The Motivation Savings Account - 100% Interest!

22 April, 2009

• business
• motivation

Paul Ting

Category: General Business

When do you get motivated and what motivates you?

How often do you 'get' motivated?

One of the peculiar things I found about motivation is that it's directly connected to my level of inspiration, perspiration and subjugation.

It means I often find myself motivated not when I'm 'winning', but rather when I'm 'losing'. Well it's not exactly THAT dramatic, but I think you get the point. I tend to 'require' motivation when I'm down, rather than 'use' motivation to keep me up.

Why is that?

Maybe it's a bit like money. When you have money we just tend to 'use' it without too much thought. When we 'require' money, it's often when we 'most need it.' Do we actually need it more when we don't have it? Or has the level of necessity remained the same, and it's just the amount that we have in the bank that is different?

Most people at this point would laugh and make comments about being frugal, investing and making sure they earn more than they spend. Oh it all sounds so simple!

So how is motivation any different? You 'use' it every day, you spend it with friends, on ourselves and for your families. Yet unlike money, how often do you deposit motivation into your savings account? Or are you withdrawing everyday without checking your balance?

After all, it's always been there...

The most difficult thing to swallow is that it IS possible to run out of motivation, but unlike money, we're not taught how to 'make' more of it. What a scary thought!

The worst thing about running out of motivation, is that like money, by the time you run out you're used to a certain lifestyle and you can't imagine life any other way. Rather than see what's going on, you tend to live in denial and believe that it's all a bad dream - until it comes crashing down in an even BIGGER blaze of glory. By this point you're dejected, resentful and depressed.

So what happens next?

Well, the next step in the financial world are the following example scenarios:

1. Bankruptcy
   I'd call this, the mental breakdown and acceptance of screwing up. Unfortunately it can take years to truly recover even if you feel better.
   
   
2. Borrow Money
   I'd call this denial. It's all about people clinging to their comfort zone and continuing their lifestyle in denial rather than addressing the problem. It unfortunately does catch up with them and hurts even MORE.
   
   
3. Stop, Reflect, Elect
   I'd call this 'the hard lesson.' The hard lesson is about well, learning something the hard way. You don't give up, but STOP to lick your wounds, REFLECT on what occurred and ELECT to try it again with new intelligence.

So what are you thinking right now?

Great you say! Number 3 for me.

But wait...'choosing a level of destitution' is like choosing between life in jail or ten years in jail. Why do you want to go to jail in the first place?!

So whilst these scenarios CAN exist, do they have to in your life?

Apply the principals of buying a house or a new car. You need money.

So save some money, spend some money, lose some money and win some money.

The important thing is, if you don't want to 'choose a scenario' and want to make a profit, put more money in than you take out and never ever take your eyes off the balance.