Recent events made me think what is motivating me. Well of course the answer is not straight forward. There are a lot of factors, and these factors tend to change as you get older or as situations change in your life. But still, of course, there are some things deeply embedded in your character that will be always there and keep pushing forward no matter what.

First you start off with simple things. You want to be a good boy, make your parents love you, etc. I think thats the first stage, a stage that everybody goes by. And then you “evolve” into what psychologist call “reinforcement”, which can be either positive or negative. You are motivated to do (or not do) something by either rewards or a negative impact. I can remember a few occasions when growing up that this was a crucial part of my everyday thinking. Leveraging the pros and cons of doing or not doing things and picking the best possible route for myself. Also at times you are also being motivated at impressing others, namely girls (hey, there’s no shame in that. You all did it!) or your peers, but thats really not a good idea.

As you form a character of your own, with influences from your environment, fictional characters, celebrities and myths however, the above motivational schemes cease to exist, or their importance gets denominated over time. You form your own interests, you set your own targets in live and you stop caring about taking good grades in Art or Geography at school.

Unfortunately, we don’t get the change to do that many things in life. Because life is brief, and then you die. And the things you choose to do, should be really excellent. Once I realised that, during mid high-school, I understood that I must set the targets in my life no matter what repercussions they might carry and what other people think of them. That includes my parents as well.

Knowing the above, it motivates you to excel at the things you have chosen to do. You set targets, levels, acceptable parameters. Whatever you chose to do with your life, it better be damn good, and it’d better worth it. This is what pushed me forward back in school, what pushed me out of the army days, what pushed me though my University degree. What is currently pushing me during my PhD and working at the same time (at Cablenet).

Another thing, that always bothered me is that people tend to compare your achievements with others. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. Motivation is really bad when it comes from jealousy. Why worry about others? Worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The race is long, and at the end is only with yourself. Not with your colleagues, not with your friends. Your own personal goals, aspirations and targets should be the criteria for yourself. Of course, that said, whatever you do don’t congratulate yourself too much and don’t berate yourself either.

And a motivational, cheesy quote (which I think its quite nice) for closing up:

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

– Muhammad Ali