Business - The Drive To Succeed

Business: The Drive to Succeed
Are you motivated to succeed in your work life?
According to Dr. Anders Ericsson's research, motivation is the most important predictor of
success. Simply put, Dr. Ericsson discovered that experts in a variety of fields, including sport,
music, chess, dance, and business, had logged the most hours practicing their craft. "It takes
ten years and 10,000 hours to become an expert," he coined. Additionally, research indicates
that the longer someone works in a career, the less important innate ability (i.e., intelligence)
becomes and the more critical motivation becomes. In other words, the most successful
individuals simply persist longer than others. Why is there such a strong correlation between
motivation and success? Because high motivation ensures comprehensive preparation, which
results in maximum performance and results.
Motivation Defined
Let us begin by defining motivation in very concrete terms. Motivation can be defined in a
variety of ways, including the following:
A motivational force, either internal or external, that motivates a person to act
Capacity to initiate and persevere in a task
Investing your entire time, effort, energy, and focus in your work
Capacity to work diligently despite obstacles, boredom, fatigue, stress, and the desire to do
something else
Motivation entails doing everything possible to maximize your productivity.
Motivation's Effect
However, stating that you are motivated to achieve your goals is one thing; demonstrating that
motivation through actual action toward those goals is quite another. Motivation is critical
because it has an effect on every aspect of your business endeavors:
Preparation
Persistence
Physical well-being
Lifestyle
Outcome
Matrix of Motivation
Each businessperson has a unique motivation that propels them toward their objectives.
Motivation is classified into two dimensions in the Motivation Matrix: internal vs. external and
positive vs. negative. Each of the four quadrants that result can provide motivation, but they will
produce significantly different experiences and outcomes.
Internally positive: adversity, desire, passion, fulfillment, and self-validation (outcome:

successful, fulfilled, happy).
External-positive factors include recognition and appreciation from supervisors and coworkers,
financial rewards, and a secure life (outcome: some success, mostly fulfilled, dependent on
others for continued success and good feelings).
Threat, fear of failure, inadequacy, and insecurity are all examples of internal-negatives
(outcome: considerable success, high rate of burnout, unhappiness).
External-negative: Fear of job loss, lack of respect from boss and coworkers, financial strain,
interpersonal pressure, unstable life (some success, anxiety-ridden, unhappy).
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Clearly, the optimal type of motivation is internal-positive, as it originates from a position of

strength and comfort. Simultaneously, research indicates that many successful business
executives are motivated by insecurity or a desire for attention, implying that either an internal-
negative or external-negative motivation can result in success (though rarely happiness). Which
quadrant do you believe you are a member of? If you are not in the internal-positive quadrant,
you may want to reconsider your motivations and work toward achieving that position in the
matrix.
Effort vs. Objectives
It's actually quite straightforward. Generally speaking, whatever you put into your work efforts is
what you will receive. Additionally, if you are working with a group of equally capable colleagues
or businesses, the one who invests the most time and effort will be the most successful. A
common issue I see among many people in today's business world is a disconnect between
their efforts and their objectives. When I speak to groups of young businesspeople, I always
inquire about how many of them have lofty ambitions, such as promotion to senior management
or founding their own company. Everybody raises their hand. I then inquire as to how many
people are doing everything possible to accomplish their goals. Only a few hesitant hands are
raised. This indicates to me that there is frequently a disconnect between their stated goals and
the effort they devote to achieving them. It's simple to declare your desire to be a successful
businessperson. Making that a reality is much more difficult. If you are experiencing this type of
disconnect, you have two options. You can either set lower goals to match your effort or set
higher goals to match your effort. There is no such thing as a correct choice. However, if you
are truly motivated to succeed, you should ensure that you are putting in the necessary effort to
accomplish your goals.
The Struggle
Due to the demanding nature of the business world, you will almost certainly be assigned tasks
that will take you well beyond the point of enjoyment and excitement. This point is what I refer to
as The Grind, which begins when things become stressful, exhausting, and tedious. The Grind
is also the tipping point. The Grind is what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who
fail. When businesspeople reach this point, they either ease up or give up because it's simply
too difficult. However, truly motivated businesspeople persevere through The Grind.
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Numerous corporate psychologists will assert that you must be a fan of The Grind. Except for a
few extremely motivated businesspeople, I believe that love is not in the cards because there is
little to love about The Grind. However, how you respond to The Grind is a spectrum. It's
uncommon to find someone who adores the grind. At the polar opposite end of the spectrum is
"I despise The Grind." If you feel this way, it's unlikely that you'll remain motivated. I propose
that you neither love nor despise The Grind; rather, you accept it as a necessary component of
achieving success. While the grind may not be pleasant, seeing your efforts pay off with
success is.
Principal Motivator
Primary motivation entails working diligently and consistently in the face of adversity. It entails
going above and beyond to accomplish your professional objectives.
The foundation of primary motivation is what I refer to as the three D's. The initial D denotes
direction. Prior to achieving prime motivation, you must consider the various directions your
work can take. You truly have three options: abandon your current line of work and seek new
opportunities, maintain your current level, or strive to be the best businessperson possible.
The second D stands for determination. With these three possible directions, you must choose
one. None of these directions are necessarily correct or incorrect, nor are they necessarily
better or worse; they are simply your options. Your choice will determine the amount of time and
effort you devote to your work and the level of success you achieve as a businessperson.
The third D denotes commitment. Once you've made your choice, you must commit to it. If your
goal is to become a truly successful entrepreneur, this final step, dedication, will determine
whether or not you have primary motivation. Your commitment to being your best and to your
work will then take precedence. Only when you are completely committed to your direction and
decision will you have the primary motivation necessary to achieve your professional goals.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/201005/business-the-drive-succeed

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Business: The Drive to Succeed

Are you motivated to succeed in your work life?

A motivational force, either internal or external, that motivates a person to act

Capacity to initiate and persevere in a task

Motivation entails doing everything possible to maximize your productivity.

Internally positive: adversity, desire, passion, fulfillment, and self-validation (outcome:

Following the advertisement, the article continues.

Clearly, the optimal type of motivation is internal-positive, as it originates from a position of

Effort vs. Objectives

Following the advertisement, the article continues.

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