An year ago I wrote about how to find motivation when it’s gone on vacations. Looking back, I think I may now have a different take on the “lack of motivation” issue.
Basically, I think I was wrong. Not completely, but my idea may be fundamentally flawed.
I quote:
Finding the harmonic way to connect steps 1 & 2 (finding your adrenaline fix and linking it to your job) with the second driver (your personality type) will equal to the conclusion of this post.
Once you found what makes you tick at work will enable you to switch gears as desired. You’ll feel motivated and self-empowered ...
Those things that make you kick are still valid patches to stop the motivational bleed out. Thing is that they are just that, temporary patches that may give you a kick every now and then, but what’s lost here is love.
WTF?!
Wait, it’s still me here! Just bear with me on this one.
In my journey towards cooking proficiency -which I’ve never achieved- I’ve learnt two things (the hard way):
- Never place an empty kettle or casserole on the burner
- Never put too much stuff in a covered casserole
These same rules apply to any job.
If our minds worked as a pressure cooker, with vent pipes that prevent pressure from building up beyond the cooker’s limits, that would be the ideal solution. In fact, this is the way our minds work, but they are not as effective as a pressure cooker. Sometimes the vent pipes get clogged and we explode from the inside in a burst of stress.
Going back to the two lessons I learned, if you are sitting at your desk with nothing to do (empty pot) you’ll eventually get burned out. Having nothing or little to do all day makes the work day drag, lowers our self-esteem due to not being productive or useful and kills our motivation.
These are the posts I have published on Gradkin since October 11th. Check them out:
Don’t get me wrong. I love going on vacations and taking days off. It lets me disconnect from work giving me a -sometimes- much needed breath of fresh air. But as good as having lots of free time is, there’s a down side to taking breaks from your job responsibilities.
One ...
Getting comfortable in a new position is no easy feat for anyone. You may not know the people you are now working with, you will not be familiar with the reporting channels and who does what. Even the most trivial daily duties could pose a challenge to your intellect. The ...
Some people are specially good at selling themselves during job interviews and -are also capable of- maintaining the expectations set during it, once they get hired. But there’s a group out there that once they are hands on with the job, they miserably fail to keep up with the expectations they generated ...
Managers, educators, parents and politicians are always looking for ways to motivate people. That’s why when companies want employees to do something unpleasant or difficult they offer bonuses and other financial incentives. The most common practice to motivate people, also the easiest way to do it, is putting money in ...
Ever felt at work that you are stuck in first or second gear or you are on those days when your motivation is idling. Well, it’s normal. No one can sustain 290 (give or take) days a year at full throttle. If you can you are either alien, on crack ...
I learnt something today.
Yesterday I had a meeting with the director of my program in which we agreed to make some minor changes in my unit. Today I broke the news to my team and they weren’t welcome very cheerfully, especially by veteran staff. Why? Obviously (now that I have time ...
