How To Use Dopamine To Help You Succeed

"Time is like a river. You can't touch the same water twice. because the flow that has passed will never pass again", Unknown

If you could have more of one thing, what would it be? Although the list may be long, most people say they'd like more time in their day.

Think about it...you can get more of just about anything. Money, material items, friends, etc. Time is the one thing that slips by, and the clock hand clicking every second is a sobering reminder.

You often see posts like, "If you had known this when you were 25 years old..." or "What would you tell your younger self?". The idea behind these posts is nostalgia for the days when we were younger with the wisdom that we gain from years of experience.

Although you can't get time back, you can resolve to make the best use of it going forward. Here are a couple of tips that I use with my clients and students (and myself) to maximize your hard work, energy and effort to get real results faster.

Align with authority: "Vision with action makes a powerful reality", Ron Kaufman

A vivid, detailed vision for your life and your business is a key element to help you focus and prioritize.

According to CNBC.com, “You would be surprised how many high-powered executives secretly have action or vision boards at home or saved on their computers,” notes neuroscientist, medical doctor and executive coach Tara Swart.

As you go about your day, notifications ping on your phone, alerts pop up on your laptop and your inbox grows by the minute.

It's enticing to check these attention grabbers as soon as you get them. It's almost an instinct to stop what you're doing to do so. When the urge happens, ask yourself "If I do this, will it help me achieve my vision in my business"?

Take account of what you do on a daily basis to better understand how you spend your time. You can even write it down on a pad or capture it in a document online.

Approach it with a curious mind, not as a way to judge or assess your self. There's no right or wrong answer, it's just information.

It's very important information for you to plan and ultimately focus on the next right thing in your business.

Gamify to win: Who doesn't enjoy a good online game, scrolling through social media or checking who liked your post? And there's a good reason for that.

These activities are meant to cause a rise in your dopamine levels so that you keep coming back...again and again.

As reported at Mayo Health Clinic, "Hyperarousal also can be triggered by a release of dopamine, the feel-good chemical that’s released in the brain when we experience success or achievement".

Have you ever received an award, won a raffle, experience a payout at a slot machine or gotten special recognition for something you've accomplished? How did it feel? You probably felt a sense of satisfaction and achievement.

This normal human response can work to your benefit as you build your business. Just like it feels great to successfully complete a new level of a video game or get a pat on the back for a job well done, use that in your business.

As you plan your high value activities at the beginning of the week, setup your own personal reward system that will keep you motivated. You can do things like:

• Mark key actions in your calendar with a check mark or color it green as complete
• Give yourself a treat when you've finished a certain action or a project
• Report to your accountability partner that you've finished one of your tasks for the week
• Get take-out from your favorite restaurant when you finish something big
• Take a couple of hours off to watch your favorite show, take a car ride or chat on the phone with a friend with no thought of working

And if none of these fit for you, figure out what does. This process creates a positive context for things you have to do, and you're more likely to enjoy the journey.

Conclusion: Time is precious, and even though you can't get it back, you can move powerfully forward to achieve our goals. Keeping your detailed vision in front of you everyday puts all of your hard work and effort into a positive framework. As you develop the next steps to build your business, reward yourself for key actions along the way to generate enthusiasm and motivation to push ahead.