Welcome to Motivational Mondays with Mark Kent your weekly Proactive Empowerment Performance (PEP) talk with Mark Kent.
Last week I discussed with you the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and why intrinsic motivation is the most reliable, consistent and resilient over external circumstances and time.
Now I would like to explain the difference between positive and negative motivation and which one works best over the long haul.
Do you recall I mentioned in last weeks discussion that I would explain how winning an exotic sports car has to do with short term and long term motivation? Well, here goes...
Lets say tomorrow morning at a football field near you there is a race between yourself and I and the one who gets across the football goal line first wins a 100 thousand dollar sports car .
However there is a catch to this, we really don't run the hundred yards,you see we are both given donkeys to ride of equal abilities and speed.
How will you beat me? Well this is how I will beat you. I will go to the hospital and pick up a set of defibrillator paddles with double turbo charged batteries and when the gun goes off I'm going to detonate those paddles right on the ass and you will hear one big yee ha and a lightening bolt across the finish line.
Now you may say that wasn't fair so we get to try it again only this time it isn't 100 yards but 100 miles, how will you beat me now?
Here is how I will win the race. I will develop a positive relationship with the donkey, focusing upon rewards, trust, proper diet, good sleep and conditioning for the long haul. That is how I will maintain consistent effort over the long haul to win the race.
So when it comes to short and long term motivation consider these ideas.
1) fear and pain are great motivators for the short term.
2) negative motivators tend to be consequential based so once the goal is achieved or the negative motivator is removed then the drive to maintain the behavior usually diminishes and or demoralization sets in.
3)Building in positive incentives and supports will maintain higher moral and sustained behaviours over the long haul so you can win the race.
In short taking care of your ass by being positive and rewarding multiple behaviours such as eating, sleeping, exercising and developing entrusting cooperative relationships will empower you to maintain high levels of performance over the long haul.
Next week I will discuss with you how your emotional brain is connected to motivation and how you can improve decision making to enhance performance.
Thanks again for allowing me to serve you and share some ideas on motivation .
To your empowerment, motivation and success.
Mark Kent
