M is for Motivation

I should probably wait until Monday to make this a true "M" entry but I'm inclined to do it right now because I am currently fascinated with motivation.  In this post, I will be asking more questions than giving direction.  Only you have the answers. I believe this is a really important topic because in addition to skills, intellect, interest, and emotional intelligence, motivation is one of the main necessities to attaining and sustaining both career success and satisfaction.

Working with individuals undergoing major career transitions, I often wonder: why do some people have so much motivation and why do some have so little?  How does one go about getting more? 


My colleague Heidi Lender, owner of Careers-Over-Coffee (by the way, coffee just so happens to play a key role in my motivation on some mornings...we'll talk about substance abuse and motivation later....) introduced me to this great motivational video titled, What if money were no object?

Sometimes you run into people who have a little too much motivation and wonder, what makes them tick and could I borrow a little of that?

Are you motivated intrinsically or externally? Are you motivated by your values? Are you motivated by money, revenge, anger, the desire to help others? Is your motivation from a good source?  Does it serve the good for ourselves and others? Are you motivated by the desire to be better than others? To right past wrongs? To bring justice to the world? To put others down?

What if you have no motivation, no desire to get out of bed, or perhaps simply the desire to stay warm and stay in bed (especially if you're from the region of the world I'm from on this cold February morning).

Are you motivated by love? Love of yourself, your family? your friends? your pets? your spouse?  Your children? God? Are you motivated to spread kindness?

To overcome obstacles? To keep it simple?  To use as little energy as possible.

Are you motivated by beauty? Creative expression? To be an individual? To be part of a collective?

Is your motivation to put food on the table or make sure you and the ones you are responsible for have adequate or hopefully excellent health care?

Are you motivated to keep everything in it's place? To keep the status quo and no wake any sleeping dogs? Are you motivated to create chaos or inspire mutiny of the bounty?

Are you motivated to change or to avoid it?  Are you motivated by fear? Are you motivated by sex appeal?  Marketeers and newscasters bank on those motivations.


In 1943, Abraham Maslow published a paper titled, A Theory of Human Motivation where he outlined his observations of the patterns of motivation.  Later he published his 1954 book called Motivation and Personality where he fully expressed his views on human motivation.

His theory is developmental in design,  but how many of us for various reasons are focused on physiological, safety, and security needs.  Let's take this one step further, are those needs reality-based.  I've met one to many individuals who have far more money than the next person who's need for income is so great and their motivation is so strong to earn money out of fear that it stifles their relationships and joy of existence.


Who inspires you?  Someone close to you?  A teacher, a mentor? A parent? Do historical figures past and present motivate you? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Do you have a strong need to connect with others or to keep your space?

What motivates you the least?  Pick one area in your life or job that you really wish you didn't have to do. You avoid it as much as possible.

How do you go about getting motivation to accomplish what needs to be done?  Especially if you're in the middle of a daunting job search?

Is your motivation to avoid conflict or to keep the peace?

Do you wanna get 'er done?  or Just do it?

Are you motivated to motivate others?  Are you motivated to do extraordinary things that motivate others?
Are you motivated to help someone through a tough time or to make a tough time for someone?

In the words of my wise mentor Carmen, are you motivated to fly your freak flag and show the world who you really are?

Are you motivated to make a child smile or a sick person laugh? Are you inspired to give others hope who have it just as bad as you or worse?

Does living a healthy life bring motivation?  Eating healthy, getting enough sleep?  Exercising, spending time with loved ones bring you motivation?

Are you motivated to be a great leader?  If so, you might enjoy these Dale Carnegie leadership videos.

Do your challenges seem to big to overcome?  Check out this clip from The Butterfly Circus.  See if that helps. My favorite line from this film clip is, "The greater the struggle, the greater the triumph."

Lastly, here is a great little article about motivating yourself during a job search.