Vision Creates and Sustains Motivation (Vision 4 of 6)
We’ve said a lot about vision and its importance to human beings and achieving their potential as individuals as well as within organizations. Nothing however is more important to people than motivation. It just so happens that when done well, vision represents the very soul of motivation without which, our efforts would be hollow and lifeless. Let’s take a look at motivation first.
Motivation is a complex labyrinth of stimuli then response. In some cases the response itself is the very motivation to provide continuous stimulus and then yet again, an additional response. This cycle continues for most of our lives and is in fact the fundamental building block of all human behavior. When we accidentally touch something extremely hot we immediately snatch our hand away to protect ourselves. This is the classic stimulus response example that behavioral scientists have studied for years.
So lets just say its true that we spend our entire lives simply acting and reacting to stimuli and that our responses are the collective achievement sum total of our entire human existence. That would mean that if we knew all of the stimuli and all of the responses, we could predict relatively accurately what will happen in the future assuming of course certain assumptions. How boring! Thank goodness we don’t have computers that are big enough of smart enough to measure all of these variables.
I much prefer Stephen Covey’s idea that between each stimulus and response is our inherent ability to choose, meaning at any given time we have the ability and even the responsibility to choose a response that drives home our greatest values, our most enduring beliefs. Suffice it to say, all the theories of causation when it comes to human behavior are incomplete save those that consider the presence of the basic will of man to choose his own destiny. So what’s vision got to do with this?
If motivation is the very reason why we do anything and is indeed the very building blocks of human behavior then vision is the foundation upon which those blocks rest. Vision creates the correct state of mind required to compel people and organizations forward. It provides a special frame of reference that reverberate a passionate truth. It clarifies and provides the right rational to justify behavior. It’s not simply a destination but has least four characteristics that identify it.
Four Characteristics of “Super Vision”
For vision to actually maximize human potential it must contain four basic characteristics simultaneously; it must be intense, re-occurring and include both internal and external stimuli. My favorite characteristic is of course intensity. Because we are all more or less motivated by the constant and incessant urgencies that plague our everyday existence anything that actually gets our attention must be intense. It has to have a resounding urgency and a moving quality that compel us to action now, in spite of the phone calls that need to be returned or the email that needs to be answered. When an idea is presented with high levels of intense stimulation we tend to react with a similar and equal intensity this is the basic law of action reaction. The reaction that we display after intense stimulation is not simply speedy but focused. It’s this focused attention that allows us to drown out all competing stimuli and move our agenda forward.
Of course we must also have re-occurring stimuli to keep us in the game. This can be achieved in a variety of ways but from a vision point of few I suggest that you take a few planned minutes each day to plug into your vision and ask yourself what you can do today to move the needle forward on your ultimate goal. You can use all kinds of tools to re-ignite the passion for your vision; your favorite music or poetry, maybe even quick meditation or deep breathing exercise. Whatever works for you do it…do it again…and then do it some more. Remember, when you lose intensity, you lose the momentum driven opportunities and benefits that can never be replaced. Time is an unforgiving mistress that will never come back when she’s been forsaken.
Your vision must invoke internal as well as external stimuli. Which comes first? Actually it doesn’t matter. For instance, you may have a vision to be absolutely the best at what you do. This intense desire may drive you to study harder, produce more and make a truck load of money. Along the way you may be recognized with a very welcome honor or opportunity that you hadn’t predicted. It’s at this moment you realize some external motivators and then become re-motivated to be even better next time. This means a further adjustment to behavior and may even spur competitors to enter YOUR race! On other occasions you could be trucking along mindlessly doing what you do and bump into a tremendous award or bonus. Shortly after that there is an opportunity to mentor someone else and you feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. You’ll be immediately motivated to be a better role model and of course increase your production. Some rewards will come faster than others or even be more predictably, never the less, it doesn’t matter which comes first; the chicken or the egg, you still need both to make a chicken and spinach quiche. So start working on your personal vision today.
Challenge-
Answer today’s blog with your own personal vision statement. Let’s all enjoy some mutual accountability.
I’ve never really thought about the connection between vision and motivation before. Re-occuring and intensity make sense with regards to vision to gain focus. Motivation with regards to vision…hmmm…thought provoking
Without a vision there is no motivation.
As I have studied vision, what I see is that when you allow the world to see your true you, your true vision, and have blessed others with your courage this way, you get something better than motivation. You get inspiration. Inspiration is this hope, this flame, that is from within and seems endless.
It is a flame that needs some fuel – daily visualization, meditation, gratitude, celebrating successes as they come – but it burns stronger than anything imaginable.
If you can’t relate, again go back to step one and really pour your heart out. Get the vision even if it sounds “silly” or “crazy” or “nuts.” Actually, especially that stuff. The stuff we feel we need to make excuses for is the juicy stuff that life really runs on. If you feel like you have the vision, but still don’t feel that inspiration, are you playing full out? I mean have you made it clear to you and to others that this is no-holds-barred, full-contact, no-looking-back life? Cause even if no one else shows up to the game, you need to be playing full-out.
Although intensity has to be strong, I also believe external stimuli is vital to success. I know that I have a strong vision (which is very intense) but sometimes the pick me up from friends and business associates is what I really need to keep moving on. Whether it’s a mastermind group or a supportive spouse, external stimuli MUST be present in some form or fashion.
Challenge accepted! We are committed to providing the highest quality customer service in our industry and are passionate in the development of long-term relationships in which the best interests of our clients comes first each and every time.
I agree with Covey – that we have the ability to step back and make a decision, responding vs. reacting. That is part of what makes us human, our ability to analyze and respond in accordance to our beliefs and higher good.
The concept of revisiting your vision each day is fabulous as it provides that necessary link with your future and works to maintain that sense of motivation and forward movement. In this dog-eat-dog world of business and the current economic climate, it’s easy to get frustrated and downhearted. But by tapping into that vision and the motivation surrounding it, you’re giving yourself a much needed boost in order to keep you on the right path – your path!
Like Laura says, it’s a flame that needs some daily fuel!
KUDOS to Christopher for sharing his vision statement!
Each segment I read, I tweak my vision a little more. I still don’t have it the way I want it, so I’m going to wimp out and not share yet. But the aspect I’m looking at from this information on Motivation is to really feel what specifically motivates me. I can resonate with my vision; I can clearly visualize my goals; I can gain speed as I follow the path… but what makes me sizzle with anticipations so intense that I can’t wait for my alarm to go off – I jump out of bed and turn the alarm off before it makes a sound. I energetically GLOW when someone asks me what I do…
I promise I’ll share when I get it all (mostly) figured out.
This was a great blog–I too love the characteristic of intensity. When you have a clear vision and really believe in it, the passion and drive to achieve the vision really comes out.
I spent several years in the corporate world as an executive and the excitement began to wane. Something was missing. I started my own business, and once I got into the groove, my passion and intensity are almost hard to contain! I get so excited about my vision and so motivated to accomplish it, that I can spend many hours working on the business and accomplishing. The down side of that is it is sometimes hard to calm myself down and take time for myself–which I feel is really important. I need to be able to put the blackberry down at night, relax, and enjoy my time.
This past weekend I spent time revising and reviewing my vision and goals for the year, five years from now, and my ultimate goals. It was so inspiring, and my motivation is high. Having that vision really is a driving force.
I’m still in the beginning stages of creating a vision, so I’m not ready to share. I think this blog drew a very clear link between vision and motivation. Your motivation can actually be those external and internal stimuli. However, we must be careful not to just look to the motivation and lose sight of the vision.
This blog hits the nail on the head! Vision is absolutely crucial to sustaining motivation. My company (2Hats Network http://www.2hatsnetwork.com)’s vision, which is on every page of our website is “We envision a world in which every woman is able to her passion and raise happy thriving children, without guilt”. This informs EVERYTHING we do!
I too am still working on my vision. I have a general idea, I just haven’t tapped it exactly. I expect my vision to bring a gutteral, tears to the eyes kind of feeling when I get it exactly right…that’s the level of intensity I’m striving for.
I also believe that this vision, once found, will sustain and motivate me. I can assure you that it will find a place above my computer and on my bathroom mirror so that it will focus and motivate me every day.
I’m gaining clarity, focus and intensity at every step of this process.
So, the declaration; “¦. “We are committed to providing the highest quality customer service in our industry and are passionate in the development of long-term relationships in which the best interests of our clients comes first each and every time.” “¦ might work better as a generic mission statement for me and a million other service providers in Northern Virginia, but it doesn’t work as a vision. Again, this is just my perspective, but this statement does not answer, “˜where I want to go,” for me.
I may commit to this action as a necessity to get to where I want to go. I’ll buy that. And by no means am I picking on Christopher, actually I’m glad he wrote this because the second part about the clients best interest comes first, is how I see myself getting off track working to help them get to their vision, not necessarily mine!!!
Am I allowed 2 responses? I promised that when I got closer to my vision statement I’d post it. My vision for myself, my business now, and my business in the future is:
To be a guide for non-traditional options for issues in peoples lives.
One thing I realized is that I had to look at what I was already doing ““ what comes naturally to me, even if it didn’t fit the typical description of someone else who is in my business? I often have conversations based around alternative health options because things get rolling talking about my nutritional supplement. But then it moves into other areas ““ meditation, reiki, energy healing, massage, detoxing, FDA, personal care products, organic food, fasting, cancer”¦ around and around exploring where each person had been and their experiences. Then we’d exchange information about the professionals we’d talked about.
Now, to tighten-up the way I share contact information, and let more people know that there’s more to my information than meets the eye.
Motivation is huge for me. It is easy to be motivated when things are going well, when I am working with customers and flying along with no snags. It is exciting, thrilling, to be doing something I wasn’t sure that I could do! And of course that is self-sustaining ““ it makes me want more. However, find myself also easily distracted and de-motivated when I’m not in the throes of a winning and nuturing a new customer.
What is missing? What keeps allowing me to get off track? According to what I just read, it could very well be not having a clear and gut-level Vision. Or, not constantly feeding it.
That is big point for me too. Feeding my vision. I do not have a crystal clear vision yet, but I totally see that once I do it will be the thing that gets me up in the morning. And that I will have to MAKE time to think about it, dream about it, hold it in my heart and soul. Every. Single. Day.
Intense. Re-occurring. Having both internal and external stimuli. Yes. All of that sounds completely right to me.
Why then, am I still struggling with creating a vision for myself?
Each person has various items or issues that can serve as motivators. What motivates me is the statement by Fannie Lou Hammer, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!” By not having a clear vision, I was working aimlessly and was always tired and frustrated. As much as I was able to conceal my frustration, the decisions I made were not the best. Currently, with my renewed energy and vigor and a clear vision in the works, decisions are being made easier and with better results.
Does my vision have to be about my work? For me, work is a means to provide the kind of lifestyle I’d like to have. When I think into the future, what inspires me the most is life after I’m done working. My vision board is covered with the experiences that I wish to enjoy and the people I would like to surround myself with. Yes, of course I have goals for my business, but those are in place to get me to where I want to be once I’m done with work”¦ to let me be financially able to do all the things on my vision board. I also struggle with capturing my vision into one solid statement. The pictures on my vision board express things in a way that I haven’t yet been able to do with words. Looking at it is inspiring, but again, it’s not work related.
I suppose then that I should create multiple vision statements for different aspects of my life. I too am going to wimp out and not share until I can actually articulate it into something that makes some sense. At least to me.
I have found that vision spurs on my motivation to do the right thing so activity is in line with vision. Doing the right thing becomes more apparent when your vision is in sync.
Well, I am still trying to define my vision for myself, therefore not ready to share. However, I would agree that motivation has to be a part of the vision process. In fact, I have often wondered how you to focused on your vision to keep moving forward and not becoming complacent. From this blog, I get that we need to find something that will motiviate us to stay focused on our vision.
I actually have 2 visions. The first one is a personal vision, that with the help of this program, to give to my employees the tools, methods, techniques and ideas to be able to be the best they can in anything they will do in their lives from this point in time forward.
The second vision is my company’s vision, and while that is still ‘a statement in progress’,I want to set my company on the right path for it’s continued success when it starts the next 25 year cycle of its life (business started in 1962). I believe that with the help of this program, I and my employees will do what is necessary to insure that the vision will be attained.
I read this and think of how it seems easy to apply to short-term projects, but I am finding it harder to think of this in the long term, big-picture type view. Perhaps the trouble is recognizing what motivates me for the long-term…
People do what excites and motivates them. The boring things are usually put on the back burner. People have their own agendas within organizations. When working as a team, the vision must be embraced by everyone within that team so that deadlines can be met and success can be achieved. It is important to find out what motivates each person so that the vision can become a reality.
I’m not at the point where I have truly defined my personal vision…but I can say that it includes being the best team member I can be at work.
I need to remember the 4 characteristics of Super Vision-intensity, re-occuring, and must include internal and external stimuli.
Motivation~I need to find it on a daily basis.
At home, re-occurring stimuli is easy (feed, bathe, and nurture everyone in order for them to be happy) If I loose the momentum or rhythm people cry!
At work, recognizing what motivates other team members can be challenging. Which could be why I tend to just be happier doing things for myself~ then I never have to hear people crying at work!
Love what you do; do what you love. This in itself helps keep me motivated to keep moving forward with my visions personally and professionally. I do agree with Karen that some of the everyday tasks that are more mundane tend to be put on the back burner. Sooner or later those catch up to you.
I can appreciate the points about external stimuli strengthening a person’s vision and motivation. Or as Marvin points out, vision invoking stimuli. Sometimes I’ll lose intensity from a lack of opportunities or a few misses. But it takes just one great opportunity that I’ll read in the paper to re-energize me and recenter my focus.
I struggle with the title fo this article, “Vision Creates and Sustains Motivation.” I am just not sure I agree with it. For example, I am motivated by the ability to provide for my family while running a multi million dollar company from the comfort of my own home. That motivation has and will continue to shape the vision of the company.
I make people weller, naturally.
Sounds like a tag, it is, but it is also a vision of the tipping point of social change.
My vision is a world with what I term, “clean food” the norm, a social and medical system that supports life, and the time to enjoy it.
Yes, I am in the middle of that vision.
Knowing that vision promotes motivation is another new concept for me. I agree with the author, my favorite characteristic of “Super Vision” is intensity; this will stimulate me every time and compel me to action now. As the article has instructed I will start working on my personal vision today. I am motivated by the fact that time is unforgiving and the world wants what I have to offer.
My vision is to be part of the transformation and educating people about whole foods, eating in the season and support sustainability. When we all work together in helping our bodies and “Mother Earth” we create a whole lot of Energy in the Universe and a better place for our future generations. Helping clients one bite at the time. If we all go back to our own roots and realize the true meaning of whole foods and use them in their natural form our energy increases drastically. Imagine what could you be doing with all that extra energy?
As I’m reading through these blogs about vision, I started putting in some time to work on my own, and I have to admit, I was stuck. I really had to do some searching to see what are some of the things that really drive me and why I want to do the things I’m doing. That took about two to three days for me to put together because I was torn between what I’m doing now (an IT-Consultant) and other callings I’ve been feeling a strong desire for lately (a life coach of some sort/self development person) and how I can merge the two together and be successful at it.
Being an IT-Consultant has been great as well as challenging and I still want to continue to grow my company and build a solid team of technicians to run my company. However, there are some strong desires and emotions that were evoked when I sat down and wrote about becoming a self-development/life coach person of some sort. Now I’m figuring there ought to be something there for me to do if the desires are as strong as they are (it even surprised me a bit), especially for working with the younger generation. After all this blog does talk about intensity being an important factor in the vision, and there were a lot of intensity with this one when I began writing.
“When well done, vision represents the very soul of motivation…”
What an amazing way to look at it, and say it.
I also really liked the concept of “Super Vision”!
How’s this articulation of vision?
My vision is to continue developing as a compassionate, insightful and clear-cutting force for realizing human embodiment and intelligence, purpose and power, in ways that increase individual strength and group / social effectiveness.
I work with individuals and businesses to articulate their contributions with the world as a publicist; with writers to articulate their voices into sound and print and into the hearts of their audiences; and I work hands-on as an embodiment therapist, facilitating the articulation of frozen, numb and pained aspects of their being into vital wellness and wholeness.