Being motivated isn't merely a trait like any other. It is a lifestyle choice that comes along with its own ups and downs. In a world that relies heavily on instant gratification, it can be all consuming to want to accomplish everything you possibly can. However, it works toward the sweetest reward of all: success.

Sometimes, you have to tell yourself you’re doing the right thing by taking on all these responsibilities. Seeing the romanticized image of people who are more “carefree” can force you to call all the stress into question: Do I do too much? Did I need to chill, and “go with the flow”? You might even get the whole “dude, do less” lecture from your friends. But ultimately you have to remind yourself how unfilled you would feel if you did that. Not to knock that lifestyle, but as someone who wants to succeed so badly it comes close to consuming them, a simpler way of life just wouldn’t cut it. You have to trust your instincts and plunge forward with full force, as well as the support of your own self-confidence.

3. It warrants celebration from time-to-time

That being said, there should be some type of balance from time-to-time. As an extremely motivated individual, I know my biggest issue is, I never feel like I’m doing enough. After any type of accomplishment, where there should be a feeling of, “Wow, I did it,” there’s a feeling of, “Well, how am I going to top this?” But sometimes that feeling needs to be put on the back burner (not for long, of course) and the accomplishment needs to be celebrated (and maybe toasted to a couple times..).

4. It's going to pay the hell off

Sure, being motivated is full of pressure, expectations and an insatiable need to succeed, but one relieving aspect is the fact that you know when you finally accomplish your goals and dreams, you earned every damn bit of it.

So cheers to late-night coffees and back-to-back meetings.