Since we’re all such different people, what motivates one person may not necessarily motivate another. I learned in my years as a volunteer coordinator that one size did not fit all when it came to recognizing and motivating individuals. One person might thrive on public notoriety and recognition, while another wants to stay in the background and have a simple note of thanks or a plate of home-baked cookies. As adults trying to work and build businesses, we have our own motivation triggers. It takes some effort to dig down and find out what keeps us motivated and focused on being productive.
Some people are motivated by money, plain and simple (is money every “plain and simple?”)–they are motivated to work hard in order to amass wealth or purchase items or maybe even just cover the expenses and support their family. Other people are quite motivated by family–spouse, partner, children–it may be enough for them to stay focused on the fact that they are working to provide a better life for their family in order to stay motivated at work.
Still others of us might be motivated by the need to be helpful and productive, or to make social connections, or to be part of a group or team. I’ve also known people who felt extremely motivated to be “on the inside” and make major decisions, affect policy or be involved in community decisions. One person might be inspired by lists and quotas and goals, while another person will find those very expectations make it tough for them to stay focused and on task. Those goals and quotas just don’t mean the same thing.
There are no right or wrong answers really in working to discover what motivates us. It’s really about self-awareness. Taking time to really explore what it is we want out of our businesses and what is driving us, will help us to stay motivated and focused on what really matters. After all, our businesses and our work are just one piece of the much larger pie that makes up our lives and our dreams. The better we know ourselves, the more balanced we’ll feel.