"What Motivates You?"

     A dear friend of mine who just happens to be my brother-in-law as well, Glen Kanipe, recently shared a story with me that really got the wheels in my mind turning. A few weeks ago as Glen was working on a project around the house he ended up at a lumber yard several times to pick up supplies. It seemed like each time he visited the supplier, there was this one young man that just always showed up to lend a hand in loading the materials that Glen had purchased. The young man was always eager to help and his eagerness gave off this sense of pride in the job he was doing so well. Glen, always the motivator, complimented the young man on his work ethic, which in turn garnered the reply that "Yeah my boss told me to stay busy and the customers with their purchases." But to Glen it was obvious that this young worker was doing it willingly and with satisfaction at the completion of each successful load into a customer's vehicle. Glen's reply to the young man was something like, "No I believe you're doing such a fine job because you are a hard worker and you're enjoying helping people." To that the young man smiled, said his good-byes, and went on to help the next customer.   
     The title of today's FTM Thought raises a simple yet complex question. In the world there are two types of motivators, extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivators are rewards that we receive for a job well done. These can range from stickers if your toddler hits the cheerios in the potty up to a bonus or promotion at work for the completion of a project that helps your company succeed. Intrinsic rewards, on the other hand are more directly associated with that feeling you get when you know you just did a good thing, when you know what you did was the right thing to do. The "payoff" associated with intrinsic motivation isn't tangible, it's more of an internal, personal reward.
     In society today we have pretty much become a "what's in it for me?" type of culture. Kids are programmed to participate on athletic teams to win first place and get the trophy or medal instead of learning to appreciate the hard work that was put into the effort to compete regardless of the place you finish. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a coach through and through and I want to win because I am competitive to the end, but I'm talking about what we do and why we do what we do. The thrive for the "gold" doesn't just rear it's head in athletics, it can range anywhere in our children's lives from the aforementioned potty training to the straight A's on the grade card, cleaning one's room for an allowance, and even the ice cream for eating your broccoli during the dinner meal.
     The problem is it doesn't stop in raising our children it just transfers into our lives as adults. We get to the point that we do not want to do anything more than we are required to do on our jobs unless there is an incentive attached to the completion of the task at hand. In our relationships many marriages have ended because one or both partners are asking the question "what have you done for me lately?" instead of "what can I do to make this a better relationship?" The "what's in it for me?"mentality is completely counter to what we should be teaching, training, and instilling in our circle of influence that we have contact with each day. Hopefully as you are reading this, it is making sense to you, if so do not fret and do not fear we have the answer provided to us, all we have to do is seek it, teach it, and live it out in our own lives as an example to others we know and all that we come in contact with along our daily walk.
     As I previously said when I coach I want to win and the teams I coach get prepared to compete in such a way that they have that opportunity to win. But to say winning a championship was my driving force would be out of line with my coaching philosophy. Over the years teams I  coached have won many championships, yet the trophies and awards are either collecting dust on a shelf somewhere or they are tucked away in a closet in a tote or box. I don't coach to win a trophy, I coach because over the years I have had so many of the kids I coached come up to me in the grocery store, mall, or at a restaurant and say "thank you" for what they took away from their wrestling or volleyball career. Most of the time their conversation relates to how what they learned in athletics has helped them in so many other ways in life. Now that is why I coach!
     As a principal I constantly challenge our staff that we want to be the best in every category possible, not because we want the credit or glory from awards, but instead it only reasons that if our teachers are the best, our students will in turn be receiving the best care and instruction possible. That is why I want our teachers to be the best!
     You see it isn't about what we get out of what we do, it's all about who we can help, who we can lead, who we can serve, and make a difference in their lives. The motivation that is enduring and most valuable is not going to be measured by how much we make or even what types of awards, trophies, raises, or bonuses we receive. The true value of our time on this earth will be measured by the internal knowledge we gain knowing that we have done all we can to help as many other people as possible with the goal of receiving nothing in return for that service.
     Just as the young man in our story at the beginning of today's message, "let your light so shine that all can see" Matthew 5:16, and always keep in mind "it is far better to give than it is to receive", Acts 20:35. If it is a sticker you need go buy yourself a whole sheet of them, but if you are really ready to gain some ground on intrinsic motivators, then you should be trying to figure out how what you are doing can help others without any thought of what you will get back in return. Remember it's not about getting, it's all about how much you have given to others and how much you still have to give! Have an awesome week and go make a difference in your world!