Get Momentum

“Progress is not made by the timid, but by those who take bold steps and chart their own course.” - This book is your guide to turning inertia into unstoppable momentum.

1. Define Your Legacy to Build Momentum

Knowing what you want to be remembered for can fuel your drive. When Jodi, one of the authors, struggled in her professional environment among discouraging peers, she envisioned a powerful legacy: a reputation as someone who uplifts others. This aspiration spurred her to create No More Nylons, a network for women professionals to encourage collaboration and support.

This approach isn’t about seeking external validation but about aligning your actions with your long-term values. When your end goal reflects the impact you wish to have, your efforts gain clarity and vigor. A defined legacy acts as both an anchor and an engine, keeping you focused on purposeful pursuits.

Tracking progress becomes enjoyable and motivating when tied to this grand vision. Jodi’s measurable progress—tracking event attendance at her meet-ups—energized her as she saw tangible evidence of her impact. This tracking practice can apply to any goal by pinpointing and celebrating milestones along the way.

Examples

• Jodi counts how many women attended her events and celebrates growth.
• Entrepreneurs measure their company's market reach to reflect success.
• Writers track completed chapters to bring their book ambitions to life.

2. Seek Mentors and Inspiration to Stay Motivated

Finding someone to learn from keeps motivation alive when the going gets tough. Mentors and role models are fountains of inspiration, whether they are historical figures or industry contemporaries. Jason, one of the authors, cites Benjamin Franklin as a model of continuous self-improvement and productivity. Franklin’s methodologies, like his decision-making charts and lifelong learning ethos, shaped Jason’s own habits.

Mentors don’t have to be inventors or historical giants; they can be industry peers willing to share wisdom through a friendly coffee chat or collaborative projects. Networking at conferences or social meet-ups can kickstart these rewarding relationships.

Having a mentor brings not just guidance but an invaluable external perspective on challenges. When asking for mentorship or advice, a laser-focused question on a specific issue can yield the most actionable insights.

Examples

• Jason learned productivity techniques from Benjamin Franklin’s methods.
• Professionals seek out mentors at industry conferences for career advice.
• Asking targeted questions attracts productive feedback from senior peers.

3. Break Big Goals into Smaller Steps

Large goals often feel overwhelming unless you create smaller, manageable steps. Breaking them into 30-day milestones or setting a three-month timeline blends feasibility with consistent progress. These smaller projects build momentum by offering frequent triumphs along the way.

Celebrating milestone achievements becomes vital to staying motivated. Imagine an entrepreneur aiming to launch a product: designing the prototype within the first three months, testing it, and refining it in the next phase ensures steady advancement. Each step reduces the sense of feeling swamped by the whole process.

Using the 30/30 and 90/90 rules offers added structure. By dedicating 30 distraction-free minutes daily leading up to a new stage, you accomplish significant preparation. Similarly, the 90/90 rule sets aside 90 minutes monthly to check progress and ensure readiness for future deadlines.

Examples

• A 90-day product launch plan has three milestones: design, prototype, and testing.
• Writers hit smaller goals of finishing individual chapters before completing the full manuscript.
• Weekly planners break down large academic projects into achievable research and writing goals.

4. Track Progress to Stay On Course

Monitoring your indicators ensures you remain aligned with your goals and detect issues early. Whether it’s tracking running miles during marathon training or measuring weekly sales in a business, these metrics offer valuable feedback on your progress.

Useful tracking is about identifying the right indicators instead of overwhelming yourself with excessive data. For instance, monitoring the ratio of exercise routines completed versus planned can motivate a runner more than obsessively logging every tiny variance.

Visual aids like whiteboards, spreadsheets, or card systems can make progress-tracking more engaging. Progress indicators provide confidence and allow you to pivot before issues snowball into crisis situations.

Examples

• Marathon trainees track weekly miles, nutrition, and sleep quality.
• Entrepreneurs watch cash flow trends to navigate financial pits.
• Project managers use dashboards to tally completed tasks against deadlines.

5. Modify Plans When They Don’t Work

Setbacks don’t mean quitting; they call for adjustment. If Plan A stalls, pivot to Plan B without abandoning your ultimate goal. Modification ensures perseverance without burnout or discouragement.

Consider the marathon runner aiming for ten miles weekly but achieving only 7.5 miles. Instead of pushing too hard or giving up, they opt for training for a later event. Such modifications respect your limits while keeping your objective in sight.

To avoid chaos, smart changes are small and measured. Rather than overhauling multiple areas at once, tweak one aspect at a time to see if it works before making further adjustments.

Examples

• Runners delayed their marathon plans but stayed consistent in training.
• Students struggling with coursework adjusted their study regimen to focus better.
• Entrepreneurs struggling with direct sales pivoted to social media promotions.

6. Celebrate Small Wins, Big or Small

Celebration is a form of motivation. Each time you achieve a milestone, recognize it. Jodi kept a bottle of champagne ready to toast every progress No More Nylons achieved.

Celebrating reinforces a positive association with hard work. It maintains morale, especially on long-term projects where energy can wane. A ritual of acknowledgment can be anything simple, like a self-reward after a successful week.

Small celebrations not only reflect progress but make the journey itself enjoyable and engaging. Excitement breeds sustained persistence.

Examples

• Entrepreneurs celebrate closing deals with team lunches.
• Students treat themselves after acing exams.
• Each completed milestone becomes an excuse for family gatherings in personal projects.

7. Manage Time Wisely to Maintain Momentum

Lack of time hinders big projects, but efficient time management neutralizes this issue. The 30/30 rule—spending an undistracted 30 minutes daily on future tasks—cements early readiness for challenging stages.

Even when busyness dominates, allocating these micro-sessions to a single task builds substantial results. Professional success demands deliberate and intentional efforts, not frantic multitasking.

Combining these tactics with reflective pauses keeps you moving forward with greater awareness of your next leap.

Examples

• CEOs dedicate focused ‘power hours’ for strategic decision-making.
• Writers carve 30-minute blocks exclusively for brainstorming book outlines.
• Marathon trainers schedule short but consistent intervals to gradually build stamina.

8. Find Inspiration in Community

Momentum grows fastest when fueled by belonging. The No More Nylons network exemplifies this. Positivity thrives when people celebrate one another’s efforts, creating an uplifting loop of achievements.

Being surrounded by a community of doers prevents you from faltering. Communities as small as a three-person book club or as vast as startups can be equally meaningful.

Such environments nourish ambition by uplifting each other’s spirit.

Examples

• Women professionals in No More Nylon reconnect for mutual growth.
• Athletes thrive in training groups compared to solo preparation.
• Writing collectives constantly inspire each member toward creative output.

9. Gratitude Magnifies Motivation

Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships and energizes everyone involved. Once you acknowledge another’s value, it fosters goodwill and collaboration. Gratitude flows mutually, raising individual engagement and shared goals.

Thank you notes, loud praise, or even subtle credit can energize a friend, team, or colleague.

This practice nurtures a culture of appreciation, making objectives feel less isolating.

Examples

• Teams show gratitude by celebrating milestone achievements publicly.
• Writers thank beta readers to maintain supportive backing.
• Personal calls or notes to colleagues keep networks thriving.

Takeaways

1. Keep a journal of weekly milestones and treat every one as worthy of celebration.
2. Dedicate focused, unbreakable 30-minute slots daily to build momentum ahead of future stages.
3. Join or create communities that share your aspirations to stay motivated and supported.