Motivation

It’s been a long time since my last newsletter, and to restart things, below is the speech I gave on October 18, 2022, during our 2^nd Annual Awards Ceremony.

We can all use motivation from time to time like a prod to cattle when we're uninspired. It is not new to struggle in our search for inspiration which is a potent force. The motivation of individuals has changed the path of history. So, where do people find strength and determination?

More extraordinary than that, motivation is “thought.” How we feel about something can sink us into lethargy or drive us into a frenzy of activity. However, those thoughts put into words provide us with the fuel for motivation, which we call encouragement. Though finding encouragement is not always easy.

Amazingly, our mind can be the force that drives motivation alone. We are the embodiment of what goes on in our minds. Yet many think negatively about our prospects, dreams, and desires. We allow the reality of our routine work to get us down and disconnect us from our path and aspirations. As a result, we become downtrodden, and our motivation is lost.

When we were younger, we had big dreams. It seemed simple enough to imagine a world where we could be anything we wanted. Dreaming was our reality as we looked forward in life. Positivity poured out of us, and things seemed very uncomplicated. But then, we grew and learned that things did not just happen. We knew we had to put in the effort and hard work to achieve our dreams.

Too often, we give up opting for the easy street when we discover no easy options. We became dissatisfied and unmotivated and lost what connected us to our dreams. While the stars remained high and bright in the sky, we trod with heavy feet through the reality of responsibility and nursing grievances. We blamed others for our disillusionment. Routine tasks seemed to overwhelm us. Family, school, work, finances, medical and other obligations drove our path. Finally, we fell at the mercy of these forces and relinquished control and responsibility for our destiny.

We need to break out of the doldrum victim attitude we've been carrying. We need to rise above and confidently look over the parapet. Somehow, we must find that motivation again. We must find a reason to feel purpose again, to bring ourselves happiness, and to immerse ourselves in the dreams of our life. We must rediscover love, passion, and enjoyment in everything we do, knowing it is a step toward our visions.

The fact remains that there will always be tasks we must do that we dislike. This displeasure takes us back to where we discovered that life could be hard work. It's high time to accept this fact and move on.

We must separate the small unpleasant things from the bigger picture. For example, your long-term dream and ambition may be to lead a department of 9-1-1 professionals.

So, how do you get from a Specialist answering the phones to sitting in the Director's chair? Incredibly, the motivation required is the same, coming from the same place inside you. So, first, you start with the big picture and then focus on what you want for a minute. Then, accept that it will be hard work and require sacrifices, but it can be achieved.

Speak directly to your heart and have an honest conversation with yourself. Your mind is a powerful place where it can win you Olympic gold medals or leave you shaking with uncontrollable fear, unable to stand before a crowd to give a speech.

Motivation depends on only one thing, and that is the nourishment that you feed it. So, your challenge is to focus on the bigger picture and provide your mind with healthy thoughts, good books, and the counsel of successful people who've already made the journey you're just beginning.

Most people lack confidence in their skills at times. We feel this way when we think we don't have what it takes to get where we're going. Skills require learning, so start learning them—research where to acquire those skills. You might already be in the right place. The Director is only a few feet away from the Specialist.

In between calls, offer help with filing medical alerts. Show up to work a little earlier or stay later, not because you want the money, but because you want to study your policies away from the distraction of the consoles. Don't study, not simply because you want to impress others with your knowledge, but because you want to improve your skillset. Start to acquire more skills. Make yourself invaluable; the more you know, the closer you will be to your dream. Seek opportunities to push yourself and give yourself challenges. Now is the time to leave your comfort zone.

It's eye-opening to note how so much of our daily conversation is negative. Our words and the body language we display are continually a morale buster. We must turn this behavior around. The obstacle is the way, and as for failure, it is the most valuable learning experience you can have. Change takes courage and fortitude, but no more than riding a bicycle without training wheels for the first time! When you choose to change for the better, you take control of your destiny. You've already failed if you're waiting for someone else to determine your fate, happiness, or path.

The policy studying you did on your own now leads to one day a week mentoring a struggling coworker. That leads to responsibility, which leads to experience and more qualifications. Before too long, you will be Director, writing speeches and handing out awards to the top achievers knowing you're sowing the seeds of the next generation of 9-1-1 professionals. The motivation and driven attitudes are the same as when you are stuck answering barking dog complaints at a job you resented because you had to be there.

Get out there, exercise your mind, and give yourself something to achieve. Get moving, get motivated, take risks, and find your path to success. Create the time to read about successful people; you’ll find it's all the same: drive, determination, and a refusal to give up. But, above all, paint yourself into the big picture of your success and self-belief. You are put on this earth to make a difference; accept nothing less. The sooner you start, the sooner you will succeed.

I conclude with the words of an ancient stoic philosopher, Epictetus, born into slavery in Hierapolis in A.D 50.

"How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?"