Self-Motivation

Are you more likely to be positively or negatively motivated? Fred Smith gives one powerful self-motivation.

By Fred Smith

As humans we are always motivated, just as on the earth we are always gravitated. The weight we can lift is the amount of gravity we can overcome. In space, where objects are weightless, it takes very little to move things about. Unfortunately we sometimes think of our motivation as if emotionally we were weightless and could be moved easily. Negative motivation is similar to gravity. It is often surprisingly strong and to overcome it takes real effort. Humorously the point was made by the lazy workman stretched out on the ground talking to his friend who was standing up, "Man, you can't stand up there and wish you were laying down…. You gotta make some effort."

Without the positive motivation for accomplishment, the motivation for immobility takes over. This is why we cannot stand still. We either go forward or backward, according to whether negative or positive takes charge. Those who would make progress make it because they know how to develop enough positive motivation to overcome the negative.

In dealing with people through these many years, I have noticed that some people define negative motivation as positive and positive as negative. It has to do with our value structure. For example, I was talking to one of our employees who lived all week to get drunk on Saturday night. When I asked him why he did it, he explained, "If you could just be drunk for one Saturday night, you'd never want to spend another Saturday night sober." The Sunday morning hangover was simply part of the price he paid for his enjoyment on Saturday night. Therefore, our first responsibility is to define for ourselves what is positive and what is negative. By positive I mean "to do what we feel we should do at the time we should do it." Conversely, negative becomes doing what we know we should not do.

One of the strongest positive motivations for me is whether it is healthily enjoyable physically, mentally and spiritually. This requires that I have done the necessary self-analysis to truly understand what I enjoy. Many people cannot. Oftentimes, if you look at a group of people apparently enjoying themselves, you will see those among them who are miserable, yet they feel like they should be there. For example, the person who goes to church from obligation or the introvert who suffers through a high-energy party.

Sitting one night on the edge of a party I started talking to a man who seemed withdrawn and bored. When I said to him, " I believe you're like me and don't really enjoy parties very much." He replied, " I hate them." From his quiet demeanor I assumed he was a bookkeeper or actuary doing an efficient, quiet job, even hidden away in a small office. As we talked he found out that I was visiting his city. When he offered to show me one of the new, magnificent buildings, I eagerly accepted. He volunteered to pick me up the next morning. I fully expected to be toured by an even-paced, lower echelon executive and delivered to the security department who would show me the building. Instead, up drove a luxury car with my new friend at the wheel. He was now a totally dynamic man who pushed the traffic pattern all the way to the building. When we walked briskly up to the door and were challenged by the security guard, my friend gave his name. The response was almost a salute as he was "the man." As sensible and successful as he is, he probably has never asked himself what he really enjoys. He hasn't taken charge of his life enough to say that he wasn't going to do things just because somebody else thought he ought to or just because he was invited.

Years ago I was given a book "How Not To Ever Be Tired." The bottom line: never do anything that you don't enjoy. Obviously, that defies true logic, but it does lead us to make choices about our activities. I implemented the thinking by saving work and activities that I really enjoyed to complete after dinner. That way my evening finished on a high note. The important thing to remember is to take control of our time and be motivated by the investment of this resource, not just the spending of it.