Are you on the path to a thriving career, or do you find obstacles blocking your way? What's holding you back? Are you waiting for external factors like company incentives, leadership training, or a managerial nudge? Or perhaps you're hoping for the perfect job opportunity or a cosmic alignment. The real question is, are you your own biggest hurdle?
Relying on external sources for motivation might mean you're impeding your own progress. This concept of external motivation, symbolized by the "carrot" (rewards and praise) and "stick" (punishments and threats), has its roots in the 1940s with psychologist B.F. Skinner's animal behavior experiments. Unfortunately, many organizations still depend on these outdated motivational tactics. But waiting for external forces to motivate you isn't enough. Did you realize that you have the power to generate motivation from within? Activating your internal motivation is key to overcoming self-imposed barriers and reaching your goals.
Many start their journey toward significant achievements with fervor and zeal, only to see their drive dwindle over time. Why does this happen? While setting goals is straightforward, maintaining the motivation to achieve them is challenging. Cultivating the skills to boost your motivation is crucial.
What fuels your motivation? Understanding how motivation functions is complex, but its role in success is undeniable. Whether you're an entrepreneur, artist, parent, leader, or someone striving to excel and contribute to a greater cause, motivation's influence is immense.
Motivation originates internally, sparked by personal motives, desires, needs, or external incentives. It can be extrinsic, driven by the pursuit of rewards, or intrinsic, stemming from personal satisfaction and enjoyment of an activity.
Since everyone is unique, what motivates one person may not work for another. For instance, attending college could be intrinsically motivating if you love learning, or extrinsically motivating if it leads to a lucrative career. Regardless, the impetus to act comes from within. Recognizing your motivational triggers is your superpower.
The journey to harnessing your motivational superpower begins with self-awareness. Understanding yourself allows you to authentically experience who you are. Your path and strategy will be distinct, shaped by your personality, motivations, and obstacles. The more self-aware you are, the better you can set goals and overcome personal barriers. Self-awareness is empowering.
To tap into your motivational drivers, consider these factors:
1. Achievement: Striving to accomplish goals, whether it's career progression, promotions, task completion, or meeting deadlines.
2. Personal Success: Being your best self, achieving life balance, security, freedom, or living according to your values.
3. Mastery: Excelling in your field, competing, becoming an expert, setting records, or reaching professional pinnacles.
4. Self-Indulgence: Fulfilling ego-driven desires, such as wealth, attention, fame, power, victory, or control.
5. Purpose: Finding internal meaning in your actions, leaving a legacy, helping others, making an impact, driving change, and seeking self-actualization or enlightenment.
6. Relatedness: Connecting positively with others, feeling accepted, belonging, and forming attachments to people, teams, projects, or movements.
7. Avoidance: Acting to prevent negative outcomes like shame, anxiety, humiliation, or the fear of failure, punishment, or loss.
Success stories abound, from athletes to students to business leaders, each tapping into their inner motivation. This is their superpower. Discovering yours starts with self-awareness. GROW YOUR GRIT
