Are you somebody that is motivated by intrinsic or extrinsic motivation factors? Are you someone that generally finds yourself highly motivated or are you more often than not down in the dumps?
You are motivated when you are feeling self-confident and positive, when you feel yourself full of get up and go. You have the energy and drive to take your life forward and you’re excited by your future and what it can bring. Motivation comes from a belief in yourself, your ability and the things you are doing.
Let’s look at a definition of the word ‘motivation’:
Motivation is the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal and elicits, controls, and sustains certain goal directed behaviours. Motivation is defined as the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviours. Motivation is what causes us to take action.
Motivation determines the reason for an individual’s behavior, more specifically: the goal-oriented behaviour of a person.
When speaking of motivation we can differentiate between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is when we attempt to satisfy a desire, expectation, or goal without being influenced to do so by another person, or by an external incentive or reward. We determine our own goals and expectations, not someone else. Intrinsic motivation is sometimes referred to as self-motivation.
Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we are compelled to do something or act a certain way because of external factors. These might include incentives and rewards or even punishments. Someone else usually determines the goals or expectations.
I was speaking to somebody that was a little embarrassed to admit that they couldn’t wait to get back from holiday and get back to work. Well I for one believe there is no shame in loving the work that you do. In his particular case he is building a business that excites him, that is taking shape day by day, getting close to completion, and the motivation that this brings him is the driving force behind much of what he does.. The idea that he is creating something new which will bring success to many other people, is driving him on, as of course are the rewards that which will come his way at the end of a hard-won battle.
It was important for both him and his family that he took a break. He has been working intensely without a rest for way to long, and spending hours on end at his computer unable to spend the time he would like with his family. He needed not just time to recover, but valuable time where he could be with those he loves.
So much of the motivation that keeps him going is not the rewards waiting for him at the end of the rainbow. Of course this is important, but it’s not the thing that gets him to work until 3 or 4 in the morning. It is the process of building what it is he is creating. It’s knowing that in time he will be able to look at his finished masterpiece, and think, “I’ve done that. ”
His journey has hit many obstacles, but his goal is so precise that nothing can break the motivation he feels from the belief he holds that one day this goal will be achieved. His goal is never far from his mind. He is motivated intrinsically. He wants what it is he wants for his own reasons.
His business partner is completely different. He is someone driven by helping others, changing their lives, bringing them opportunities that they’ve been missing out on so far in their lives. But this means his motivation is driven by the reaction of others.
He is extrinsically motivated. He needs to receive the praise of others. He needs to know his done well by them.
Does it matter how different these two people are. How opposite their motivations are. Not at all. What matters is for you to know whether you’re more motivated from within, or if you derive more of your motivation from external factors. Whether you are driven by Intrinsic Or Extrinsic motivation, the thing is you’re motivated.
As long as you are motivated you are going to be driven to achieve something. You won’t be one of those persons who spends most of your working day sitting and staring at your to-do list, finding no inspiration at all.
Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.
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