What motivates you?
That’s a loaded question. Me? Well, I used to be motivated by the wrong reasons. Money. Praise. Success. I used them to try to fill some gaping hole in my self-esteem.
Don’t get me wrong. Those are great motivators. A carrot always worked better than me than a stick. (Threaten me, and I’ll curse you.)
But what happens when the carrot goes away? When the praise dries up. When the money disappears? When success becomes a memory? Trust me — it becomes pretty darn hard to get up in the morning.
I’ve been on a journey for the past few years. When my traditional sources of motivation dried up, I had to look elsewhere. And when I did, I realized that everything I had based my career on was selfish. Selfish to my wife. Selfish to my boys. Selfish to my family.
I’m sure there are quicker ways to Hell. But being selfish definitely puts you in the fast lane. I’ve seen how it can destroy almost anything.
Todd Gongwer has written a book called “Lead…for God’sake.” And it has completely blown my life’s paradigm out of the water. It reminded me the true way to success is to have a servant’s heart (something my cousin Dave likes to talk about.) Money and punishment are powerful motivators. But they don’t last. They don’t pour coal on your enthusiasm’s fire. Leading from your heart does. Helping other people does. Using your gifts to help other people does. Use your talents to help others. That’s powerful stuff.
I have a feeling that this mindset will lead me in a better direction. But in the meantime, it has definitely opened my eyes. I see my wife differently. I see my boys differently. And I see how good life could be.
That’s a strong way to start a Thursday. That’s a strong way to live the rest of your life. That’s strong motivation.