I love motivation. Getting fired up. Whether that is through exercise, people around me, a great book or content.
For example, I love short videos like this before I hit the gym in the morning, or on the way into the office.
Daily I look for new ways to find extra motivation. This could be through seeing a team member succeed, driving an exceptional result for a client, learning something new, or breaking through a barrier.
Motivation is important. Motivated people do more, and deliver more. A recent Hay Group (Management Consulting firm) study on motivation and revenue found that engaged consultants delivered more than $72,000 in revenue than their unmotivated counterparts. (I will talk more about motivation and engagement in future posts. Dan Pinks book on Drive brings a great perspective to a heavily studied area)
But is it motivation alone that drives their outcomes?
I don't believe so. Motivation can give you a start, be an enabler, it can push you through a roadblock, give you that extra 10%. Call you to action. But at some stage it will let you down. That alarm clock will go off and you will not want to jump out of bed and dominate your world, or be full of energy. On those days you will need more!
Your habits, your rituals, your schedule these deliver results. Your motivation then becomes a bonus or an inner voice pushing you to do more.
Jim Rohn stated it this way “Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going”. Without habits and discipline, you will not succeed to your fullest potential.
Recently I saw a great video by Brendan Bouchard about triggers.
I love his thoughts on triggers (specifically door frame triggers) and having keywords you think about when you walk through particular doors. Words that both remind you of your habits/rituals, and call you to action. For me this is more than Motivation. It is forming a mindset and reinforcing your habits and rituals.
Let me give you an example of how this helps.
1) Office Door Entrance As I hear the security pass beep, my trigger is "This is where I'm successful". I have said this so many times as I walk into the office that it has become part of my DNA. I no longer need to say the words but subconsciously think this each time I enter. No matter what happens during the day this holds true. It reminds me of what needs to be done and calls me to action.
2) Boardroom "Present and prepared" is my trigger. This reminds me that I need to be present. There for my team or customers, actively listening and engaged. Prepared - I am ready for the meeting, have an agenda, focused on outcomes but also ready for where the meeting could head. I don't wing it, I have considered the angles, the other points of view. Having this trigger (and being intimately aware of it) drives habits that deliver results.
3) Salesfloor On the door to our Salesfloor the team and I have our triggers on the door as a visual reminder. Whether it be a statement or a symbol, they are there for us all to see.
Our team has embraced this concept as per below:
My trigger for the Salesfloor is the Jumpman symbol.
The symbol of Michael Jordan. It is personal for me. As a basketball player I grew up with Michael Jordan setting the example of what it is to be the best. For me this trigger is both aspirational and motivational. This symbol is the embodiment of excellence and drive. Michael Jordan is the pinnacle of his profession, the GOAT, his work ethic was unrivalled and he lifted the team around him. This trigger reminds me that I need to give 120%.
For me this symbol sets a standard for me to drive towards. A picture is worth a thousand words. The following quotes come to mind
· Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen!
· Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
· Learning is a gift, even when pain is your teacher.
· The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.
· If you quit once it becomes a habit, never quit.
· I can accept failure, everyone fails at something, but I can’t accept not trying.
These triggers form part of my rituals and habits.
Triggers are personal for everyone. Consider what works for you.
What triggers do you have that drive you in to action on remind you of what needs to be done?
Do you have triggers that you use to drive results? Comment with your thoughts.
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