P=MV

 "In symbols; linear momentum p is defined p=mv whereas m is the mass of the system and v is velocity".

Momentum is a curious thing.  Newtons first law states that any object that is at rest will stay at rest & any motion that is in motion will stay in motion.  

While in space or a vacuum, we can all visualize this.  But on earth, forces such as gravity and friction have the ability to stop objects.

How do we get the object started?

How do we keep the object moving?

How much force is required to keep that object moving?

How quickly do we want the object to be moving?

All of these scientific or physical questions can be applied to Task Momentum, and Emotional Momentum.

An example of task momentum is writing this blog.  To start a task you need a reason.  To continue a task you need affinity, purpose and/or pleasure.  To get to completion can be the realization of a goal.  It can be very easy to start something, but difficult to complete.  Having discipline, and pushing past roadblocks with the end goal in mind can help this task be a part of your routine.

Similar to the laws of physics that can stop an object, there are going to be natural forces that get in your way!

With this blog, there is no end in site.  It is something that I hope to continue doing for the foreseeable future.  I thought there would be a gradual increase in audience over time.  In fact, it has been the complete opposite.  There was a major flux to begin, and it has been less every post.  

This brings me to the purpose or pleasure part of maintaining momentum.  If just one person can get something out of this, or enjoys reading this, it is worth it!  

Emotional Momentum can be a more complex task.  It can be personal, or in the case of a team, a group looking to maintain a certain edge over a prolonged period of time.  

According to Rob Jolles, Emotional momentum is hard to sustain because there are no immediate measurable goals.  There can be an easy fix; set small goals that break down the timeline of what you want to do or where you want to go. 

 

For many, this means falling in love with the process.  You can gain confidence by knowing that daily investments into whatever you are doing, will pay off at some point.  

For my team, I asked them to keep our groups' Emotional Momentum for 6 months after a hard playoff loss in 2020.  Each player and coach took the result hard, and were eager to get back after it as soon as possible.  But there were no games in the foreseeable future for us to prove ourselves.  We would have to wait until the new season.

Then a global pandemic hit!  My ask of maintaining this momentum went from 6 months to a year and 6 months!  Lucky for us, in the part of Canada we live, we were able to train as a group and put in the work on a daily basis to allow us to see short and long term goals.  

I was amazed at how the group was able to focus on a daily basis!  Their passion and intensity never wavered.  The group came to the gym every day and competed at an intensely high level against one another in practice.  It was also the most committed to weight training I had ever seen a team.  

They took it upon themselves to hold each other accountable to where they wanted to go, and how they wanted practice and training to look like.  It was a very rewarding year despite the circumstances.  I am a lucky coach!

A momentum maintainer.  Another way to define a Daring Optimist

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MS