Motivate Yourself - Others Can't

The following information is from a book that I'm currently reading called; "Principles of Self-Management : The Key to Personal and Professional Success"

Here is a breakdown of some of the key points in this chapter:

• There are two basic modes of motivation - "push" vs "pull", or "avoidance" vs "approach"
• Motivation is typically grounded in two impulses: Fear (of failure, of unpleasant consequence) and Desire (for "success", for pleasant consequences)
• Every individual has a different motivational makeup
• Fear of failure can be a very powerful motivation - but it can also immobilize a person
• The key for the self-manager is to discover one's motivations and to assume the role of and responsibility for self-reinforcement
• You can't motivate other people, you can however reinforce their behavior in hopes of confirming their own motivations

External Motivation:

• External motivation only have short-term effects
• Typically lose their power as we move away form the negative possibilities that frightened us into action or attracted
• People who are primarily  motivated by externals, and don't provide their own reasons for continued effort and growth, are likely to ride a roller coaster of highs and lows
• Provide little in the way of lasting satisfactions
• People that are dependent on external reinforcements/motivation, require it constantly
• Once goal is achieved - they no longer possess any genuine attraction resulting thoughts of something else, something better, has been withheld
• The more we look to others for recognition or approval, the less we are likely to supply our own approval

The Power of Internal Motivation:

• Never-ending and constantly reinforcing
• Finding ways to motivate from within
• Self-approval is the key to self-management
• Difficult to practice
• By internalizing reinforcement, one will be able to replace external rewards with internal.
• An aspect of accomplishment can be discovered in even the most monotonous or routine activities
• Internal motivation capitalizes on the sense of accomplishment

Effective self-manager have a balance of 90% Internal and 10% External.  

The chapter ends off with the ideal relationship between Motivation, Behavior and Reinforcement

Motivation <->Behavior <-> Reinforcement

In this cycle, one's motivation drives the behavior one decides is required.  The completion of the behavior provides the reinforcement which is the feeling of satisfaction and achievement. This in turn confirms and strengthens the original motivation.

The cycle of internal self-reinforcement operates continuously and does not change to external circumstances.