How do you guys get motivated?

Shop ipod loaded with heavy metal.

 

It happens now mostly on weekends with my new job..a friend coming over with cigars and beer usually gets things going..actually selling something is a good kick in the ass too..

 

As most has said, get the car closer....but remember, get over it and don't be lazy or grumpy about it. As they say, "It gets worse before it gets better".

 

just read the hamb, get some red bull and listen to some good music!!!!

 

just get out there and get it done..
talk is cheap and time waits for no man..

did that kick in the ass help any? or do i have to get mean?

 

I never whine. If I should wake up dead, then there will be time enough for that.

Motivation? Life is good. Start each day with an open agenda. With daily essential errands out of the way, then go sit by my ‘rod. Something that needs to be done will usually present itself. If I draw a blank I take it for a ride. Tomorrow is a new day, no need to plan for it; As Janis Joplin said in one of her rants; “It’s all the same fuckin’ day man”.

 

X2
You can't depend on others only yourself. You either do or don't do.
Post this on your mirror:

IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME (Robert Schuller)


Good Luck & GIT ER' DONE!!
AL

 

I make a punch list, when I think of something that needs to be done it goes on the list. When completed it is crossed off.
Each item kind of gives you a purpose/goal and a sense of accomplishment when completed.
I'm up to 4 pages on the Merc.

 

Hey hotrod54...
The first thing I noticed was your avatar, read your post, and then your sig. Then Terd Ferguson mentioned it in an edit on his reply, but where are your c.c. brothers? The Drifters, Columbus. I do not know anything about the club you proudly wear, but one would think there has to be one of them that is closer to your location than your parents place is. Not one of them as a club brother has enough room for your car to sit? Need not even be taking up a garage space, but a lean to or just a spot and you could cover it.

Maybe ask the other members and say if you could have the car closer, you'd be working on it more and also offer to help out around thier place. Maybe if you'd do some hands on with them on thier rides/projects or at the very least offer to clean up the shop. I've never been one to join a club, but ones I know whom are club memebers usually they take care of thier brothers and sisters. Isn't that what the club is about? Get together with other members of the club...thrive off of eachother, support eachother, and that should more than keep you motivated.

 

Get it closer to you. Building a car is a series of small battles. It's nice to have 5-8 hrs to work on my car, but with a business and two small children time is a luxury I don't have. However, with my car close and my tools ready I can do 20-45 minutes worth of work several times a day. It's amazing how much can get done if you just stay consitent. Good luck and good health to you.

 

This just worked for me, go to a friends house and help them work on a project. Not only did it motivate me but I learn something everytime I do! Nothing will motivate you better than doing something, and helping out a buddy is a great kickstart. Or like Pork'n'Beener said start a revolving garage night, make it socal and fun, plus per presure works wonders.

Blake

 

Didn't read the whole thread yet, only first couple of replies, but here's a solution for one of the problems...gout

allopurinol

get the script from your Dr. about $15 for 90 day supply at Walgreen's etc. I was diagnosed with gout 20 years ago and have never had an outbreak again since I've been on allopurinol.

As far as the other problem, motivation, I'd agree with the other posters, and you need to get the car closer even if you have to rent a storage building closer. Then the other is self control, MAKE yourself do something every day, no matter if it's only 30 minutes but work progress is the key to completion.

 

I was about to post what 333half Evel did (or close to it). I can't believe that some kind of arrangement to get your car closer wouldn't solve at least 80% of your problems. I know if you lived around here one of us would accomodate your ride at least to the extent that slow steady progress could be made.

Frank

 

Man I can't say how to get around the pain issue, but I can understand. At forty five years old the years of semi - pro skateboarding, motorcycles, car accidents, and general life abuse have left me with lots of aches and pains that make it hard some times. What keeps me going is my friendships in this thing, and the promise of being able to enjoy the fuits of my labors out at cruise nights with the crew. You might start networking a bit and see if someone has some space you could use locally on a time line that would push you to make progress. I have always found more gets done when we all are working on our projects at the same time as well. Another thing that keeps me on track is getting that next new part I need. I know you said money is tight, and lord knows I understand that. But it is hard to get motivated to say scape grease off a front suspension and prep for paint. Boring and not to pleasant. But couple that with the upper inner bushings that came off the big brown truck this week and it's one more phase of the project done. I'm not saying put yourself out on the street to buy stuff for your toy, but turn it into small, attainable goals for each work session. And by the way, for example, that front end rebuild kit can be purchased piece by piece instead of 300.00 dollars at a time. Twenty dollars out of pocket I can do this week, 300.00 I can't. Do the next phase next week, and so on. I also find that things get motivated allot quicker when I have a great idea that I just have to get out. This happens more with fabricating than general stuff for me, but it's very satisfying to see your ideas come to life. Just make sure they're attainable goals. Good luck!

 

In Cincinnati, we deal with horrible depressing weather for the better part of 5 months.....a group of about 20 hot rodders around town do what we have dubbed "FNL", short for Friday Night Live.....every few fridays, someone will call a happy hour in their shop (in the shop is a requirement, no inside the house bullshit) and show up with wings and beer for a few hours.....Yes, parts have been known to disappear, but are typically returned....and the host usually will find a shit pot of empty beer cans in his toolbox or cabinets the next day (tradition)....I just hosted one on Friday night for Barrett Jackson and had 25 people conservatively in my shop...just good old bullshit sesssion for a few hours....we have also been known to throw an "FNL" at a buddy's house without any notification to get there ass motivated (A-Tub you know what I'm talking about!!) I had a buddy call me the very next morning and he was out wrenching on his 32 vicky cause the Happy Hour lit a fire under his ass.....that's how we do it in Cincy....try it you might just like it!

 

For me .Hanging here at night .And seeing other peoples projects , Lots of coffee .

 

Another motivator is driving your hot rod....Hell last Friday is was 30 degrees outside.... perfect roadster weather.

 

my project (a 57 ford 2dr wagon) is about 400 miles away at a friends shop. it takes me 7 hrs just to get there . i try to go once a month to work on it . its hard to wait but i look forward to the day hopefully this summer that i get it rolling under its own power and drive it the 400 miles home . it has taken me 3 years to get to this point . i just keep the finished product in my head and enjoy the time that i do get to work on it .

 

[QUOTE="A" Tub;4833365]Another motivator is driving your hot rod....Hell last Friday is was 30 degrees outside.... perfect roadster weather.[/QUOTE]

sure sounded killer on a late January night in Ohio hearing a team of hotrods leave my place!!!!!

 

Make a list of little things. Pick one a day or one a week. Stay focused and do ONLY that thing. Reward yourself when it's done. (I have a beer.) Stop working and savor the progress. Repeat on the next day. Before you know it, you're cruizin'!

 

I have had seven surgery's and deal with pain every day. I can understand it is very hard to work on my own hot rod. My back and neck hurts like hell and I have slowed down and I don`t like it ..You must keep trying. If I stop I might as well be dead because working on cars and bikes has been my hole life..
I help friends and it helps me. There is some very good information from people in this post take it and run walk craw do what you can . Never quit or give up. The Hamb has helped me tremendously , just reading what people are doing makes me go and do more . Some day it will be done. If I lived close to you I would come over and help you. Pain sucks. I do stretches it helps me.

 

WTF?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9LBj4ecPo

 

I have a girlfriend that is 20 years younger and she loves hot rods. She kicks my butt out there to work on my Junk and helps too. I work at least an hour a night on my projects, it helps. On the weekends I try to devote one of the days to work on the car. I know what you are talking about as far as the pain goes but I figure I can rest after I'm dead. Plus my girlfriend will have a couple of cool cars to drive to the graveyard!
You MUST get that car closer to you period!

 

Im 20 years old, i've gotta part time job as a parts driver, i go to school, and i hang out most every weekend with my close friends. Yet some reason, i'll get my ass up at 9AM in the summer, venture out into the driveway, grab some tools and work on some oddball crap on the cadillac. Shock myself numerous times on the wires under the dash fixing the lights?, you bet. Bust a knuckel on almost half the bolts on the car, ShoNuff. Cut my fingers multiple times just trying to modify the rockers to get a peice of original stainless to fit, Oh yeah. But being that this is what goes along with the hobby theres another part with it. I'm lucky enough, at this time & age, to have something thats just badass, out of the norm, and gets looks. I dont have a garage to work in, its only a single car and you car barley get out of the car once its in there. But i keep on doing what i can beause i feel lucky to have what i do. i have 4 disks in my neck collapsed on one side from a bad mini-bike accident as a kid, i've had ankel surgury & i have mitro-valve prolaps (sp?), but damn it if i dont give it a try as much as i can. Never give up.

 

I just wait for my phases to cycle from depressive back to manic.

 

if i dont do the work, it wont get done.

 

I crank up some A7X, Gammaray, Tristania, Metallica, 10 years, 10 seconds to Mars, Kid Rock, S.O.A.D.
That'll last about a good 12 hours or more

 

I do know what you mean about pain. A couple of years ago the young pups here in Cincy and Indiana said they were going to drive ( DRIVE ) to the LA Roadster show. I said can I go if I drive. They said sure. I brought every pain pill, muscle relaxer, PH, aspirin I could think of. Funny thing, when we got out on the road, I forgot about the pain. Open cars to Calif. will do that. A little change of scenery and some wind in your face does wonders. #5

 

My dad and son keep me going