Who doesn't need an occasional motivational pick me up? Motivation is the hot buzzword of the day. If you have it and can keep it up, you're on your way to succeeding in whatever endeavor you are attempting. Motivation is a powerful tool to help you succeed in any business or achieve any goal. How motivated you are and whether you continue to make forward progress will determine whether you succeed or not.

Motivated people are generally happier, more energetic and optimistic and likely to stay healthy. These are just a few of the benefits!

The dictionary defines motivation as forces acting on or within a person to initiate behavior, or simply, the ability of taking action. The key is that we often know what needs to be done to be successful; we just never take the action.

There are hundreds of ways to stay motivated, but if these seven are applied on a regular basis, you'll be amazed at the results!

1. BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT, others have, why not you?

2.SET GOALS Ask any successful person if they have goals and 99% will say yes. We should be setting short, medium and long term goals; they may be applied to any area of our life in which we want to improve and be successful; career, health, physical, financial, family, spiritual are a few.

3.FIND POSITIVE PEOPLE TO BE AROUND; Positive people inspire you to stay motivated. Or, the rotten apple spoils his companion. Seek supportive people to hang around with.

4.CREATE A VISION FOR YOU GOALS; Picture yourself reaching the goal. Select an image that reflects what you want to achieve and what it will look like and feel like for you. Place the image where you can see it a couple of times a day.

5.MAKE A PLAN for reaching your goals and develop action steps to successfully carry out your plan. Stay in action, moving forward daily toward your goal. Keep the momentum going, and think positive.

6.CONTINUE TO LEARN. Read books, articles, listen to tapes, watch movies to build new learning around your goal. This will bring insights and keep you energized. Continuous learning will keep you motivated.

7.THINK AND TALK POSITIVELY; Like smiling, using positive words not only make you feel better but will benefit the people around you. Have an enthusiastic tone of voice and smiling when you talk will bring forth a positive reaction in every case.

We're all going to have some bad days; being motivated is not just saying positive affirmations. On these days, review your goals, short, medium and long term. Think hard on your vision! Check your progress; read/learn something new. Smile and pat yourself on the back for your progress you've made towards your goal. Practice all these steps and you'll be astounded with the results!