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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

External Motivation

A company wanted to set up a pension plan for its employees. 100% participation of the employees were required to install the plan. The plan was in the best interest of all the employees and made sense to everyone. Except Samuel, everyone signed up. Samuel's supervisor and other co-workers had tried to persuade him without success. Samuel not signing was the only obstacle for the implementation of the plan.

The owner of the company called Samuel in his office and said "Samuel, here is the pen and these are the papers for you to sign to enroll in the pension plan. If you don't enroll, you are fired this minute." Samuel signed the papers right away.

The owner asked Samuel, why he hadn't signed earlier. Samuel replied "No one explained the plan quite clearly as you did."

External motivation comes from outside such as fame, fear, social approval and money. Fear of getting spanked by parents and fear of getting fired at work are some examples of external motivation.

Breaking Free: Letting Go of the Nuts that Hold Us Back

Monkey hunters in India employ various techniques to capture monkeys. One method involves using a box fastened to a tree or a hole created within the tree itself. This box or hole is designed with an opening at the top, specifically large enough for a monkey to slip its hand into. Inside the box, a selection of nuts is strategically placed. When a curious monkey reaches into the box and grasps the nuts, its hand automatically clenches into a fist due to the tight space.

At this point, a predicament arises for the monkey. Although the opening was sufficient for the hand to enter, it proves too small for the clenched fist to withdraw. The monkey faces a decision: it can either maintain its grip on the tempting nuts and face capture or relinquish its hold and gain freedom. Surprisingly, the monkey consistently chooses to cling onto the nuts, ultimately leading to its capture.

In a thought-provoking analogy, many of us humans exhibit similar behavior to these monkeys. We find ourselves entangled in circumstances where we stubbornly cling to certain "nuts" that hinder our progress in life. These nuts, you are more familiar with than anyone else, act as obstacles preventing you from moving forward. By identifying these obstacles and releasing your grip on them, you can break free and achieve lasting freedom.

Often, we justify our inability to overcome these obstacles by uttering phrases such as "I cannot do this because..." The words that follow "because" represent the nuts we are desperately clinging to, holding us back from reaching our true potential.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Secret to success

A young man asked Socrates

"What is the secret to success."

Socrates told the young man:

"Meet me near the river tomorrow morning."

They met. Socrates asked the young man:

"Walk with him toward the river."

When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socratespulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked,

'What did you want the most when you werethere?"

The boy replied,

"Air."

Socrates said, "That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it." There is no other secret.

A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.