It comes down to
- How much I actually care about something. This is sort of self-explanatory....
- How "official" my commitment is & if there are expectations riding on me....the promises I break the most are the ones I make only to myself, because I'm not good at holding myself accountable unless it's a moral issue (in which case, I have oodles of self-control). For this reason, external expectations from others & deadlines keep me motivated. I need REAL consequences, but ones which still allow flexibility (see below). But seriously....DEADLINES!!!!
- A moral issue I am not willing to compromise on. Wanting to do the right thing keeps me motivated.
- How close I am to finishing it. I'm actually less likely to abandon something if I feel just on the verge of completion because then I realize I can actually do it; it's not just an "idea" anymore. I'm more likely to abandon it in the early stages if it's not moving along fast enough; I suppose I move onto other ideas. This means I reach goals best when I start them in a burst of energy and can accomplish enough in that time to keep me motivated to finish once some of the interest/energy wanes.
- Variety & flexibility. If working towards a goal becomes too repetitive, tedious & mundane, then I'm more likely to quit. I can't do the same thing in the same way every time. I need to feel I am constantly exploring uncharted territory in some way, even if it's in the small nuances. This is because I am motivated by being able to be creative, so once I've maxed out different ways to do something, then I lose steam. I don't like to feel like a machine churning stuff out. If I feel confined then I tend to bail also. I need to feel free to meet the goal in my way, and so too much structure will de-motivate me.
- Making it fun, or less boring at least. When it comes down to some nitty gritty details I don't care for, then that may be time to blast the music, pull out some snacks, roll my sleeves up metaphorically & just get it over with as painlessly as possible.
- Play! I take a break, goof off, clear my head, and come back rejuvenated with fresh ideas. I'm very much a play-before-work type, but my play time is a huge source of inspiration for me.
I also might add I don't have problem focusing as far as attention span goes. I have a great attention span. I read ridiculously long novels, watch mind-numbingly boring (well, to others) documentaries, easily pay attention through long lectures, etc. "Motivation" is probably a better word.