Incentive

# Chapter 126

Incentive, what makes us want to move forward? Well of course if we are talking about work, then compensation in all its forms is a big part of that, at least it seems like that is the primary lever for almost everyone I talk to. Since Brenda and I are not wired that way, it is not what gets us going, but we get it that it does others, at least to a point. Money never brought anyone any long term satisfaction so it is a little difficult to imagine that being what gets me up and moving every morning. On the other hand, it is important to pay your bills. And the feeling of safety that brings is powerful.

After the bills are paid, a much better incentive is appreciation from someone up the line. Appreciation from peers and your buds is fine too, but that is not where the incentive comes from. Appreciation by a boss, or someone further up the food chain is what will get you cranked up and moving in the mornings, afternoon and evenings. When people are noticing and finding something to like in your choices, actions and initiative, that feeds something inside of each of us. And a little appreciation goes a long ways.

Finally incentive is fueled by you working on something that is within your wheelhouse, within your strengths, within your interests. When we are interested or talented within a certain action or conversation, it gets us going. We all want to contribute in certain ways and when we get the opportunity to do so, we are reeved up and ready to go.

(All these ideas come from a podcast by Bernie Anderson and Joshua MacLeod, and the Growability podcast)