One of the major obstacles to achieving goals is losing the motivation necessary to finish them. Many times the initial surge of energy is lost after the reality of hard work or set backs sets in. Here are eleven things that can be done to maintain high motivation.

1. Every day, write down your top three goals . This will keep your goals constantly in your mind, creating an urgency.

2. Think about your top three goals and decide what one thing you can finish today which will bring you one step closer to your goals. By doing this 365 days a year, you will be making constant progress toward your success. Progress is a great motivation.

3. Upon awakening in the morning, mentally review your day. If there is any challenge you have to accomplishing your goal, mentally visualize yourself successfully working through the challenge. This mental practice will give you added confidence when encountering this challenge.

4. Keep a journal next to your bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night with a means of more easily accomplishing your goal, write it down. This saves you from losing those great ideas we tend to think of in the middle of the night.

5. At night, in your journal, write down the one thing you feel best about that happened to you during the day.This exercise will help you focus on the positive things that happen to you as opposed to the negative which seem to predominate our thinking.

6. Chart your progress toward your goal. Create a way to visually see your progress through barometers, pie charts, comparison charts or other means. Seeing your progress helps you stay motivated.

7. Develop positive affirmations about yourself and your goals.These will help you dispel negative self talk which inhibits your success.

8. Visualize your success.Mentally practice seeing yourself accomplishing your goal. This "skull practice" will trick your subconscious into thinking you're already successful, therefore enabling you to act successful.

9. Review "why" you want to accomplish your goal.Your reasons for wanting your goals are the motivational thrust needed to get you through tough times. Identify what they are and remind yourself daily.

10. Eliminate negative people from your life. Negative people will look for ways to sabotage you. They influence you with their negative talk.

11. Read books on self development and listen to motivational tapes. Just as you work at your physical health, you must work at your mental health. You must constantly feed your mind positive thoughts

Margo Chevers, author of the books, What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? and How to Get Up on a Down Day, has been providing sales and customer service seminars and consulting to a diverse cross-section of industries for the past 15 years. To receive her free 10 top tips for exceptional customer service, call (800) 858-0797 or email margo@margochevers.com .