Watching this dynamic for several years in many different environments, I have come to the conclusion that the real reason that people allow outside factors to influence their level of motivation is because they are focused on someone’s plan rather than on their own.

Let’s think about this a minute.  Most of us either have or are working for an employer. When we do that, we are part of a team that shares responsibilities to provide what is needed to complete the mission of that organization.  Within that environment, we find ourselves working on someone else’s plan and thus the motivation has to come from serving a purpose other than our own.  Or does it?

What are your long term goals?  Financial independence, happiness, early retirement? Now ask yourself how what you are currently doing is helping you to reach those goals?

Stop reading and answer the question.

If you can’t connect what you are currently doing to your long term goals, I would suggest that you will find it highly difficult to be motivated in what you are doing.  In addition, I think that circumstance leaves you with the idea that the people you work with should be helping you reach your goals because you are helping them reach theirs. Right?

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.  –  Jim Rohn

So if they don’t have much planned for you, where do you think your motivation will come from?  Hello!

There is only one answer here.  Motivation comes from within.  It comes from what you are passionate about and from the actions that serve your “why.”

I know many people are frustrated in their current jobs and some may not even have a job which can make the idea of being motivated even more difficult.  But there is light at the end of whatever tunnel you may be stuck in and the better your plan, the brighter the light and better the chance that you will be motivated to find your way out of the tunnel.

So who holds the responsibility for your motivation?  You do.  I used to blame all kinds of people and all sorts of circumstances as the reason why I was lacking motivation. Then I discovered my purpose and created a plan to allow me to serve that purpose and reach those long term goals that I wanted.

Full transparency here, I still have a long way to go.  But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it get’s brighter every day which indicates to me that I am headed in the right direction.

I know this is all easier said than done but the simple fact is that once we stop pointing fingers at other people and take responsibility for our own thoughts and actions, it becomes much easier to find the motivation to do whatever it is that we are doing.

Even if you don’t love what you are currently doing, can you see how it is part of the process to get you there?  If not, you better take a hard look at yourself.  One of my mentors has pounded into me; “Plan your work and work your plan.”

It is no different for your life picture.  Plan your life out and work that plan.  There are many roads to get to the same destination.  Some take longer.  Some are more enjoyable along the way and some are nothing more than gravel roads full of potholes. But if it is a road to get you where you want to go, the trip is worth it.

The BIG question for today; “Will the road you are currently on, get you to your destination?”  If your lacking motivation, it may simply mean that your not clear on your destination.  Maybe you need a new map!

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Barry Smith    7/26/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Quit Pointing Fingers – Motivation Comes From Within! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The 5 Pillars is a project that I have been working on for almost two years and am looking forward to officially launching “The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership” Coaching program on May 23th.

Why the 5 Pillars?  I have spent more than 30 years in the business world and although it has been primarily in the Construction world, the 5 Pillars philosophy works across all industries.  In fact, while developing this program I realized that it can have a significant impact on your personal life as well.

I will break down each Pillar into three sections, personal, business and community. Any growth or improvement needs to start within, with the end goal of influencing the community you live in.  In this post we will take a look at BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

The environment that we live in impacts the way we live in countless ways.  The question is “Is my current environment conducive to my growth?”

BALANCE

Balancing your time between your work and personal life is one of the biggest challenges any of us face.  Understanding your purpose and responsibilities helps you to prioritize your time correctly.

CHANGE

For most of us, change comes about from the actions and requirements of others. Understanding how change impacts you directly will help you to handle it in a productive way.

CULTURE

What type of business culture are you surrounded by?  Is it one you are proud of?  If you can’t explain to someone else what the corporate culture is within your environment, you may not be in one conducive to growth.

ENGAGEMENT

Are you and your fellow employees engaged in the workplace or simply there to collect a paycheck?  Engagement will tell a lot about the business environment you are in.

MORALE

Would you consider the morale in your workplace high or low?  Probably somewhere in between.  What changes at work would increase company morale?

MOTIVATION

Are you motivated by external or internal forces to do a good job at work?  Many of us are able to motivate from within, but this will only last so long.

TEAMWORK

Teamwork is critical in any organization.  Are you part of the problem or part of the solution when it comes to collaborative efforts within your team?

TRAINING

What opportunities are you provided in your workplace to further your skills?  Is there a commitment from management to provide training or is it something you continually have to ask for?

RESPECT

Is your opinion respected at work?  Are you listened to when you have something to say? Being respected and respecting others are difference makers when it comes to personal or corporate success.

The 5 Pillars coaching program will take each topic to a much deeper level.  We will explore open ended questions and how they are directly impacting your life and more specifically in this segment, will allow you to evaluate and understand your business environment and how it negatively or positively impacts your well being and your potential to succeed.

In the mean time, start asking the type of questions that will result in better answers. When you ask “How can I”  you get an answer that will move the needle.  “How can I improve my business environment so that it is more conducive to my growth and the growth of my business?”  Answer that question, act on it, and you will succeed.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY 23RD CALL

RELATED:

• Click here to see Part 1 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 2 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 3 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 4 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 5 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• For more on The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership and to view my video click here
• To view my guest post in the 2013 International Leadership Blogathon click here

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com      5/9/13            photo by author

The post The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership – Part 6: Our Environment appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.