jobs

We all have it, and at times, we all lack it. Maintaining motivation in your career and job search is essential to moving forward.

It's tough each week to send out résumés and go to job interviews without making progress. It's tough to see others in your department make a sale, finish a major project or receive recognition, while you feel like you are not contributing to the team or company.

When you're up against a lack of motivation to do something you really want to do, a great place to start is by asking some questions, says Curt Rosengren, a passion catalyst who helps people identify their passions and create careers that ignite (www.passioncatalyst.com) and author of "The Occupational Adventure Guide: A travel Guide to the Career of Your Dreams."

"There are a million possible reasons why we don't do the things we actually want to," says Rosengren. "When you put your finger on the reason you aren't doing it, you can start asking another question. How? As in, 'How can I help myself do this thing?'"

How can you get the job offer? Maybe you need to motivate yourself to spend more time preparing for the job interview. How can you close the big deal? Maybe you need to attend more seminars or training events. Think outside the scope of your daily duties.

If there are problems, ask yourself why you are not correcting them, says Rosengren. Are you afraid that you won't be able to do it well? Does it feel outside your comfort zone? Does it feel too big? Do you not know where to start? Does it seem frivolous and somehow not serious? Are you afraid of what others might think?

Asking why will give you insight. But insight alone just makes you well-informed and stuck.

"You've got to use that insight to help identify actions you can take to find your way past whatever is getting in your way," says Rosengren.

You have to ask yourself hard questions, put together an action plan and follow through to create what you want - positive results.