How to Unlock the Secrets of Motivation

Unlocking the Secrets of Motivation

I. Overview

















II. Self-Motivation

Why is self-motivation important? Two reasons immediately come to mind:

1. The above question is like asking an automobile owner, “Why is gasoline important?” A car won’t take you very far without fuel. Similarly, your dreams, goals, and plans won’t take you far without motivation, for it is the fuel that drives your actions.

2. To accomplish major achievements, we need the cooperation of others. To reach our goals, we need to persuade and motivate others to provide the help we need. But unless we ourselves are motivated, we won’t be able to motivate others.
So, what are some things we can do to cultivate self-motivation?

1. Don’t be afraid to be dissatisfied or unhappy. Rather, allow yourself to deeply feel the emotions and use them to catapult you to success, for as
St. Augustine taught, “What you are must always displease you, if you would attain to that which you are not.”

2. Whether a caterpillar is aware of it or not, it will transform into a butterfly. You, however, are different. Unless you are aware that you can change, you will remain the same. Study the biographies of successful people, watch motivational videos on YouTube, observe everyone you admire, and realize that because we share the same human nature, we are equally capable of making great changes in our lives.

3. Think about the consequences of acting and not acting. How do the results differ? Which result do you want?

4. We can make big changes by beginning with small actions. Don’t let the size of your dream intimidate or overwhelm you. You can reach any goal by starting with baby steps.

5. Ask yourself whether you are living on autopilot or consciously doing what you want to do throughout the day. Take time to reflect and discover what excites you, for that which excites you, motivates you. Don
t try to push yourself to success; rather, let your passion pull you to your goals.

III. Motivating Others

We already understand that before we can motivate others, we must be motivated. Here are some additional points to consider:

1. Humans have a need for praise, recognition, and appreciation. So, when you recognize and encourage others, you are performing a great service and making them willing partners in your endeavors. Just remember that we cannot make people great by belittling them. On the contrary, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” (
Leo Buscaglia)

2. Believe in those you interact with, for people rise to our expectations of them. And “Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.” (
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe) Also, we increase the behavior we praise.

3. People respond to challenges because their achievement make life exciting and exhilarating. Just remember to first provide the necessary environment and resources to accomplish the task.

4. Inspire a can-do attitude in others by sharing stories of great men and women. For example, when American
General Chesty Puller found himself and his troops surrounded by 8 enemy divisions during WW2, he said to his men, “All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us... they can’t get away this time!”

5. Tell those you wish to motivate where what you want them to do will take them and how it will benefit them.

6. If you must criticize, do it sandwiched between two layers of praise, and remind them of the confidence you have in them.

7. As Joan Manley said, “The best direction is the least possible direction.” In other words, don’t interfere; don’t micromanage.
Jack Welch adds, “Make people believe what they think and do is important, and then get out of the way while they do it.”

8. If you’re good to your friends, family, and coworkers when things are going well, they’ll support you during tough times

9. Before we can motivate others, we need to understand their needs, desires, and the position they are in.

10. Engaging in
active listening allows and encourages those you interact with to fully develop and become of greater service, for as Brenda Ueland explains, “When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life.”

IV. Caveats

1. Although you will want to recognize and praise others in the workplace when warranted, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you should praise all equally. After all, if someone makes a remarkable contribution and receives no more praise or recognition than those making smaller contributions, he or she may feel slighted and grow less inclined to continue working to the same degree.

2. Be watchful how you mete out criticism. Often, the most creative and talented people are also the most sensitive. So, word your comments carefully. They are also less likely to get offended if you involve them in the solution to the problem. That is, ask for their recommendations on resolving the issue at hand.

3. Remember that we cannot make people great by belittling them. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. (Donald Laird)

4. The fire of motivation needs to be regularly rekindled. Left unattended, the flames may sputter out. In a word, motivation needs to be maintained; don’t neglect it.

Much can be said about motivation. Here we have just scratched the surface, but you will be able to fill in the blanks by referring to the following references and the accompanying articles by our guest writers.



Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Usby Daniel H. Pink 

Motivation in 7 Simple Steps: Get Excited, Stay Motivated, Achieve Any Goal and Create an Incredible Lifestyleby Marta Tuchowska

Motivation: Getting Motivated, Feeling Motivated, Staying Motivatedby Justin Albert 

Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivationby Edward L. Deci with Richard Flaste

Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work . . . and What Does: The New Science of Leading, Energizing, and Engagingby Susan Fowler

Motivate to Win: How to Motivate Yourself and Othersby Richard Denny

100 Ways to Motivate Yourselfby Steve Chandler

100 Ways to Motivate Others

by Steve Chandler


Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation

Scott Geller
: The psychology of self-motivation

How to Motivate: The number one thing you must do to motivate people


26 Page Report on the 4 Laws of Motivation


cultivating fire: keep your motivation high


The Laws of Motivation

© Chuck Gallozzi
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