Just last week, I was in the Bahamas conducting customer service training for a large group. The client put me up in a swanky resort hotel with two beautiful pools, a view of the crystal clear Caribbean ocean, and all the food I could want. Oh, and did I mention the spa and 6 heated whirlpools?

In short, it was difficult for me to stay motivated. There I was, surrounded by tanned couples in shorts and bathing suits, while I was running around in business suits and heels. You can imagine how motivated I felt to work in that environment!

So, how did I do it? By keeping my perspective and by motivating myself with rewards. Everyday I woke up early, glanced around my paradise, conducted my programs with enthusiasm, and at the end of the day, rewarded myself with a treat. One evening, it was a massage at their spa. Another day it was a delectable coconut dessert. On a different day, I took a luxurious dip in the pool. I can’t wait to go back!

How are you rewarding yourself for your hard work during this summer? Do you have a quiet vacation planned? Are you watching your kids playing in the sprinkler after a long, hot day? Have you stopped by the infamous ice cream shop for a cold summer shake? Maybe a snooze in your hammock is your version of a mini-vacation.

If you saw the movie “Collateral” with Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox earlier this year, you may remember a scene in which Jamie Fox, who plays the cab driver, tells a female passenger that he takes “dozens of vacations every day”. When she expressed surprise, he pulled his visor down and there sat a dog-eared photograph of a lush Caribbean island (maybe the same one I was on). He said to her, “You see, every time I get discouraged about driving around this dirty city, I take a vacation and go to my dream home; right here on this island.”

How’s your motivation, now? Enjoy your short bursts of rewards all during this summer and you’ll find that staying motivated won’t be the problem; just figuring out where to spend your commissions is!