What motivates you?
July 29th, 2007 - Jarkko
Motivation is a funny thing: Without it we don’t function that well, but when we feel motivated we can do anything.
So, the best thing a boss could do would be to make his people motivated. There is just one problem: we all get our motivation from different things.
That’s why in this post it’s your turn to tell me what you think: What motivates you to wake up every morning, get to work and do your stuff? Check what others have said and share your thoughts in the comments.
And just to get you in a perfect brainstorming mood, here are some links and ideas that motivate some people:
- Money
- Getting promoted
- Financial freedom
- Having an impact on the money you make
- Making a difference in the world
- Making people smile
- Being happy
- Working with great people
- Learning
- Solving problems
- A great working environment
- Having fun while working
- Being unforgettable
- Meeting new people
- Getting on TV
- Being able to spend more time with your family
- Reading e-mail
- Becoming who you want to be
- A better desk
- Fear of punishment
Now it’s your turn. Go ahead, use the white space and tell me and the rest of the world what makes (or would make) you enjoy your work and feel motivated in doing it!
Being my best motivates me. I feel my best when I’ve been productive.
Hi Graham! Thanks for the comment.
That’s a good source for motivation: I have noticed that the opposite, doing less than your best, is one really big demotivator for me too.
But how do you remind yourself to do your best? I mean, you get the great feeling only after you start doing your best. So do you have some special tricks for getting there?
That’s a good question! I haven’t really thought of it that way, but now that you mention it…I do have some inspiring quotes written on my bathroom mirror. One of my main motivators for myself is “Do Something.” That’s what I say to myself when I get down for doin nothing…I say do something and then I do something. It’s not very polished, but it works for me!
Nice Article and Nice Website. I am a person who realy becomes non functional without motivation and I get motivation by trusting and bieng trusted.
I strongly believe everything is created or broken because of this very important element that matters so much.
Every problem can be solved and people do solve it somehow provided their trust in the task and people around is intact.
@Hassan: Thanks!
Trust, together with freedom, is a powerfull tool for building motivation. When people are given the freedom to decide how to do their jobs (not to mention where and when), they will be motivated to come up with something extraordinary.
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog today & it was a pleasant surprise! Ok so at 24 years old, I’m currently at a crossroads in college trying to make the “right” decision. I know that at the core of me, making a positive difference in the world is what motivates me. I’ve had several tell me that teaching is the profession they feel that I’m meant for, and I do feel that teaching would fulfill my need to have that meaningful human connection. My indecisiveness stems from the fact that I have several different interests! There’s no one thing that I can say that I would want to do for the rest of my life……except having that meaningful connection; making that positive difference. Money is one of those “practical” issues that concerns me a little; I just want to make sure that I make enough in a career that I can stand on my own two feet if I had to. As a young woman in todays society, I don’t want to have to depend on a man financially. But I do know that picking a career where making the most possible money is not what motivates me. I suppose we have to just leap, no matter what petty little doubts & questions we may have popping up from time to time. If anything, I’ve certainly learned that “all” is not needed at the beginning of every new start in life………you can, and will, learn along the way.