The scene from "Biloxi Blues" where Matthew Broderick's character kept asking, "Is the heat getting hotter?" was looping in my mind. Indeed, the surface of the sun may well have been a cooler place to spend the day.
I was standing at the base of the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. I had just been to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, marveled at the treasures of civilization's cradle, and was having a great time with my wife and college buddy. I was constantly intrigued during my stay, but my experience before this colossus of geometry was sublimely spiritual.
As I marveled in serene wonder, a ruddy Frenchman approached me. He and I, on that cauldron of a plateau, shared a moment of awe. The Frenchman asked, half rhetorically, "How could so primitive a people build such a magnificent and enduring structure?" He explained that he was an engineer and understood the immensity of what stood before him. How indeed was this accomplished? Thus began an exchange that has stayed with me, over a decade hence.
"Gods", I answered, "gods".
"What do you mean?" he mused, genuinely interested.
"Well, the pharaohs were these people's gods, and their gods were their lives. Their place in this life and the next depended on their service to the gods. Slave labor was used, to be sure, but even those forced to contribute to this work did so because their lives--and afterlives--depended on it."
"But", he protested, "we have so much more advanced technology, and we have yet to duplicate their feats."
"Sure, but we aren't as motivated, are we"? Was I having an insight, or was the heat getting hotter? "In many ways, science and exploration are our 'gods'", I offered. "In service to them, we've altered genes, split the atom and explored the moon. We've performed deeds just as inspiring as building pyramids without bulldozers. With the proper motivation, we can do anything."
"I suppose you're right," was his uncertain reply.
"Oui. I suppose so"
As the sun hit its zenith for the day and my fellow traveler wandered off to cool down, the meaning of our chat hit me. From that ancient place a perspective came. Life is a worship of sorts; a constant testimony to what we believe in and what we believe is possible. Those beliefs drive us to do everything in our lives. Motivation, then, is intensely personal. It's all about you--your priorities your goals, your passions, and your rewards. Essentially, I discovered, no one can motivate you. Others can merely affect the conditions through which your motivations are realized.
If Denzel Washington were to perform by reading the back of a cereal box, I'd probably pay to behold it. He's just that good of an actor. Yet even an accomplished actor needs a script from which to work. A good script provides not only the current action but a "back story" that lets the actor know why he or she behaves as he does. Without this direction, even the great Denzel's immense talent would be a rudderless barge drifting into the ether. His effort would be for naught because he wouldn't know how to act.
The world is full of opportunities, but sadly, only a minority actually takes full advantage of them. So many of us react and respond but don't have a clear plan for our lives. Many of us do not even know how to start. This is why there are so many poor, unhappy, and benighted people, even in the midst of a world full of abundance, knowledge and love. Are you one of those who "don't know how to act?" Where's your script? Do you have a back story? What, my friend, is your motivation?
David L. Cole is a speaker, trainer, and writer who empowers people seeking personal excellence, professional distinction, and positive social change.
He earned a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and spent 13 years as a higher education professional. Currently he is the founder of dlcMedia, a company that provides principle-based training through keynotes, workshops, and coaching. dlcMedia helps individuals, organizations, and communities enhance their roles as scholars, leaders and citizens.
You can find out more about his work at http://davidlcole.com
You can reach David at http://davidlcole.com
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..One of the inevitabilities of University life is the examination.... Read More
What characteristics are common among successful people. If you analyze... Read More
To achieve what you want, what you desire, needs a... Read More
How does an online marketer define success ? There are... Read More
Do you think you have an "average" or perhaps an... Read More
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of... Read More
What is Optimum Performance? This question raises different responses from... Read More
What with the millions of words printed every day about... Read More
Choose "impossible" goals When faced with a hard-to-reach goal, your... Read More
Thomas Edison wrote his quote " I have not failed,... Read More
Two Immigrants Live The American DreamSome may call it a... Read More
Signs of DiscontentYou don't need a degree in psychology to... Read More
Any person who goes through life without experiencing failure is... Read More
You're considering a new career, new place to live or... Read More
The secrets of our body language have been around forever... Read More
How many times do we fail at something, then attemp... Read More
What do Sam Walton, Ray Kroc, Hilton, Marriot, Firestone, Elvis... Read More
Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone recently opened an academy... Read More
Our thought are magnetic ! Like a magnet we attract... Read More
Sit up straight! You may recall hearing those words as... Read More
One way to become more successful in your life is... Read More
People say: "One can't help one's thoughts." But one can.... Read More
Your ability to deal constructively and effectively with mistakes and... Read More
Are you consistently chasing success? Once you achieve it, do... Read More
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Each and every day, there are people all around the... Read More
The ten-year period which followed the stock market crash of... Read More
As a golfer and coach, I've been thrilled to watch... Read More
There have been a lot of really good movies made... Read More
I have found that sometimes the subtle difference in our... Read More
The gambling instinct is in every man or woman. All... Read More
Driven by cultural imperatives and inner promptings, we drive ourselves... Read More
Dr. Deepak Chopra is a well-known author of more than... Read More
e-Learning is doubling yearly. Classes, e-courses, e-books on how-to and... Read More
Here are the 3 elements of the "Purpose" leg in... Read More
A More Effective WayI own a stack of self improvement... Read More
There is a saying that goes something like this: Getting... Read More
Fighter pilots have an awesome responsibility. It takes a unique... Read More
Do not make the mistake of looking at your failures... Read More
All too often, people pursue a vision of material success... Read More
OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out... Read More
Fear.Everything in this world has its opposite.Good has bad.Optimism has... Read More
I have noticed that though my clients often have created... Read More
The secrets of our body language have been around forever... Read More
What does success look like to you? Our culture often... Read More
An odd but frequent barrier to prosperity is the belief... Read More
On your journey to moving past using food to cope... Read More
Have you ever had such thoughts like "I always fall... Read More
Our expectations get us into a lot of trouble and... Read More
Business knowledge and skills are not the only keys to... Read More
Success |