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Blogs > venturebrother72 > Stories from the hinterlands

Motivation  

venturebrother72 51M
196 posts
4/25/2011 3:52 pm
Motivation

How do you motivate someone? It's what I've been trained to do. I have spent the majority of my years in the service. I have attended more leadership schools, seminars, workshops, talks, etc. than anyone I know in civilian life. I can't even imagine the amount of money that has been invested in my motivational skills. Sometimes I am bested, not often, but sometimes.

I have heard every definition of leadership. The best one for me: "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." Dwight Eisenhower. You can show the importance of an action. You can show the consequences of inaction. You can describe the "big picture". You can lay out the details. The bottom line, however, is "You can lead a man to knowledge but you can't make him think"

I have asked young men to do things that are beyond...I don't know how to finish that sentence. Most of the folks that I deal with on a daily basis are called to the work we do. It's not a religious calling but it's similar. Ask a group of military folks why they do it and you'll get a different answer from each of them. money, college, skills of some kind, but the truth is more. We wouldn't put up with the vast amounts of bullshit we put up with for any of that. I have never heard a military person coming out of the gas chamber (tear gas) saying how great the GI bill is.

So why should so much time and effort and money be invested in my ability to lead. Because of the draft? We haven't had an active draft in quite a long time. How about the old "Join the Army or go to jail"? There aren't very many of them left. No, it's because we ask our young men and women to put up with some of the worst condition they will ever face and smile while doing it. We expect them to take the hill when asked.

I have no doubt that they will. But ask them to mop the floor and you would think I just kicked a puppy. I often think that all my training and experience boils down to getting the grass cut in a timely manner. Maybe that's what Ike was talking about. Not leading men through a world war but cleaning up after it.

rm_clitlick4you 73M
3099 posts
4/25/2011 4:11 pm

 Great post, thank you.

As a graduate of one of our illustrious service academy's, I can appreciate the perspective you bring. It is a tough job.

And you're right, leading folks to do the big things is relatively easy. They do it for themselves. Leading folks to do the little things that mean nothing to them is what is hard.

A good leader is one who convinces them to shine their shoes because it's important to have shiny shoes. Not really, but if you can get them to do that, you can get them to die for a cause.

Bob
Peace is my sister. wgf
And please...the name is Bob...not clit.
watch [blog clitlick4you]


venturebrother72 51M
252 posts
4/25/2011 5:04 pm
    Quoting rm_clitlick4you:
    Great post, thank you.

    As a graduate of one of our illustrious service academy's, I can appreciate the perspective you bring. It is a tough job.

    And you're right, leading folks to do the big things is relatively easy. They do it for themselves. Leading folks to do the little things that mean nothing to them is what is hard.

    A good leader is one who convinces them to shine their shoes because it's important to have shiny shoes. Not really, but if you can get them to do that, you can get them to die for a cause.

    Bob
Yes, the military is very big on shoe shining and hospital corners. I sometimes think I should have an associates degree in the janitorial arts and sciences.


roxy54sexy 61F
8914 posts
4/25/2011 5:55 pm

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venturebrother72 51M
252 posts
4/26/2011 1:23 pm
    Quoting roxy54sexy:
    Hello, excellent post sure need something in motivation that is for sure.
Thank you.


venturebrother72 51M
252 posts
4/26/2011 1:26 pm
    Quoting Softsheetsnme:
    I am a preceptor for the new grads and "bringing them up" is challenging. Teaching new nurses the skills of how to handle a code blue is exciting and thrilling and they enthusiastically jump in the learning exercises. Getting them to answer the call light when they know a bedpan is needed is much harder. It's the simple mundane tasks that aren't "sexy" that no one wants to do, which I suppose is human nature, but those duties are the ones in my world that often matter most.

    Thanks for doing what you do!
Well, thank you too.

Attention to detail. I teach it all the time. It's just hard to see the forest for the trees. It's almost always the little things that are remembered. Those are the thing that create the lasting impressions.


venturebrother72 51M
252 posts
4/26/2011 1:28 pm
    Quoting  :
It feels like parenting. My kids are great but I'm always after them to put their toys away when they finish with them.

I wouldn't trade a one of them.


venturebrother72 51M
252 posts
5/3/2011 12:26 am
    Quoting  :
Sometimes they act lick a bunch of kids but I wouldn't trade a one of them.


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