Joris Voet <joris@mail2.tornado.be> made the following retort:
>... In my eyes, saying that this is "caused by a lack of
>motivation" is not an answer. Saying that is nothing more than saying
>that one does not "really" want it. My question concerns things that we
>"really want" to do, but still do not do. I may feel really very much
>motivated to stick to the diet which must make a much lighter person out
>of me, and still... You may feel very motivated not to quarrel with your
>kids again, and still...
and he goes on to outline how his "motivation" does not generate action.
Then Archie Kregear <kregear@lims.lockheed.com> outlines a strategy that
works for him (and many others, including me) to generate outcomes:
>...Thus, let me outline how I overcome (it is a continual ongoing effort,
>don't think that I have arrived) the inertia of life's influences to
>accomplish that what I believe to be of value....
then outlines the idea of writing them down and linking them to actions.
I would have to say that we often get confused with semantics. If I wish
something would happen, this is different than if I am determined to make
something happen. The latter will only fall short after I have failed in a
major way after trying with all my strengths, abilities and passions.
The "wish" might happen if I am lucky with a lottery ticket, or if it is
convenient. The word motivation does not serve us well in this context
because it is subject to varied interpretation.
I am reminded of the roles of the chicken and the pig in creating our
bacon and eggs breakfast. The chicken is involved but the pig is
COMMITTED!
So if you do not reach your goals, there are no excuses. There may be
failure. In fact, if we always achieve our goals then we are not setting
them high enough! But failure will cause us to redouble our efforts and
try alternative strategies with renewed energy.
To reinforce Archie's point, the longitudinal study at Harvard twenty
years before found only 3% of the graduating students had written goals.
When interviewed, that 3% were not only happier, healthier and satified
with their progress and status, but, by now, they also had amassed a net
worth that exceeded the other 97% COMBINED!
Compelling statistics which support what Maxwell Maltz first asserted in
his Psycho-Cybernetics book long before the world heard of Tom Peters and
the other "instant solution" specialists so common today....Keith
--Keith Cowan <72212.51@CompuServe.COM>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>