Motivation and the Power Source

First, let’s not confuse motivation with reason. Typically what is motivating you and the reason are two different things. For example, the reason I do Brazilian jujitsu is to remain fit and to be prepared for a fight or flight situation. Those are my reasons but my motivation is the desire to be a great all-around grappler. My teammates getting better motivates me but at the same time seeing them getting better is not one of my reasons for doing it. See what I did there?

A lot of times your motivation may not even be material or physical. Two terms to think about are intrinsic and extrinsic. I bring up these two terms because they affect the power source. When I say the power source I’m talking about the drive or level of intensity you bring when taking action. YEET! Have you ever noticed that a wireless speaker gets louder when it’s plugged into the wall but when unplugged, it may sustain for a short period gradually getting quieter until it dies? Thing is, it can’t maintain that intensity and volume it had when it was plugged in.

“Dude, why are you talking bout speakers?” Because when your motivation is powered EXTRINSICALLY, you will resemble the wireless speaker. When your motivators are INTRINSIC, you will resemble a bellowing rolling loud concert speaker dropping heavy, dirty, nasty, 808s. Let’s be honest extrinsic motivation will get the job done. But if your job told you that they were going to stop paying you, I’d bet the house 85% (if not more) of people aren’t going back to that job. When running extrinsically, as soon as the property or whatever is removed, compromised, or at risk the power source is immediately starting to take effect and our total motivation begins to plummet.

It is key to be intrinsically motivated if you are seriously committed to accomplishing any goal. Being motivated intrinsically is almost like having an unlimited power source. Seeing the smiles on my student's faces while I’m teaching snowboarding is what motivates me. The desire to become a more steezy snowboarder motivates me. Find that inner motivation and hold it tight!