It's been said by many runners that mile 18 of a daunting 26 miles marathon is where you need that extra motivation, focus, and push to get to the finish line.  This critical hurdle does not last through to the end of the race but it must be overcome to successfully complete the race.

The same can be said of any major goal that we choose to pursue.  Motivational mottos (see previous article) and themes can have a huge impact on your ability to complete the project, get the sale, and go the extra mile in achieving your goals.

Reflecting back to our athletic careers as young adults, we can vaguely recall a cheer by our respective cheerleading teams that was meant to provide that extra motivation, focus, and push (acim app  though we certainly weren't paying much attention to this cheer during the competition).

It went something like "H-U-S-T-L-E spells HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE."  Well, that same motivation motto, theme or cheer can serve you well in business and entrepreneurship if it helps you focus on the following things:

Hard Work - nothing of significance was ever achieved without some hard work.  The key is to find your passion in life and direct your work there.  When you do that, hard work often times doesn't feel so hard when you are doing what you love.

Unstoppable - you enter your work with the mindset that you are "unstoppable."  If you get involved only because it looks interesting or fun, you will never get past the many hurdles that you inevitably find our the path to success.

Smart Work - it isn't about smart work instead of hard work or vice versa.  The two work together and give you the ultimate competitive advantage.  You need to set-up rituals and routines that allow you to excel at both.

Tenacious - is what you need to be when faced with rejection and obstacles.   When you are going after something BIG in life, you can count on both many rejections and many obstacles.  You need to tenaciously pursue that miracle that is right around the corner - most people stop well short of it and some people stop JUST short of it.  Don't be somebody that quits before the miracle happens!

Luck (making your own) - is something that happens to you when you work hard AND work smart.  Find ways to apply your strengths more often and always be expanding your luck network.  You never know when those seemingly lucky people can play a significant role in creating your own luck.

Energy - is in everything.  Your attitude, your thoughts, and your actions contain energy at the most basic level.  You must learn to redirect, harness, and amplify your personal energy system to consistently find and create better opportunities and solutions.  It takes knowledge, discipline, and the ability to make waves (see "Mental Toughness Training for Life" for more information on making waves) to manage your energy.

Try activating this idea in the following way.  Go to or watch your favorite college football teams (i.e. Florida Gators, Texas Longhorns, Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes, etc...) next game and watch the cheerleaders closely during the breaks in play.  Pick out your favorite cheerleaders and store them in your memory as members of your own personal virtual cheerleading team.  Then, each day picture them cheering "H-U-S-T-L-E spells HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE" to motivate you, focus your attention, and push your through to your ultimate business and entrepreneurship success goals!

© Copyright 2009 Jon L. Iveson, Ph.D. and Sandy Seago

Jon L. Iveson, Ph.D., The Champion's Coach, is a Gazelles Certified Coach who helps individuals and companies survive and thrive in tough times.

Sandy Seago is an entrepreneur with 20 years of entrepreneurial success and owner of TCG Solutions.