Most people don’t lack motivation. They just aren’t being pulled by anything.
People in that place might even say, “I’m not motivated.” Maybe you’ve been there before. Maybe you’re there right now.
Motivation comes from the word motive, which simply means a reason for taking action. When the reason is strong enough, action follows. When it isn’t, we tend to label the behavior instead of examining the motive.
“There are two types of motivation.
There is push motivation, which is duty, obligation, or willpower. Something you have to do.
Then there is pull motivation, which is when there is something out there that you want to serve more than yourself. Something that will get you up early and keep you up late. It’s what you’re made for. And when you tap into that, your energy level will explode, your contribution will explode.”
It’s hard not to nod along as you read that, because you’ve lived it.
You’ll work incredibly hard for something you care about, something you feel responsible for, or a future you can actually see yourself in. And at the same time, you’ll drag your feet on tasks that feel imposed, goals you didn’t choose, or outcomes you don’t really care about.
Same person. Different motivation.
A good example of Push motivation is someone who inherits a large sum of money or wins the lottery. If their only reason for showing up to work was “I can’t afford not to,” they probably aren’t showing up tomorrow.
Pull motivation works differently. It’s purpose-based. It’s driven by meaning, identity, calling, or a vision of something better. And here’s what’s interesting. When you’re operating out of pull motivation, you don’t lose energy; you gain it. You’d often do the work whether you were paid for it or not.
I’ll be honest, I’s struggled with helping people figure out what they should be pulled by. Whether I’m coaching leaders, middle school football players, or my own kids.
However, I’ve noticed one thing that pull motivation always seems to require: a clear picture of a future that feels personal. Think about it:
When someone falls in love with their faith, they often have a picture of heaven that feels personal.
When someone falls in love with another person, they have a picture of marriage that feels personal.
When someone falls in love with a sport, they have a picture of a scholarship or a professional career that feels personal.
Pull motivation shows up when the future stops being abstract and starts feeling real.
So here’s the question to sit with today. What are you being pulled by right now?
People don’t lack motivation. They lack something worth being pulled toward.
P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.
Use Your Gifts,
John Eades
Creator, The Leadership Lens & The Optimistic Outlook