What is Motivation?
"...the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors"
It's the driving force of why we do things.
You know that state of mind. You get inspired. You decide to pursue something. You come at it with intensity and you persist until you reach your goal. You are in what's called a Flow state.
You've probably also have had the experience of being excited for something, but it never quite gets off the ground or it ends up in the pile of unfinished projects.
We can be actively or passively inspired and both are integral to our motivation. Passive inspiration is when we consume information via videos, books, etc. We might learn something, but we don't have to actually do anything. It offers us new ideas and different perspectives. It may be motion in that we learn, plan or strategize, but it's not action.
Active inspiration happens when we create something, apply new ideas and experiment. This propels us forward. Action is what gets us results.
Many forces spark our motivations - Which ones resonate with you?
Extrinsic motivators arise from outside. They often involve rewards and include immediate and delayed payoffs as well as social motivators.
They include:
- Salary
- Working Conditions
- Status
- Security
- Supervision
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Company Policies
- Trophy or championship
Intrinsic motivators arise within us. They are the reasons we would do something even if we won't get paid for it. We do it for because we like the challenge, find something fascinating or simply because it feels good. They are often based on enjoyment, fulfillment and a sense of community.
They include:
- Work itself
- Meaning & Purpose
- Personal Gratification
- Growth
- Your WHY
- Tied to your Values
Interestingly, Adam Grant, author of Give and Take and Originals, has found through his research that when we can see the positive impact on others, we will stay with a task even if it bores or stresses us out. It's because the Who is motivating us. Who are we helping or fighting for.
Nuggets of Wisdom
Staying Motivated for the Long Haul
The Goldilocks Rule: Humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities. Not too hard. Not too easy. Just Right.
Play tennis with a 4 year old and you quickly become bored. Play with Nadal and you quickly become frustrated and lose motivation. Play with someone who is your equal or just a bit better where you have a chance of winning, but only if you really try. Now you become focused and fully invested!
Measure your progress immediately. Seeing yourself make progress in the moment is incredibly motivating. In tennis, you win the point.
Motivation Fading?
Motivation combines inspiration, activation, persistence and intensity. What may be a surprise to some is that motivation often comes after starting a behavior. Ever had that experience where you weren't psyched to do something, but once you began you were all in? That's because most of the strain is at the beginning.
James Clear, Atomic Habits, recommends having a Pre-game routine. This gives us a game plan so we don't have to make decisions. We know exactly what to do next.
Components of this Pre-Game routine:
- Schedule time for it. Give your goals a time and place to live. This takes away the effort of deciding when and where to work.
- Build a Ritual. "This is what happens before I do..." It's a mindless way to initiate your behavior.
- Make it SO EASY.
- Incorporate some type of movement.Sometimes a lack of motivation is linked to a lack of physical movement. Your routine should get you moving toward your end goal.
- Follow the Same pattern EVERY time. Your routine will become linked to your performance and you'll be pulled into the mental state that is primed to perform.
Keep in Mind
Your mind is a suggestion factory. Pay attention to what it's offering. "I'm tired." "I will feel better when I finish this." You have the power to choose which suggestion you follow.
Discomfort is finite. We have 168 hours a week to work with. Whatever you are working on, it will take up a fraction of that time.
You may regret not completing something or doing a half ass job. But it's highly unlikely you will regret good or great work once it's done. Keep your end goal in sight and plan to celebrate along the way and when you get there!
