The Twin Towers of Motivation

Twin Towers of Motivation

There are many things that motivate people to take action. There is guilt, obligation, love, pleasure, pain, fear and pride for example. But, may I suggest two motivators that I believe are the most positive and sustainable of them all. They help sustain in times of struggle and disappointment and will continue to push and pull you in a direction that you want to go even when you may not feel like it. What are the Twin Towers of Motivation? Hope and Victory.

One pulls you to a desired outcome where the other encourages and gives a confidence that sees it through. For example, I recently started working as a professional recruiter, you know, a “head-hunter.” I help people find great jobs and help companies find exceptional people. Basically, I am a social worker who likes money. It is a “front end loaded” job meaning, you have to put in a ton of effort and work at the front end before you ever start to see any positive results.

The first few months of any job are easily sustainable. You want to make a good impression, everything is new and exciting and learning something new makes everyday a new adventure. But, soon after the newness wears off, and something must sustain you to keep giving your best day after day, even when you don’t feel like it. That something is victory and hope.

You see in high school I won the “Trojan Award” which was given to the person who always gave his best, even if he didn’t play a lot on the football field. I was like the character Rudy who got beat up day after day by the Notre Dame football team but never saw action in the field of battle. The award was a great honor for me and helped solidify in my mind the type of person I am. I don’t give up in the time of testing and adversity. I put my head down and go for one more play. Winning that award, (the “victory”) helped sustain me when I wanted to quit later in life.

I was able to recall my past victory and use it to sustain a current course of action. I thought, “If I did it before, I can do it again. This is no different than the high school football team.” It helped define who I am. I give my best no matter what the outcome.

The other thing that sustains motivation is hope. Hope is the anticipation of future gain or the avoidance of future pain. The bigger your hope, the bigger the motivation. But, if your hope is not clear or if you don’t believe that there is a reasonable chance for success, you will fail in the time of trial and testing. Hope will not disappoint as long as it is true, you keep it clearly in your mind and focus on it.

So, think about it. What obstacles have you overcome in the past that encourages you to keep going? Have you lost some weight, finished a race, quit smoking, graduated high school, earned an “A”? Remember those past successes and let them help you get going now. And where are you going? What are you hoping for? Keep those pictures firmly in your mind and allow them to sink deep inside you so that you can see them clearly. For if the promise of hope is clear, you will sustain the effort and pay almost any price.

Victory and hope. The twin towers of motivation to give your best effort today, and tomorrow.

RJ Regan is the author of “Gambling for Life: Stacking the odds in your favor for more money and great sex”. He can be contacted at www.gamblingforlife.com

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