Motivation comes in many forms for many different scenarios – my question for you this week is – what is your motivation?
Strangely, I’ve never been what I term “coin operated”, I don’t necessarily gravitate toward money or the accumulation of it. Even though I grew up in poverty I’ve always felt confident in my ability to generate some form of income and not really worry too much about money.
I learned that this is a slippery slope, because on two occasions my motivation has been money and, on each occasion, I have crashed and burned…
During my football career I was paid to play for various clubs, as the years progressed and I moved to a new club my fee weekly match payments increased. It was during one of these years that I decided to ask for an exorbitant amount of money to play for this particular club. They agreed to my terms.
It was clear, although not at the time, I was motivated by ego and greed…
And so, after they accepted my request I asked for a transfer from my existing club, for which I was paid commensurate to my abilities and was performing well. The lure of a major league team and all the trappings clouded my motivation and focus.
When I got to the new club it soon became obvious that I was not one of the head coaches preferred players, and after a falling out of sorts was relegated to the reserve grade team. This was not only a kick in the ass for my ego, but also for the amount of money that I had requested because in the fine print it stated that if I wasn’t playing first grade my match payments dropped considerably to a point lower than my previous club.
Both my ego and my bank account took a major hit…
Yeah – my motivation proved my undoing. What I thought I learned was that you should never only take an opportunity because it was for more money.
What I needed to do was to look at the big picture and move for reasons other than money – aspects like club culture, team orientation, my potential role in the team, future opportunities and the like…
If I had of taken the time to orient myself to the culture of the club, the coach’s style and my teammates. From the moment I walked into the club I realized, albeit too late that the culture of the club and the coach’s authoritarian style did not suit me or my playing aspirations.
This was a hard lesson but one I had to make clearly.
At the end of the season, I asked for and received a transfer to another club in a distant league, but this time prior to signing on to any club I understood a significant amount of research to understand the team, its culture, coaching styles and teammates. This move also coincided with me going back to my regular match payments and playing first grade football regularly.
Strangely, the new club I transferred to was in a state league which was another step up from my prior club. Most importantly the shift in me and my approach to my personal motivation was irrevocably changed.
No longer was money my main motivation, but more how I would fit within the structure, and how the coach and I were able to work together to bring out the best in my abilities and for the team to flourish.
Now, you may think that’s a good story but only a single situation.
Years passed and I had ended my playing career and seemingly had forgotten this vital lesson and went through a similar situation where I was lured by money and title to move companies.
You know the outcome already…
My tenure was with the new company lasted a year but was fraught with challenges and confrontations and failed miserably, which was on the cards from the very beginning, and so had to regather myself and start all over again.
Over the course of my career my personal motivations were tested time and again, with many tempting opportunities however with each of these temptations came the stark reality of the internal talk with myself and a revisiting of my personal motivations, including one this week as it so happens…
These roles, although tempting did not align with my motivation or direction in my career, but more of a distraction and test of my fortitude and resolve.
Not all motivations are created equal. I also realize that each of us is motivated differently, and that just because my motivation may not be money it may be yours (at least at the moment) we each need to look deeply within to understand what is the most important motivation for you and where you are in life.
Sometimes it’s all about timing and what may be good for you today, may not be good tomorrow. This mental flexibility and self-reflection are essential to you living your best life while being aligned with your beliefs, values and core motivations.
Now is the perfect time to check in with yourself to see if you’re aligned with your core motivations.
Until next week.
Ciao!