How often have you struggled with yourself over the work that needs to be done? How many times have you put off performing some task or other because it's too mundane?

Not everything you do in business is going to excite you. There will be many times when you just can't get yourself sufficiently fired up to make the effort to start, develop or even finish a project.

I get like that quite often. I admit it. I am no different to you. I have left many projects unfinished simply because I am unable to motivate myself to put in one last push. Of course, I know that by bringing the work to fruition I will have significantly enhanced my business. Perhaps even to the extent that I take it to the next level, or that I increase my earning potential.

While I am no different to thousands of other internet marketers or business owners, I do try to keep myself motivated by remembering this little story.

Whenever I read it I always feel uplifted and ready to take on the world! Here it is:

Some time ago I read the story of a man who overcame seemingly unsurmountable obstacles to achieve a lasting ambition...

I do not remember this man's name, but in a way that does not matter. It is his story that is important.

For many years he edited a magazine that explored and championed Freedom of Speech down through the ages. Towards the end of his life he decided that it was time he wrote a book on the subject.

He had always been inspired by Socrates, so he decided to write the definitive book on the Greek Philosopher. Now, in order to do this, he knew he would have to read EVERYTHING that had been written about the man.

But he did not want to read translations - even those written in Modern Greek. No, he knew that in order to really get a sense of what Socrates was about he would need to read old manuscripts written in Ancient Greek.

He did not know any Ancient Greek. But he set out to learn it.

At this point I should explain that by now our budding biographer was 80 years old and suffered from cataracts over both eyes!

This did not deter him.

For months he sat down in front of a computer screen that displayed giant letters (because he could not read small letters on account of his poor eyesight) and proceeded to learn the obscure and incomprehensible language of Ancient Greece.

Once he'd learned the language, he then read everything on Socrates, translated it into English for his own purposes and turned what he had learned into one of the best books ever written about the philosopher.

Remember this...

* he was in his 80s when he started the project!

* he had cataracts over both eyes!

* he had to learn a new language in order to do his research!

he read every ancient manuscript on the subject! And finally...

He produced a work of fantastically high quality!

In my opinion, this is the ultimate kick-butt motivational lesson!

Copyright 2005 Robert Evans