Drivetime: What is it That Motivate You?

I’m not the kind of person that just likes to sit around. When I do sit back during my free time I’m always thinking or writing or engaged in something that perhaps is a bit of a distraction like playing a podcast or watching a TV show. I’m always doing something else at the same time as another activity. They say that you cannot multi-takes but I may be out to prove that theory wrong. I think I have an inner drive; that is, I have something that motivates me and pushes me.

Today let’s explore this. I spend a lot of time driving in a car from place to place. My job requires that I go to places to network and connect with people but often that means putting plenty of miles in-between appointments. I try to maximize my time when I am in certain areas but I am usually in and out of my car often. You could say that I am literally driven by what I do. Last year I doubled my miles over the prior year! In addition, I exponentially gained in the number of people that I meet with face-to-face over the previous year. 

The responsibilities that I carry are considerable less than what I had to do the previous year but nevertheless, I think that there something else that motivates me. Some might even say that there is something that drives me to do what I do. 

What is it that drives you? What is it that get you up in the morning? Are you motivated or do you need to be motivated by some external force? Maybe it’s a boss who is constantly tracking your every activity. Maybe it’s the evaluation that is coming up and you want to make sure that you finish strong. Maybe it’s fear that is your motivator. We could call that the fear of failure or some other insecurity that is driving you. It could very well be something external as well as internal which is motivating you to act snd to do what you do.

I know for me I had to come to a place where I was able to identify my motivations. It was in my Calling & passion, coupled by my strengths, and realized by my opportunities. In order for me to gain an appreciation for what is driving me I has to look deep within. I have a lust for more than what I have. It is not just a selfish motivation but it is something that contributes to my motivation.

The Apostle Paul of the Bible was also driven. He was motivated. It was both a motivation that was internal as well as external. He wrote that he "presses on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ." (Philippians 3:12-14) Essentially he is saying that he is pressing forward toward something that he has yet to obtain. There is a internal motivator that is perhaps an experience that has changed his outlook or it is a part of his personality. We actually can see it prior to him coming to know Jesus Christ; he was a pretty driven individual but that drive was a very selfish motivation. He was seeking power and privilege and prestige. Prior to coming to know Jesus he would go around persecuting and killing the followers of Jesus and those of the newfound sect that was growing.

Clearly, after Paul came to know Jesus he was motivated by his apostolic call as well as a faith in Jesus Christ. The reason for his driven personality was because of his newfound faith. It changed his heart! 

I think that my being busy is at the same time being driven. My wife used to say to me that I have the "hurried sickness". She would say that I was just having to be in a hurry or I just had to be busy. In face, she described it as a sickness because there seemed to be no cure. Psychiatrist would agree with her.

I think it probably does come down to the values that we hold and the interest that we have coupled with the opportunities that are developing. I know that in order to accomplish the objectives I have to exceed my goals in order to complete my mission. Are usually set the bar high in order to achieve more. Some have told me that I need to work smarter but I haven’t quite figured that out. I tend to work harder and I try to be as efficient as possible. 

The issue may be in the values that we hold. From a spiritual standpoint we know that nothing ever done in her own power will last. We know that through our investing in things eternal will have an ever lasting results. If we put our mind on things above not on things seen but unseen, are driven us can take on a new meaning not just busywork. We know that our drive-ness is not for self but for others. We know that it is only what is done for eternity sake will ultimately last. 

So, the next time that you are on one of your commute, during your drive time, consider the following questions:

Why should I do it?

What will last beyond self?

How well what I do make a difference in the life of another for eternity sake?

Will what I do really matter in 5-years or 100-years?

Affirmation Is Leadership: #11 Names are Everything! An 11-Part Series.

Let me introduce you to <>. Do this and you possess leadership in it’s most authentic yet commanding way. When you introduce somebody by what they do or the position that they hold you diminish who they are. Leaders must elevate the status of people and mentioning them by name will insure this will happen. Leaders must be human and nothing says human more than someone’s name. 

What’s in a name? Names invoke the most personal and intimate of every individual. It separates people from the group and is tremendously important about who a person is. It is no longer about what they do or what they contribute to the organization but it is about who they are.

Meeting Tony Dungy personally.

Think about it for just a moment. We put numbers to things. When someone becomes incarcerated we attach their identity to a number. The UPC symbol on every package has a number. Addresses to homes  or even vehicles are identified by a number, usually a license plate or the VIN number.
Leaders use things and value people. Manager simple use people and value things.

A person’s name is who they are. Their whole history, experience, abilities, interests, hobbies, activities, likes and loves are tied to their name. If a leader calls someone by name they invoke a deep level of connection, a relationship that is beyond product and position. Their status is elevated and their importance to the cause is highlighted. I remember a time when I was honored to have the opportunity to meet former NFL Indianapolis Colts Coach, Tony Dungy. When we met I was excited to have the meaningful occasion to speak with him. What was amazing to me was when later in the day, Tony Dungy called my by my first name. It was remarkable that after meeting many that day he remembered meeting me. I am not sure what it was about my name that he was able to recall it but it will forever impact me. It told me that if leaders remember someone's name that it elevates the status of that person and causes them to stand a little taller. It will undoubtedly also raise the level of leadership in that person.

Leadership is affirmation. Bottom-line, calling someone by name is primary to affirming someone.

Read from the beginning.

Affirmation Is Leadership: #10 Optimistic. An 11-Part Series.

Seeing the cup half full is an old adage which speaks of optimism and hope. We’ve all heard this expression. We have bought into this because it is a picture definition. We are people who respond to symbols because they have meaning. When we see street signs we know immediately what action to take. When we see landscapes it invokes a certain level of emotion within us. When we have a word picture it is vital because people immediately know what it means and how to act.

Leaders who inspire are easier to follow than managers who inspect. I contend that the leader’s optimism is key to helping others achieve more and to commit emotionally to objectives and the mission. It’s no longer about the paycheck or the benefits or the time off. It is about the cause of the organization. The mission statement only go so far. It might tell us what we do but it doesn’t explain the motivation from within.

Leaders who inspire are naturally optimistic. Even during stressful times they look for ways to make steps into the future, even if the future is unknown to them.This goes beyond a simple culture of the organization but it is in fact speaking to the very DNA of the cause. People do what they believe in. People act according to their interest.

The reason why I have included this in leadership and affirmation is because an optimistic leader will naturally invoke trust and good will. I believe that this is part of affirmation. Leaders can represent this as a symbol or as a word picture. They say things like, "I like that leader," or "I’ll follow that leader."

When hiring employees a leader will focus on the calling of the cause. Managers focus on competence, the abilities of people. Board members focus on character, they want their mission to be protected. I believe that the calling to the cause is central, all other traits needed can be taught.
Leadership is affirmation. Leaders who are firm others are the better leader. They go beyond simply managing and invoke a sense of calling in the organization.

There are leaders and those that lead. Leaders hold positions of authority over us. Those that lead inspire us. - Simon Sinek

Read article #11. 

Affirmation Is Leadership: #9 Genuine Interest. An 11-Part Series.

Leaders that are effective are people who are well-informed of activities in the organization. They take a vital interest in their employees.

The late Barbara Bush is a classic example. A friend of mine who served in the Secret Service served during the George H. W. Bush administration told me of how she genuinely took an interest in their welfare. He was with the security detail of the president and was often in the White House. Even after Barbara Bush died many complemented her ability to know, care about, and take a genuine interest in people who served in the White House. My friend told me that Barbara Bush kept a very detailed list of all who served and especially the Secret Service detail. When she would meet with each of the secret service she would know not only their family members names but also their birthdays and special hobbies and interest of the Secret Service. She would ask them questions about their goals and receive updates of family members who were sick. This level of interest increased her influence and made her a notable leader.

It is so important for leader to express interest in all their employees as well as members of their family. Some leaders feel as if they should be stoic and distant but an effective leader should receive updates and consistently remember the names of people that they meet in the organization.

Dave Ramsey: “True leadership a servant hood. Put the interest of others at the center of your decisions."

I know personally the importance of this leadership quality. I once served with a leader who would intentionally take time with each individual within the organization. He would spend time as well as have offsite meetings and conversations in order to convey affirmation. This showing of interest encouraged me to work harder and be more committed to the organization because I felt that I was an important part of the organization.

Showing genuine interest in others will motivate as well as help each person in the organization feel connected and it will engage them in each operation, driving the mission of the organization. Leadership is very different than simply managing. Leaders have a responsibility to demonstrate the capacity to lead while also showing a genuine concern for those that they lead.

A caring leader is intuitive, is aware of the small things. She notices a change in the mood of someone and will enquirer after their well-being with open, generative questions which recognizes the individual and what is happening for them in the moment. Global Leadership Foundation, Gayle Hardie

Leadership is affirmation. For leaders who show interest in others it is vital. As a leader recognizes this and intentionally put an effort into showing interest will reap an aw show interest in others is vital and as a leader recognizes this and intentionally puts an effort into showing interest will reap the reward of a positive work culture.

Read article #10 here. 

Affirmation Is Leadership: #8 Say Thank You. An 11-Part Series.

Let me go deeper than my previous article on showing appreciation. As we talk about leadership as affirmation we need to understand how important it is for leaders to say thank you. Say thank you needs to convey more than just appreciation or recognition of what someone is doing. This is why I want to talk a little bit more about saying thank you and this article.

Verbal expressions of appreciation and especially saying thank you is extremely important for leaders. Leaders often are at the higher levels in the organization but they are often distant from what is happening in the ranks below them. Leaders often depend on managers to carry out the goals and objectives that have been delegated through appropriate systems and to teams members. Saying thank you means that leaders must go beyond just using words.

Establishing culture within the organization is a major responsibility of the leader. Manager simply carry out tasks and activities that keep the mission and goals of the organization accountable. Culture within the organization means establishing how we officially both informally and formally say thank you.

Managers typically are not very good at this because they may feel as if their job is to get more productivity out of those that report to them. Yet, leaders create a culture of showing how and developing ways of saying thank you.

Whether that comes from upper management  or it  comes from mid-management, your direct report (the boss), or it is communities from the leader at the top, it is important that individuals not only hear thank you but they also feel appreciated. It’s very necessary for the culture of an organization to permit everyone to be encouraging and to convey thanks-giving to their peers as well as those at all levels of the organization.

Leaders need to develop the culture of affirmation in the organization. It is their primary function because of the benefits to employees and the health of the organization. A culture of affirmation also helps to retain good employees. People stay when they feel that someone notices their contribution to goals and objectives.

Take a break and outline the qualities you believe make a great leader. You may ultimately come up with a list of values and objectives. But this article direct your thoughts for just a few moments on being a transformational leader. 7 Transformational Qualities.

Leadership is affirmation! It is so important for leaders to create a culture of thanks-giving. The organization is driven by the way they are made to feel as well as being recognized for their unique contribution, especially from those in leadership. If the leader doesn’t recognize how important it is to establish affirmation it is likely that you will not retain morale within the organization nor will they retain good employees in your organization.

Read article #9 here.