Tag: motivation

‘Where is the money in that?’

Posted on by philipdodson

The stock question is always ‘how does this make money?’. That is the problem with the world, everything has to be about money, never about values and helping other human beings for no gain, other than the massive boast to our own feel good factor.

Happiness is the route to success in life and happiness is a choice for all of us. If you choose happiness, then you would look upon helping another human being as a positive thing to do. You would not look for the financial gain, you would only look at the positive impact that it will have on your well-being.

Many people give up on things after listening to feedback from others, as they are easily put off by the ‘where’s the money it that?’ response. However, some of the greatest ideas ever, never made commercial sense, especially in the early days.

People are successful with ideas because they have a real passion and a burning desire to inspire others about their dreams. It is all to do with the ‘why’ not the ‘what’.

Great revolutions, great inventions, massive shifts in an industry, or new ways of doing things have never been about money. They have been about an individuals ability to inspire others with their ‘why’.

So don’t set out to sell someone something, set out to inspire them.

That is why it is important in life to work out what your own personal ‘why’ is. Why are you on this planet? What is the legacy that you are going to leave behind? What is the point of your life? Why do we exist?

These are deep questions that most of us turn off from or ignore, as sometimes finding the answers is either painful, as we have to face certain fears or demons to chase those dreams. Also, we often feel trapped in our comfort zones (discomfort zones).

Start with our lives, not looking at what we do to fill the hours of each day, but look at why we get up in the morning and why we do what we do.

Often when we do this, we realise that we aren’t doing the thing that inspires us. We are simply doing something to exist, to pay bills, to fill the day etc.

The sooner we all look at our life purpose, the sooner we can get on with finding the thing that we love, the thing that has a meaning for us and thing that we can do for lifetime that will leave a legacy for the people who matter. Then the sooner we become fulfilled.

Otherwise, then what is the point of simply getting up each day doing something to fill time until we die?

It is an over-used point, but an apt one here. You only get the one life, so why wait to find out what you love doing? Then why wait to actually then start chasing that dream?

There is no point in waiting, just start now and never look back, because at the end of your life it won’t matter anyway, but you will have had a more fulfilling life and you will leave behind something meaningful.

Don’t confuse motivation with inspiration

Posted on by philipdodson

Motivation and inspiration are they the same things?

Take motivational speakers, they have their place, especially if they are genuine, authentic and doing it for the right reasons.

However, getting a ‘shot’ in the arm is not enough. If you are looking to them to solve your challenges or get you going long-term (a bit like thinking you can read a book, or go to a seminar or whatever else, that is a one off instant fix) then you’ll soon realise that it is not enough. I am not saying don’t go and listen to a speaker or read a book etc, but beware if you think that they are going to fix your life/business or both, then think again.

The only person who can fix your life is you and that is a simple fact of life. You have to start with yourself, take accountability and then look at your WHY. WHY do you do what you do?

It’s less about motivation and more about inspiration. Not just inspiring others only, but most importantly, you have to inspire yourself not motivate yourself.

Motivation – a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Inspiration – fill (someone/you) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative, innovative and fulfilling.

Motivation is a reason for doing something, where inspiration is deeper more soulful and creates a burning urge to fulfil something to create something.

True leaders inspire with their WHY, so they do not need to manipulate others, their WHY is the inspiration for others to follow. They know that motivation is a short-lived thing.

Great leaders or great businesses tell people their WHY and that inspires people to follow and give unlimited loyalty. They create people who follow and want to belong. Whereas motivation tends to be manipulative and sure that works short-term.

Motivation is a little bit like willpower, it fades without any inspiration and that is the difference between say a coach, who will work with you long term and will inspire you on an ongoing basis to reach your goals, to work out your own inspiration and your own WHY than say listening to a motivational speech or reading a book.

A motivational writer/speaker will just plug you into the national grid ‘blow’ your head off and give you an instant buzz. It’s a bit like a sugar rush, a quick fix, an instant gratification route, that will merely put a ‘plaster’ over the problem. Same as willpower, you can use it in the short-term to achieve almost anything, but it isn’t sustainable, so long term happiness and success will be unachievable.

Whereas a leader or a coach will inspire you to find your solution, which will take time to work and will require discipline and hard work from you to get to the results that you need.

Equally, you can find out your why and then inspire yourself. However, from life experience, it is always better to collaborate with others and get the most for sharing and working with other people.

So inspiration is like happiness – deep, meaningful and with commitment, it will lead to success. Motivation is like a slice of cake, good while you eat it but the buzz fades quickly.