Over the last few weeks I have trudged through the slush and sloppiness known as winter in the city. I’ve dealt with rush hour traffic — meaning possibly billions of people crammed into subways and walking slowly on sidewalks. And I have woken up at what feels like the crack of dawn for this night owl.

Part of my motivation? The money I had spent. Let’s be honest here, money is a pretty good motivator — especially when you’re shelling out for a trainer.

Part of it was my commitment to myself. I had told myself I was going to do this, and let’s just say my work ethic is something I take pride in.

The train wasn’t running? I walked. IN the snow. As in actively falling snow.

Because I didn’t want to be late (I was) because I had made a commitment to someone else (my trainer).

Part of my motivation was the goals I wanted to reach physically. Nobody truly works out “just because.” The pay off for all that sweating, pain, and all those damn squats is the physical results you see in the mirror as time progresses.

That’s a pretty great motivator.

So overall, I think it simply never occurs to people that their motivations might break down quite like this.

But I think it’s totally fine that they do, and recognizing it can help kick you in the butt when you want to give up. Having one motivator might be easy to overlook, so spread the guilt out over a few. Or something like that.

I think it simply never occurs to a lot of people that what they want is possible. Everyone conjures excuses at the drop of the hat, and man can the mind invent millions of reasons why something won’t happen.

But focus on why it can. By what you want. By the circumstances you can change.

You spent the money. Go get what you paid for.

You want a maserati?

…well, you know the rest.