Motivation doesn't have to elude.
If you are waiting for inspiration or motivation to get started, then you may be waiting for awhile. Just getting started is probably the hardest part. Our fears and past experiences can pump the breaks on starting anything new. There are a couple of things that can help.
1) Doing something 100 times is much more effective than one time. We learn through trial and error. By continuing to make tweaks and adjustments along the way, you will take huge strides towards mastery. Nothing can replace doing the work and giving it a shot. I can describe to you how to go fishing, for example, but until you pick up a fishing pole, you will only understand so much.
2) The Goldilocks Principle (Atomic Habits) states that there is a sweet spot to taking on new challenges. You want to look for just the right amount of challenge. Too much, and you will buckle under the pressure before you even get started. Too little, and you won't even consider it worth your time. In Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's research on flow, he writes that not only is the right amount of challenge necessary, but also receiving immediate feedback is important too. So for instance, if you want to climb a mountain, you will have immediate feedback as to whether you were able to reach the top. Looking at another example from work, if you want to make 3 Sales today, you will also have immediate feedback as to whether you were able to accomplish that goal. Making the goal clear and actionable paired with just enough challenge, and you will be motivated to sprint across the finish line.
3) The 4 T's: Task, time, technique and team (for more information, see the book Drive). If you are struggling to find motivation, see if you can better define these 4 areas. Research has shown that by having some amount of autonomy over what you do, when you do it, how you do it, and the people you work with will power you to the moon. It's the difference between someone handing you a complete playbook versus an empty journal. Would you rather create the guide yourself, or follow each step outlined for you one by one?
4) If you get stuck, movement may help. Define the problem or the question that you need to answer. Then get outside and start moving. Or take a shower. Or go for a drive. Being in motion helps to get the juices flowing and you will come up with a solution in no time.
Hopefully, these tips will help you get started on your next big project. Just remember that motivation is a process, not a destination. The key is to keep moving forward and never give up. Thanks for reading! =)