This website uses cookies

This website uses cookies. The essential and functional cookies are necessary for the proper functioning of the website and cannot be refused. Other cookies are used for statistical purposes (analytical cookies) and are set only after you have made a choice. More information about cookies.
Blog overview

Who’s motivating the motivator?

Harley Lovegrove
6 responses
I was co-running a master class on motivation last week and although the focus was on motivating others the question came up as to who motivates you and how?  Now I like to think of myself as one of the world’s most self-motivated people but even I get down in the dumps sometimes.

Take this week for example.  I was building a new two day training course on ‘Communicating at Board Level’ (in fact I was getting very stressed about it). I had so many ideas spinning around my head I found it hard to group them in any logical order. And all the while I tried to motivate myself to work harder, potential participants were dropping off the course, making the whole process seem futile. Couple this with mental exhaustion, a nasty stomach bug, some disappointing business results and my favorite football team losing an important match, I found myself getting depressed for the first time in years.  It felt that a cloud had passed over me and would not budge.

On the motivation course, Erwin, one of the participants described self-motivation as: ‘it’s like when I wake up in the morning. I feel so tired and staying in bed is the only thing I want to do. But then gradually my mind goes over the things I need to do that day. I start to think about getting the children ready for school and an important meeting I have to attend; the volleyball match that I must play in the evening and bit by bit my brain wakes up to the reality that I am needed, that I have a small but important role to play in society and that is enough to motivate me to get out of my nice warm bed and into the shower and off to work.’

In my particular case this week, I was re-motivated by just a few kind words from my wife and some support from the person I am building the training course with. Also my stomach bug went away and with it the little cloud that hung over my head.  So I decided to skip off work for a couple of hours (after all it was a national holiday) and I lay in a sun lounger for an hour and later took the motorbike out. 

So who, or what, motivates you when you are down? I would love to know. It could help me to understand how to motivate others better, there’s room for improvement in everyone it seems,

Have a good week,

Harley
Written by

Harley Lovegrove

Harley is a dynamic 'we can do this' kind of person with a successful track record of working for a wide variety of companies in all kinds of sectors. From very small family run businesses right through to giant multi-nationals. Over the last thirty five years Harley has built a reputation for inspiring those around him to rout out and tackle the core problems facing their organizations. Armed with a wide range of pragmatic tools that he has developed over the years, Harley is able to help his clients bring about long-term, sustainable solutions, while having fun at the same time. Harley is a motivational 'people person' who is nonetheless tough on efficiency and delivery. Apart from being well known for his highly entertaining and motivational speeches, Harley is also a blogger and author of four books; 'The Change Manager's Handbook', 'Transition', 'Inspirational Leadership’ and ‘Making a Difference’.

6 responses

Leave a response
  1. V Peter Vandenabeele -
    At this time, it's the words from a nice person I met recently in London having a beer after a Ruby User group: "do what you _really_ want to do, don't do what brings you most money or what other say you should do".
  2. J Jan -
    Hi Harley, yes these dumps can be very depressive. My approach is similar to yours. I talk to my wife or somebody else who is "outside" of this topic and try to explain my issue. Often the answer is: Jan, so what is the problem? Why don't you look from a different perspective? Take some time off, do some sports or hobbies and come back! And of course some supporting words always help :-)
  3. L Laurie -
    My children, close friends and music for me....I always find it interesting that at the very right moment, a favorite song plays on the radio. Sends a clear signal!
  4. H harley -
    Thanks Peter, Jan and Laurie,<p>your reflective comments are the kind that keep me motivated to write my weekly blog... May your motivators always be around when you need them,</p><p>Harley</p>
  5. M Markus -
    Hi Harley, sometimes it happens that you find yourself caught moving in circles and complaining to everybody about how bad life is treating you lately... At the end of the day it is only that you are running low on energy and selfmotivitation. In these moments a healthy virtual kick in the a.. from a good friend and coach has helped me to come to senses again, focus on the truly improtant things and reenergize myself. ;-) Thank god for the courageous people in your life who provide you with a straight and honest feedback to calibrate yourself!
  6. A Axel -
    There are two main factors that will most likely generate new motivation to get me "up &amp; running" again: One is the chance to get things off my to-do list, which almost always makes me feel relieved or literally "lighter". The other one is the hope of receiving appreciation or even admiration by others, for instance those who I do a favor, or who like me for taking care of something, or just my beloved ones.

Leave a response

*Required fields