Are you attempting to use Motivation when Inspiration would be more effective? Many people think that these two words are interchangeable.In fact and application, they are quite different.
Motivation is based on Fear.It is the fear that says, "if I don't do this thing I don't really want to do, then I won't have this other thing I want (money, love, a job)."In a carrot and stick scenario, it's the stick.
It's also the stick used on us by other people to get us to do what they want us to do - parents, bosses and spouses come to mind.Often they invite us or teach us to then take up the stick ourselves, and use it on ourselves in an attempt to reach an outcome.It is one way children are trained and civilized into society. It is the Make Your Quota or Loose Your Job many face each month.
The problem with motivation is that is ONLY works short term.And since we become accustomed and then eventually immune to repeated motivation techniques, it becomes necessary to apply a stronger motivation to achieve the same goal the next time.This can create an 'addiction to motivation' - as the number of books on self help shelves testify. People are continually looking for the next thing to get them to results.It also creates increasingly negative self talk as results become seemingly harder to achieve and failures become more common.
Statistics show people gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over and over never reaching or at least never maintaining their goal weight, and actually gaining weight overall. This is also why the old-school "Rah-Rah" training will produce a short flurry of change, quickly overwhelmed by the old comfortable status quo.
What should we do instead?Use Inspiration along with or instead of motivation.Most especially use it on Yourself!
Inspiration is a more subtle, yet infinitely stronger, emotion for creating change.Inspiration draws us forward.Motivation drives us forward with the stick of fear.We are literally looking for ways to escape motivation.Inspiration IS fun in action. Inspired Action is light; it flows forward; it carries excitement and surety with it. Our old friend, Motivation pushes action forward, creating in effect its own bow wave of resistance and requiring more effort to achieve an equal or lesser effect.
Properly used, Inspiration is something we want more and more of in our lives.So a taste of it can be positively exhilarating and lead to more and better and easier and long lasting results.
Inspiration does not mean you can take No Action.While some enlightened masters might be able to sit in a cave and call in all they desire, that is not how it works for most of us; nor does that really sound like much fun - caves are hard, damp and full of crawly things.
The odd thing is that the very same action taken with Inspiration flows easily and achieves more than that action taken in the fear of the consequences we call Motivation.
There is an element of Timing inherent in Inspired Action that is totally lacking in action forced by Motivation.It's not logical or rational or sometimes even sensible, but when you are suddenly inspired to pick up the phone and make a call, or write a letter, or send an email, or go to a networking event - the results flow back to you effortlessly.You all know when this has worked for you.Remember when you just 'suddenly decided' to do something on a flash of inspiration and the benefits were tremendous?
Tchaikowsky said, "Inspiration is a guest who does not like to visit lazy people."And this is true.You must be in motion for things to flow your way.But mindless motion generated by fear of the consequences often produces little but mindless motion.
So a little motivation may be necessary to prime the pump, but inspiration will un-dam the river and create a more lasting flow of results in your business and your life.Use it with yourself, your employees and your customers to see increased results in all areas of your life.
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Beth Lane, CTACC Peaceful Sales Coach, harnessed her expertise from 30+ year's business experience as top sales producer, sales trainer and business owner to create Peaceful Selling. This is a program that teaches you to enjoy selling, increase your productivity and expand your income. To find out more about her Sales Secrets and receive a FREE e-report visit http://www.peacefulselling.com
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