Using Motivators Part 3 – Earning a Wage
Posted on August 25, 2016 by Judy Lair, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
Utilizing a familiar motivational framework can help move us forward. "Work first, play later" reminds us excellent work can be it's own reward.
Difficult or annoying tasks are easy to avoid. Getting started can be easier if you know what motivates you. In Finding Motivation—Part 1 I talked about external rewards. Part 2 explained the importance of Positive Self-Talk. In this post we’re looking at the concept of Earning a Wage as motivation to complete tasks.
Beginning in middle school, most parents start teaching the concept “you’ve got to work for what you want.” Chores must be completed to get an allowance. Homework must be finished before watching T.V. No dessert unless you eat your vegetables first! Paying the price before getting the prize is the premise behind most of life. Using this principle to motivate ourselves can be very effective.
“I’m committed to cleaning out the garage Saturday morning so I can hang out with my buddies playing hoops the rest of the day.”
“I really hate cleaning out my email inbox at work, but I’ll schedule in 20 minutes every day this week and when I’m finished on Friday I’ll treat myself to Happy Hour.”
Using this concept as a motivator is especially useful for personalities who value justice and things being “fair.” Earning privileges by starting and finishing tasks brings an internal sense of satisfaction and freedom to enjoy a well-earned reward. Rather than letting yourself off the hook because you’re an adult, try giving yourself some rules. Dessert may actually be tastier after you’ve eaten your broccoli!
Look for Part 4—Avoiding Consequences
