How to Motivate Someone

Summary

• When wanting to motivate someone, look at what they lack. People are most driven when they feel deprived of something essential.
• For example, I am most motivated to sleep when I'm really tired, to eat when I'm really hungry, and to have sex when it's been a while.
• One might think poor people should be more motivated because they lack money. However, this isn't always true. Many poor people aren't that motivated.
• On the other hand, I notice that some very rich people are extremely hungry for more money.
• The feeling of deprivation is based on our reference point. Money itself is intangible, and it's about how deprived we feel compared to others.
• If my friends are billionaires and I'm worth $100 million, I feel $900 million poorer versus someone making $5,000 a month who wants to make $10,000 a month. My motivation to make more money can be stronger because of my perceived deprivation.

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How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing strategies based on understanding what you're deprived of or what others lack to boost motivation. Here's a simple plan to get started:

Identify and Acknowledge Deprivation

• For Personal Growth: Make a list of areas where you feel most deprived. It could be time, skills, money, or personal achievement. Focusing on these areas will drive your motivation.
• For Businesses: Ask your team to identify what they feel is lacking in their work life. Is it recognition, creative freedom, resources? Understanding this will help you motivate them effectively.

Set Relatable and Tangible Goals

• For Entrepreneurs: If you're struggling financially, set small, realistic financial goals based on your current status. If your competitors are doing significantly better, use that as a reference point to drive your hunger for improvement.
• For Small Businesses: Break down your company’s goals into achievable milestones. If your peers are outperforming you by a noticeable margin, use that as fuel to put in extra effort.

Utilize Comparative Deprivation

• Personal Strategy: Surround yourself with people or influences that represent where you want to be. If you make $5,000 and aim for $10,000, associate with individuals making more. Their success can serve as motivation.
• Business Context: Look at competitors or industry leaders. Gauge where your business stands in comparison and use that perceived deprivation as a catalyst for motivated action.

Low-Cost, High-Value Actions

• Daily Journaling: Write down what you feel deprived of and set a daily goal to move closer to fulfilling that gap. This costs nothing but has high motivational value.
• Peer Networking: Engage with groups or forums where individuals have achieved what you aspire to. This builds a sense of community and fuels motivation.

Regular Review and Adjustment

• Weekly Check-ins: Evaluate your progress regularly to see if the sense of deprivation is shrinking and if your motivation levels are increasing. Adjust your goals and strategies based on these reviews.

Implementing these low-cost, high-value strategies will help keep you and your business motivated by focusing on what's missing, making the drive for improvement a conscious effort.