Motivation Is A Balance

What is motivation? Motivation is the reason you act or behave in a certain way. In this industry, motivation is what keeps you on track to your goals and determines how successful you become. Whether you want to work on your internal or external motivation, making sure your motivation is high can be the determining factor in your success. 

Signs of A Highly Motivated Person

We can all agree that the behaviors of a highly motivated person are admirable. We may not exhibit all of the signs of high motivation at once, but we can recognize them when we see them. If we can recognize others who are motivated, it can help us start to implement those same behaviors in our lives!

• Energetic — A lot of energy signifies that you’re ready to take on the day. You may know someone who just never seems beat down or exhausted throughout the day, and it allows them to motivate themselves.
• Positive — You might be able to see the bright side of any situation. Not only does this help reduce your stress, it makes you more motivated to do the job well.
• Focused — Some people are extra focused on the daily job or even the future goals they are trying to reach. When you can clearly see the end goal, it becomes easier to stay motivated to reach it.
• Happy — A general happiness with your life can play a huge part in your motivation. If you have several layers to your life that bring different kinds of joy, you are more likely to stay motivated.

How Are We Motivated?

If you want to become more motivated in your life — or you want to help motivate someone else — the first step is figuring out what kind of motivation you respond to most. This is where internal and external motivators come into play.

Internal Motivators

A person who is internally motivated looks at the challenges of the day in reference to how it means something to them. Their behaviors are driven by a desire to benefit their family, health or personal financial capabilities. 

They are usually also motivated simply by their own standards. When no one is watching, they want to go above and beyond or do the right thing because it will satisfy them internally. They are able to have happiness and appreciate their own success based on their own internal gauge.

External Motivators

A person who is externally motivated looks to those around them to provide the guidance to behave a certain way. They may buy into leadership’s goals quicker or rely on leadership to tell them what their standards should be. They seek approval from authority or need discipline to know how well they are doing their job. 

Being motivated solely internally or solely externally has the potential to fade away. A good balance between seeking approval from authority while still holding strong to your own standards and goals is essential. When you have this balance, you will find it much easier to be motivated long-term because your joy comes from different places in your life. When your external motivation isn’t strong one week, you turn to your internal. When you’re struggling internally for one week, you turn to the structure of authority in your company to find happiness. They must work together for all the different seasons and years you work through.

You Won’t Be Successful If You Don’t Care

None of this matters if you don’t start caring about your success. Whether your success is financial, relational or emotional, you have to care enough to be better. Here at Service Excellence, we address every part of your life to make this motivational balance a better place for you. We’re not robots trying to teach you how to be robots, we’re people. We want to help you work through your specific challenges to reach the goals you’ve set in your life. Visit our website for more information or contact us to speak with an industry professional!