seems that we increasingly work to satisfy responsibilities and not out of excitement. How often are we now compelled to show others what we did? If you do not do this on a regular basis, then you are not enjoying your life.

The ability to share your excitement is motivating, both for yourself and for others. Being genuinely excited about something is infectious. The basis for viral marketing is that when a person is excited about something, he will share it with others. Those others become excited and, in turn, share as well. You enjoy telling and they enjoy listening.

When you are lacking motivation, you can become motivated through the excitement of others. Once you become motivated, you must use that enthusiasm to produce something you too can share. You will become even more excited when you are able to share, causing others to become excited about what you do.

Sharing With the Movement

Although your enthusiasm may make others excited, the movement will be lost if others do not become excited in what you do and not just your excitement. Have you ever come across an experience where you shared your excitement with another and he had no idea what you were talking about? There the movement is lost because, despite his excitement, he will not act.

Sharing must be two way to maintain momentum, creating a relationship. When someone creates something that inspires you, you must return the favor by creating something that inspires him back. If you can maintain the reciprocity, then you two will continually be encouraged by one another.

Incorporating Others into the Fold

The word “incorporation” means becoming part of the body. As you and your peers become motivated by each other, the excitement may radiate outwards, making others want to be part of the group. Since the outsider is first starting out, he may not be able to produce at a level that inspires you.

Although he may not have the ability to produce great works yet, his function is to remind you of your original enthusiasm. As you delve deeper, it becomes easy to lose perspective of where you are going. The person who desires to enter your group allows brings fresh perspective when you have become too nearsighted on your work.

Maintaining excitement requires that you are consistently exposed to new discoveries and are able to work with them to produce further discoveries. When you are no longer able to produce the new, you lose momentum. Those who become stuck in themselves turn to others for inspiration and a fresh perspective allowing them to move forward.