4th Key to Success and Fulfillment: You Have to Motivate Yourself
This week we have been focusing on career success and life fulfillment. As you know I have worked with hundreds of lawyers at my old firm and have coached hundreds of lawyers. Some of those lawyers are motivated and energized. Others are trying to find their motivation. So, I want to focus on motivation in this post and the one tomorrow.
I have been told I am a motivational speaker. In fact, I am frequently asked to do Bar and Law Firm programs designed to motivate lawyers. A few years ago I was asked to give a presentation to the ABA Young Lawyers Division at their Spring meeting. The ABA YLD came up with " Come on Baby Light My Fire - How to Reignite Your Flame with the Law." The title they chose intrigued me, so I posted a blog about it in January 2007, Listen to Maya Angelou.
I began my presentation to the ABA young lawyers by showing a short video clip of the Doors singing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1967. You likely don't know that they got in trouble for not changing the "girl we couldn't get much higher" lyrics, as they had promised. Then I told the young lawyers: "I have some really good news and some really bad news. The good news is I believe strongly I can light your fire and reignite your flame with the law. The bad news is that unless you are self motivated, the flame I ignited will burn out within a week."
A few years ago I read The Best Damn Sales Book Ever: 16 Rock-Solid Rules for Achieving Sales Success!
Early in the book Greshes talks about motivation. You might hear a speaker that motivates you, but that is external motivation and it does not last. What he said reminded me of a Stephen Covey quote: "Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly."
If you find your inner motivation, it will burn forever. I doubt you will find it by getting your billable hours, getting promoted or making a lot of money. If that is your focus, there will always be someone who gets more hours, gets promoted sooner and makes more money.
So, what is the best way for you to find your inner motivation? Focus on the journey, not the destination. Do not compare how you are doing with others, Think about how the work you are doing is helping your clients. Finally, work each and every day to become a better lawyer.
I will share some more specific motivation ideas with you tomorrow.
