How to Motivate!

What is the key to motivation for you? A carrot? A stick? A kick? Or a caress?

What are your favorite motivational mottoes, slogans and phrases? What interesting stories can you share about how you were motivated to do something significant? Please share your thoughts.

I drew a chuckle this week from our young but talented morning camera crew at WRAL when I used an old expression I learned from a high school football coach in Morganton. After failing to catch a pass in the end zone on the road against North Wilkesboro I ran over to the sidelines and offered an excuse. “Had I not lost the ball in the bright lights I would have caught the pass and scored a touchdown.” My coach responded: “Leslie, if 'ifs' and 'buts' were fruits and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas!”

Later that school year in basketball one of our key players tried to explain why he was late for practice. The coach responded: “There aren’t nearly enough crutches in the world for all your lame excuses.”

Motivation comes in many forms. Some is positive. Some is negative. Perhaps a combination of the two is what works best for coaches. Humor always seems to help. Personally I would always try harder for the coach who found something positive to say about my game which brings to mind another Southern expression: “You’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” In other words, people will be willing to do more for you when you’re kind and sweet than when you’re yelling and critical.

I’ve been inspired by many bosses over the years especially those who were positive and sincere. Many of those people I have encountered here at WRAL both in television and radio over 28 years. Enough about me. I would love to hear your stories about motivation.