4 Surprising Things That Keep Us Motivated

You can't "hack" motivation. There's not a quick trick in existence that's going to motivate you to do something if you just don't want to do it.

But you can make an effort to understand the psychology behind motivation, and use this to your advantage.

The things that keep us on track towards our goals might surprise you. In this article, we'll discuss four perspective changes that can help keep you motivated -- even when you feel like giving up.

4 Surprising Things That Keep Us Motivated

1) Overcoming a setback.

Despite being one of the seven deadly sins, pride is actually an important factor in staying motivated towards long-term goals. Pride comes in two different forms: There's hubristic pride (the kind that inflates your ego and gets you into trouble) and authentic pride, which describes those warm, rewarding feelings you get from making progress on meaningful work or accomplishing a hard-won goal.

Jessica Tracy, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, and author of Take Pride: Why The Deadliest Sin Holds The Secret To Human Success, has extensively studied the effects of authentic pride (i.e., feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment) on human motivation.

In a recent study, Tracy and her colleagues examined the effects of authentic pride on students' test taking abilities. When students reported feeling a low sense of authentic pride after receiving a poor test score, they were more likely to change their study approach and work to improve their results for next time. Students who did not report feeling a low sense of authentic pride after receiving a poor test score were much less motivated to improve.

In other words, having your ego bruised a little bit will actually motivate you to work harder in the long run. So if you've recently suffered from a setback or disappointment at work, channel that energy into changing up your approach and improving your results, rather than pushing those feelings away and ignoring them.

But be wary of taking it too far. Tracy warns that there's an important distinction between using the absence of pride productively and suffering from a problematic lack of confidence -- i.e., shame.

Shame, Tracy explained, is characterized by feelings of uselessness, and thoughts of "I'm not going to try to work hard because it's just going to end up in failure." In contrast, feelings of low authentic pride push you to restore feelings of fulfillment and achievement by working harder and more efficiently.

2) Being at peace with distractions.

Embracing distractions instead of fighting through them certainly goes against conventional wisdom about motivation -- a quick Google search for "motivation and distraction" reveals a list of articles about "killing" or "eliminating" distractions as a strategy to stay motivated. But resisting all distraction can actually make it more difficult for our brains to stay focused.

Oliver Burkeman, the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking, believes the typical way of approaching distractions as the enemy of productivity is misguided, and could counterintuitively be causing us to become even more distracted.

Although it's easy to blame external factors like your chatty coworker or the addictive allure of social media, Burkeman said the real cause of our chronic distraction is an internal urge to fight anything that compromises our autonomy.

In other words, we like to feel in charge, and when we're told we have to focus on something specific, the idea of fixating on anything but the task at hand becomes irresistibly magnetic.

For example, I recently set aside a block of time on my calendar to get a project I'd been putting off completed once and for all. When the time finally rolled around, all I really wanted to do was mindlessly look at pictures of dogs on Instagram. This was my brain's way of rebelling against the task at hand, and assuming autonomy by drifting towards a more appealing activity.

"The good news is that when you see distraction for what it really is, you're much better equipped to fight it," Burkeman wrote in 99u. "Remember, too, that you don't need to 'feel motivated' in order to do important work. Instead, let yourself feel like you'd rather be doing something else, and at the same time, do the work: Open the laptop, make the phone call, type another sentence."

3) Strengthening your tolerance for discomfort.

We've all been here before: you're just about to jump into a big project, and the thought of taking those first steps is almost physically painful. All you can focus on is the hardship to come: the effort you'll have to expend, the hours you'll have to put in, and how taxing the project will be from start to finish.

Carson Tate, a productivity coach and business consultant, calls this phenomenon intellectual discomfort, and pretty much everyone has experienced it at one time or another. It's a gut-level aversion to doing any work that requires us to come off autopilot and challenges us on a deeper level.

And to get any meaningful work done, you have to learn to fight through it.

It will be unpleasant at first, but it is possible to train yourself to become more comfortable with the discomfort of intellectually demanding work. Think of it like preparing for a marathon: If you make a training schedule and put in the effort to stick to it, eventually the running gets easier every day. That first day, running a mile might seem tortuous, but in six months, it'll be a breeze.

To start increasing your tolerance for work that requires your full attention, consider using a structured framework to manage your working hours. One of the most commonly used (and widely discussed) methods is the Pomodoro Technique, which relies on a intervals of work and rest to keep your mind on track without burning out. 

When used consistently, structured methods like this can help increase your endurance for intellectually taxing work -- and make it easier to prevent those pangs of dread and premature fatigue before the project even kicks off.

4) Stop obsessing about being unmotivated.

The overarching theme in the previous three methods seems to be this: stop beating yourself up about not feeling motivated, and just start working. It sounds counterintuitive -- how can you work when you don't feel like it? -- but constantly fixating on how motivated you wish you felt only amplifies your lack of motivation.

Harvard psychologist Daniel Wegner famously demonstrated that attempts to forcibly coerce your own thoughts or emotions overwhelmingly backfires. If you force yourself to get super motivated to start your next big project -- but in reality, you're really not feeling it -- you could actually end up feeling more unmotivated than before.

All you accomplished was making yourself feel bad that you weren't experiencing what you perceived to be the ideal emotional responses: excitement and motivation.

The takeaway? Don't judge yourself so harshly for feeling unmotivated. It's perfectly okay, and you can still get things done without being extremely excited about them. So go ahead, give yourself that Twitter break. And then get down to business.

How do you stay motivated when things get tough? Let us know in the comments.

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From Punny to Just Plain Clever: 11 Hilarious Holiday Cards for Marketers

Marketers work hard, amirite? But there are still some people in our lives -- ahem, Mom -- who seem to think that we just write stories and draw pictures on the internet all day.

I mean, we don't do that every day. We work hard, and we have a great appreciation for things that are creative and clever. It makes sense, then, that we also like our season's greetings to share those traits. And when it comes to holiday cards, just make us laugh.

But if you've been described as "impossible to please," or having an "abnormal appreciation for puns," have faith -- you're not alone. That's why we put together this guide of great holiday cards for marketers.

From punny to downright clever, these cards certainly have us in stitches -- We hope you'll enjoy them, too.

11 Hilarious Holiday Cards for Marketers

1) Thoughtful Tweets, by Someecards

Leave it to Someecards to capture the holiday snark that lives in all of us, at least a little bit.

Holidays are a busy time for marketers. We have to plan content for the season -- which is remarkably easier with a social media content calendar -- and make sure it continues to thrive, even if we’re elsewhere, donning ugly sweaters and drinking eggnog.

Naturally, this fitting sentiment made us laugh.

Someecards makes it super easy to send these greetings, too. Just visit the link, click on the picture, and choose when you want it to be delivered.

2) CapterraGrams, by Capterra

In a past holiday season, Capterra compiled a list of 10 B2B holiday greetings that were so clever, we’re kind of jealous that we didn’t come up with them.

It’s hard to pick just one, but here are a few of our favorites -- like this one, which puts a marketing spin on the classic carol “Up on the Housetop.”

Or this one, which turns social sharing buttons into dreidels.

Of course, we couldn’t leave out a good CTA color pun, either.

3) The Forgetful Marketer, by SadShop

We love all of SadShop's holiday cards for their deadpan greetings, like “You are not bad” for Valentine’s Day, and “You are too old to say yolo” for birthdays.

So when it came time to find the perfect holiday sentiment for the marketers in our lives, we knew that SadShop would have something fitting. And if you're the type of marketer who works so hard before the holidays that perhaps you never quite make it to the “cards” line on your December to-do list, this one might be for you.

4) Holiday Zen, by ThePaperArtShoppe

Then, there are the marketers who do manage to get it all together -- work, cards, and maybe even a box of homemade cookies -- but you wish he or she would take a minute to breathe. (Or maybe, you know, that describes you. We can relate.)

There’s nothing like some holiday yoga to keep calm and market on during this season. A little bit of laughter wouldn’t hurt, either -- What better way to get a chuckle than with a tree-posing reindeer?

5) Appy New Year, by nocturnalpaper

As marketers, we really love our apps, especially if they help us relax or become more productive. So when it comes to wishing us a happy holiday, it's quite fitting to make it more of an "appy" holiday.

This adorable card puts that pun to work by taking four app icons -- weather, mail, messages, and music -- and attaching tiny arms and legs to them. However, depending on who you ask, those arms might look like little reindeer antlers. Festivity is in the eye of the (appy) beholder. 

6) For the Good-Humored Boss, by FINCHandHARE

If you’re as lucky as we are, your boss has a great sense of humor. In that case, he or she might appreciate this greeting -- which is actually meant to be a birthday card, but still works as a holiday one -- which simply reads, “You are terrifying.”

Once the card is opened, the humor continues with, “You are a terrific boss. I am really enjoying the comfortable work environment you foster.” Be sure to add your own warm, hand-written greeting, though, to make sure it’s all in good fun. We suggest, “For one of the best marketers I know. Happy holidays,” or, “I mean it. Thanks for such a great year, and happy holidays.”

7) Holiday Buzzwords, by Someecards

Someecards strikes again with this great greeting that calls out marketers on, well, the language we might throw around during the holidays.

But hey, don’t fault us -- we really do wish you hope, peace, joy, and successful marketing.

8) #FFFFFF, by NerdyWordsGifts

Where there's marketing, there's often branding. And where there's branding, there's a style guide. That usually comes equipped with official rules about which colors should be used in marketing collateral. Those colors usually have their own html codes that lead with the # symbol.

As you probably guessed, #FFFFFF is the html color code for white. This card puts a branding and design spin on the famous carol lyrics, "May all your Christmases be white," replacing the word "white" with the digital symbol. In that case, we hope your holidays are anything but #0468E0. 

9) Holiday QR Code, by kissandpunch

QR codes are hardly a new marketing concept, but when used correctly, they can still be effective. Case in point: this card with a QR code letterpress.

But the greeting doesn't end there. Once the code is scanned, the recipient is taken to this adorable video of a yorkie's holiday adventures -- and who doesn't love marketing with a healthy dose of dogs?

Warning: The video is a bit corny, but we can't think of a better time than the holidays for some cheesy cheer.

10) #Presents, by NewtonAndTheApple

No matter how you feel about a personal use of hashtags, there's no denying their importance in marketing.

The makers of this card leveraged that idea to capture a hightlight of the holidays: #presents.

But if the marketers in your life are feeling a bit grinchy this season, fear not -- there's another version made just for them.

There are also editions available for #lights, #Rudolph, and #tree. Might we submit a request for #cookies and #wine?

11) Beyoncé Jingles, by NostalgiaCollect

Consider this one our gift to you. I mean, Beyoncé and a pun? Nothing says “happy holidays” to our favorite marketers like a play on popular song lyrics.

Happy Holidays From Our Marketers to Yours

Between all of the chaos and planning, it seems like there’s one big thing we forget to do during the holidays -- laugh. That’s what the season’s greetings are for, after all. And if that festivity and joy happens to come with a good dose of marketing humor, we hope that makes you all the merrier.

Have you come across some great holiday cards for marketers? Let us know in the comments.

 

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How to Market to Each Generation on Social Media [Infographic]

Whether you’re a Baby Boomer or a young member of Gen Z, there's a good chance you use some form of social media. In fact, there are over 2 billion social media users worldwide.

When it comes to marketing, segmenting social media content for your audience is key. And one way to target your social media marketing efforts is by age group.

Although billions of people log onto social media platforms every day, generational groups each have different habits and preferences when it comes to their favorite platforms and ways they engage with content.

In this infographic from WebPage FX, you can see just how large the generational gaps can be on social media. For example, did you know that Generation Xers between the ages of 36 and 49 make up 36% of Pinterest users, 93% of whom have shopped online in the past six months? 

There are huge segments of social media users who want to hear from brands. Check out the infographic below to learn more about how they're using social networks and how you can target them more effectively.

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Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond

Have you noticed changes to your Facebook page layout? Wondering how to use the new features? In this article, you’ll discover how to navigate and capitalize on the latest Facebook page design changes. See What’s Changed for Your Visitors The first and most crucial thing to note is the new Facebook page layout for visitors. [...]

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13 of the Most Creative Agency 'Meet the Team' Pages We've Ever Seen

Agency websites can be kind of intimidating.

They're meticulously styled. They make bold declarations. And they're not always extremely straightforward.

To a prospect seeking out a new agency partner, it can all be a little overwhelming. It's easy to wonder: Who are the real people behind all the smoke and mirrors?

Adding a "Meet the Team" page or section to your website is an easy, effective way to give your business a accessible face. It gives prospects an idea of who exactly they'll be working with, and shows potential employees that you're proud of the people on your team.

For some inspiration, see how these agencies introduce visitors to their most important creative assets: their people.

13 Creative Agency 'Meet the Team' Pages

1) Sub Rosa

Sub Rosa, a Manhattan-based strategy and design studio, decided to skip the typical employee headshots in favor of something a little more unconventional.

They invited team members to bring in 10 to 12 objects that best represent their personalities, photographed them, and asked employees to briefly explain the value of each object. These original profiles were then shared on their website instead of traditional employee bios.

"By seeing the objects we hold most dear and the stories attached to them, we give a deeper look inside ourselves," said Michael Ventura, founder and CEO of Sub Rosa, to Digiday.

2) Digital Marmelade

Since most employee bios read a lot like a list of stats ("10 years in the industry ... 4 years at the company ... Managed 80 website redesign projects ... ") the folks at Digital Marmelade decided to have a little fun with the format.

Each employee at the London-based marketing agency has a trading card-style profile detailing their actual marketing accomplishments and personal facts, as well as their fictional superhero abilities.

It's a quirky twist that gives visitors a colorful snapshot of the agency's team, highlighting both their impressive experience and friendly culture.

3) Studio Airport

This Dutch agency offers up a clever, slapstick take on the typical yearbook-style grid of employee photos.

When you hover over a picture, the employee in the photo starts to interact with the employees around it -- e.g., dumping a bucket of water on the person in the photo below them, shining a light on the person next to them, or aiming a leaf blower towards their neighbor.

4) Sagmeister & Walsh

The bios and headshots for Sagmeister & Walsh's team seem perfectly conventional at first glance, but if you hang around the page for a second, their faces move ever so slightly -- a subtle effect that's so quick you'll think you might have imagined it.

Each team member has a different, nearly imperceptable movement -- some tilt their heads, and others simply blink before reverting back to their resting places as stony-faced portraits. A scroll through the section feels like a trip to a mysterious museum where the paintings are coming to life.

5) Bolden

Bolden's team bios are more conventional than some of the others on this list, but what they lack in invention they more than make up for with style.

Hovering over each team member's picture produces a colorful stacked card effect, revealing brief employee bios in coordinated fonts. This is a great example of a minimal, accessible "Meet the Team" page that manages to look cool and introduce the faces behind the agency without going over the top.

6) Rock Kitchen Harris

Rock Kitchen Harris, a full-service agency, decided to skip the photos altogether and showcase the cartoon versions of their employees instead.

Each employee at the English agency had a custom caricature drawn up, and every single one has a different personality. While some employees opted for representations reminiscent of LinkedIn profile pictures, others got a little creative with it, dressing their cartoon selves up as Ewoks and other characters.

7) FCINQ

FCINQ, a creative studio, introduces us to their team with a collage of colorful bubbles.

Hovering over an employee's individual circle produces a zoomed-in effect, and clicking expands their headshot with their name and social profiles. The splashy set up is a stylish alternative to the expected rows of team photos and names.

8) Zulu Alpha Kilo

This Canadian agency presents their founding team with refreshing comedic flair. While many agency leaders choose to represent themselves with stoic business portraits, the three leaders of Zulu Alpha Kilo opted for playful photos and cheeky bios.

Here's an excerpt from the bio of Marcus Alpha -- the agency's "Ultra Chief Creative Director Officer":

Marcus has a reputation for pushing his creative teams further than any other creative director. He makes them work late nights, weekends and through holidays in pursuit of that one truly breakthrough creative idea. And when they’ve finally cracked it after weeks of gruelling and thankless work, Marcus will triumphantly stand in front of the client and present it as an idea he had in the shower that morning instead.

9) Stink Digital

We love this expertly color-coordinated slideshow of team members form Stink Digital.

This creative agency has offices in five major cities around the world -- including New York, Paris, and Berlin -- but having a personable "Meet the Team" section helps give their business an accessible edge. They don't call themselves "a global company with a local feel" for nothing.

10) Drexler

This "Meet the Team" section from Drexler is perfect proof that you don't necessarily need a whole page devoted to introducing your employees -- just a small section can do the trick.

This simple but polished team member marquee appears at the bottom of the Baltimore, Maryland-based agency's "About" page, and adds a welcome personal touch to their website.

11) Unfold

Inspired by the periodic table of elements, this "Meet the Team" section from Norwegian agency Unfold is minimal but far from boring.

Employee headshots are arranged in a masonry style layout, each anchored by muted blocks of color. The effect is sophisticated and modern.

12) Push.

To take their employee introductions up a notch, Florida-based agency Push. introduced a dose of animation.

When you hover over a picture of one of their leaders, they strike a power pose. It's a seemingly small touch that adds some major visual interest to the otherwise conventional page.

13) Soup

To illustrate how their small team collaborates on projects, Soup created this interactive diagram. The circle is divided into three sections -- dev, design, and workflows -- and when you hover over one of the segments, the team members associated with that particular branch pop up in the circles to the right.

It's a creative way to exhibit their process and demonstrate how each team member contributes to projects.

Does your agency have a "meet the team" section on your website? Let us know in the comments. http://bit.ly/2hkYHd2

How to Use YouTube Cards in Your Videos

Interested in improving your YouTube marketing? Looking for ways to drive more views or engagement? Adding a YouTube card to your videos creates a clickable call to action (CTA) that prompts viewers to respond. In this article, you’ll discover how to create and use YouTube cards in your business videos. Why YouTube Cards? YouTube cards [...]

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Instagram Rolling Out New Features for Comments: This Week in Social Media

Welcome to our weekly edition of what’s hot in social media news. To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention. What’s New This Week New Instagram Features Improve Engagement and Moderation for Comments: In the “coming weeks,” Instagram will add the ability to [...]

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