Why is “ok” good enough?  This is a question I often ask myself.  From age 7-18, ok was never ever good enough.  If the highest mark possible was an A+, I was looking for what would push the teacher over the edge, what would make him or her sit up and take note that a true (creative/artistic/literary) genius was in his or her midst and that the work s/he was beholding was worth far more than an A+.  Enter university and the end of that mindset.

I admire people who are successful, people who start off with little and end up being and getting a lot.  I always want to know how they did it, what it took, and usually it’s seeing the benefits that they are enjoying due to their hard work that makes me take notice. 

What motivates people?  I may be biased but I have noticed that many Nigerians are extremely motivated.  I asked one of this strange breed what motivates her and she said that the fear of poverty motivates her:  when she was young, her parents would point out people who were doing unpalatable jobs or begging on the streets, alone and clearly destitute, and tell her that if she didn’t focus on her studies (Nigerian parents expounding the benefits of education are the source of the term “broken record”), she could expect a dim future, as seen in Exhibit A, unfortunate beggar by the roadside.  And this visual reminder has apparently stuck with her–she works full time and is currently in law school, a double duty that keeps her at work during the day and at school most weeknights.  All to accomplish her dream.

And what does she see in her future?  A big house, big cars, money to be able to live comfortably and then some, perhaps even Supreme Court judgeship.

I asked another Nigerian, currently workiing on his PhD in law, what motivates him, and his answer was very interesting:  he is motivated by a desire to avoid poverty.

Nothing new, you might think, given the previous profile I presented but to him, being average is poverty!

He doesn’t just want a car, he wants the Mercedes, or the BMW of cars.  He doesn’t want a four bedroom single home with a nice sized backyard, he wants a house that someone might mistake for a mansion, with a bedroom and bathroom for each guest and a gardener, he wants to be able to tell his wife to pack her bags because they are going to the Caribbean, just because, just on a whim, without any scrimping and saving beforehand (He didn’t use those exact words; some of it is blogtistic license).  He is motivated by being the best!  The best he can be, the best he can see, whatever the best is at the time:  he wants to be up there.

He expressed what being “the best” means to him in pretty tangible ways; this doesn’t motivate me as much as it does him.  I just never wanted to have a huge house, or a “status” car.  Give me a rust free car that runs and gets me from one place to another safely, and you will not hear me complain.  I can’t tell a designer handbag, or wardrobe from its namebrand-free imitation so that doesn’t do it for me either.  When I think of what would make me work harder, or what makes me periodically brainstorm “get rich” ideas, it’s the idea of being able to:

• give my parents a life where they can actually relax, take a vacation, not be chained to a desk/counter from 9am-5pm, 49 weeks of the year and be able to live in Nigeria at least six months a year
• being able to help out family in Nigeria, especially all the budding entrepreneurs in the family who have wonderful ideas but need startup money
• not have to take out a mortgage for 25 years
• not have to drive a car for 15 years before I can afford to buy a new one
• invest money for some fun things in life
• buy friends and family things I think they’d love without first checking to make sure that I can afford it

that get me excited.  These are the reasons that mean something to me, and from time to time they do result in me looking into unique and effective ways to get  to this stage.

But how?

This part isn’t so clear.  I read my fair share of blogs and have read countless stories of people who started out redesigning their blog every so often due to boredom, and through the process, learning enough about html, css and so many other useful aids (photoshop, dreamweaver, php, etc.), they have become so proficient that they now own their own web design business.  Others have used their blog to spread word about a cause, or showcase something they made, or their fantastic writing skills have earned them a permanent place on cyberspace with a decent paycheque to boot.  Others have started associations, forums, online magazines that have ended up morphing into something big. 

But is that for me?  I don’t know.  I kind of want to do my own thing, forge my own path, but coming up with that brilliant idea, blazing a new path for myself, is not something that I am used to.  I’m used to being the supportive friend, the one cheering from the sidelines as others cross the finish line.  I think I need to join the race. 

So what motivates people?  Clearly it’s different things for different people.  It’s not so important what motivates you, it’s what keeps you motivated that will determine your success.  I am motivated nearly every day by things I read and see and hear.  But as for keeping that momentum going, coming home from an inspiring encounter and wanting to brainstorm, write down a set of goals and objectives, with firm timelines and make myself accountable, I still haven’t found it.  Any ideas?

The majority of this entry drafted weeks ago, this seems like the right time to post it.

Filed under: Goals, Inspiration, Introspective by jummy