Intrinsic motivation - doing makes the difference

Intrinsic motivation is something like the holy grail of change. Everyone strives for it, but very few find it sustainable. We want to change that with this article. Would you like to start with a little experiment? The next time you have the opportunity to speak in front of a group of at least twenty people, why not ask the group who knows someone who is resistant to change and tends to moan and complain?.

My prediction: you will almost certainly see almost one hundred percent raised hands. Everyone knows one. Right after that, ask yourself who you think is a person who tends to whine and complain. My prediction here is that you won't see a single raised hand. Nobody wants to be one. Well, I'll leave the mathematical analysis and the corresponding conclusion to your imagination for the moment.

When I look around me, I notice a lot of people who are constantly moaning about how difficult it is to change. And then I often hear a standard excuse:

„Oh Ilya, my intrinsic motivation just isn't what it used to be. If you had a boss (you can also use partner, friend, colleague or another person here) like me, you would feel the same way. That's where change is complicated.“

What does intrinsic motivation mean?

I would therefore like to share another of my strongest convictions with you. It is the result of working with thousands of employees, as well as from my daily lectures, consultations and training sessions in large and small companies. It may again be contrary to the messages you are usually told because it is what most people want to hear. Nevertheless, it does not change the fact that it is an indispensable building block on the path to successful change.

I firmly believe that you cannot motivate other people. Not you, not your boss and not me either. While it is very easy to demotivate someone else (look around you at work and you will find many examples of this), it is not possible to move someone from point A to point B if they would rather stay where they are now.

Of course, I can tempt you with the carrot or threaten you with the stick. I can also give you a wonderful motivational kick that will get you going full of energy and drive. I can also provide you with the optimal framework conditions under which you can develop your full potential.

But all of this only works in the short term. In the long term, you simply need more. In order to make a lasting change, you must also take full responsibility for your intrinsic motivation. There is no other person who can do this. And that is precisely why intrinsic motivation is so important.

Intrinsic motivation Definition

But how does intrinsic motivation arise? As is so often the case, the process is simple, but by no means easy. I am often asked: „Ilya, where do you get your high intrinsic motivation from that you use to tackle things?“ And my answer regularly causes great astonishment:

„That's simple. I have a family that needs to be well off. I have bills to pay and I like to treat myself once in a while. But above all, I have given my word that I will do it. To my customers, my employees and my colleagues. But especially to myself.“ For me, intrinsic motivation is an inevitable consequence of my results, not a prerequisite.

And that is precisely the definition of intrinsic motivation. These are behaviors that are driven by inner desires, needs or values. Or to put it another way: it is a motivation that comes exclusively from within and arises independently of external influences such as recognition, bonus payments or pressure.

Intrinsic motivation always arises when you know why and for what reason you want to do certain things. If you have a powerful „why“, then you will take action all by yourself. Even if you don't feel like doing something, you'll keep going anyway. Because you have made up your mind and you always know what you are doing it for. And now comes the amazing thing for many. Because the more you get into action, the better results you will be able to admire.

And this also increases your intrinsic motivation. Because you are proud of what you have achieved. Because you can't wait to get on with it. Because the successful Shift in itself is the greatest drive you can imagine. Intrinsic motivation could therefore also very well be described as the motivation to do.

The motivation of doing as a prerequisite for change

My main aim with this article is to give you a comprehensive insight into the topic of Motivation to give. However, you must make the decision to change yourself. Preferably right now. You must also take responsibility for your intrinsic motivation. Preferably forever. And you also have to leave yourself.

Ideally together with people who support you on your journey. You can rely on one thing. The motivation to do things will not always lead you directly to your goal, but above all it will lead you along your own individual path. Have you already made up your mind? If not, I would now like to show you a few consequences that await you if you would rather leave everything as it is.

Powerful intrinsic motivation ensures that change becomes easy and leads to a high level of satisfaction at work and in everyday life. If, on the other hand, you hope that there are already enough other people who care about your motivation, then this strategy leads directly to mediocrity, which is becoming more and more widespread.

And you would be in good company. The Allensbach Institute recently conducted a survey to find out how Germans feel about life. The result is not surprising to me: the so-called "middle generation" is growing ever larger. Over thirty-five million people in Germany belong to this group.

And the members basically only have one wish. Everything should stay as it is. They are afraid of any form of change and above all want stability and financial security. They never take any risks, preferring to play it safe. The intrinsic motivation to change is zero.

Security is just an illusion

But the larger the middle generation becomes, the more the associated mediocrity spreads. People have come to terms with the life they lead and accept it without resistance. Neal Donald Walsh described this form of existence in his book Conversations with God very aptly as a life of quiet desperation labeled. And that's exactly what it is. You work day in, day out and have given up your dreams in favor of a supposed sense of security. But this security is just an illusion. It is only in your head.

Do you have an item that you have grown incredibly fond of, even though it should have been disposed of long ago? Over ten years ago, my wife gave me a small bathroom radio. It's made entirely of plastic, the technical equipment consists of two old-fashioned rotary knobs and the sound isn't exactly what you would call state-of-the-art.

Nevertheless, this radio has been with me for a long time now. Although it is slowly but surely falling apart, I have completely taken this relic of analog entertainment electronics to my heart. It's gotten to the point where I miss something when I stay in a hotel while traveling and have to do without it.

Intrinsic motivation: Resist the programming

For many years, I have had several rituals with which I start the day. Firstly, I start every morning by sitting down for fifteen minutes with positive things to occupy myself. I read a chapter from my favorite books, listen to an audio program with inspiring messages or write down my daily goals. These habits alone work wonders for my intrinsic motivation.

Then I go to the bathroom and jump in the shower. And although I otherwise very rarely listen to the radio, I like to switch on my old sweetheart during the twenty minutes I spend in the bathroom in the morning so that I can sing along to a few old and new popular songs.

And during the daily morning show, I often have to think about how many people have locked their dreams in a drawer and instead voluntarily live according to the Robinson principle. What is that? They are already eagerly awaiting Friday at the beginning of the week. You can imagine it as follows.

The alarm clock rings at 06:03 on Monday morning. Drowsy and with the last of your strength, you hit the snooze button and buy yourself one last quarter of an hour of precious sleep. Then you get dressed and drag yourself to work with more difficulty than good. You're in a bad mood because it's Monday after all. The dreadful working week that you've been dreading all weekend is about to begin.

And just in case you've forgotten how awful Mondays are, the friendly voice on the radio reminds you again: „We're sorry, dear listeners, it's Monday again today and we hope you get through the day okay.

But don't worry, it'll be the weekend again in five days“ time. Then „I don't like Mondays“ by Bob Geldorf and the Boomtown Rats is played at least three times and regularly repeated until lunchtime about how awful it is that work starts again on Monday.

Somehow you manage to get through the day and fall exhausted onto the couch in the evening. With the remote control in your hand, you watch Wife swap, Big Brother or Daughter-in-law wanted and then falls into bed half dead after three beers.

Life in a mental no man's land

Until the alarm clock rings again at 06:03 on Tuesday morning. But on Tuesday you have a little hope. Because the nice voice on the radio announces that it's almost Wednesday and therefore the mountain festival, which will of course be duly celebrated the following day.

Thursday is spontaneously declared the „little brother of Friday“, and on Friday, oh, everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief because the dreadful and never-ending week is finally behind them. Friday is therefore also the very best and most beautiful day of the week, when you can finally pop the corks.

On the radio, this day of the week is therefore celebrated like Christmas and Easter combined, and everyone prepares for the weekend when real life can finally begin. But what does this life usually look like? Right, you sit exhausted on the couch with the remote control and watch Wife swap, Big Brother or Daughter-in-law wanted.

But now you can finally enjoy this time because it's the weekend. But wait, it's not quite so enjoyable after all, because on Saturday morning you're already dreading the fact that it will soon be Monday again and the alarm clock rings at 6:03 am.

And just to be on the safe side, the nice voice on the radio also reminds you on Saturday: „Enjoy the short time, dear listeners, because it will soon be Monday again!“ And then it all starts all over again. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. For some, a lifetime.

Intrinsic motivation and demotivation arise in the subconscious

Have I oversubscribed? Most certainly. But maybe not. Feel free to put it to the test. Whichever city you live in and whichever station you have chosen as your number one, I could bet that you are also familiar with this sequence of negative programming.

The dreadful Monday. The most popular strategies for getting through the supposedly dreadful working week. Friday as the best day and the big goal on which everyone focuses their longing.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Everyone knows these sayings and most people even laugh a little at them. But how is this supposed to create sustainable intrinsic motivation? What's more, the more often you hear these suggestions uncritically, the more you believe them. Until at some point the radio messages become your own personal reality and you join in the chorus of wailing sirens.

But just think about what model of life is hammered into your subconscious every day and settles there comfortably over time. The Mindset, that is behind this programming is more widespread today than ever before.

These supposedly harmless and humorous statements by radio presenters convey nothing other than that there is a clear division between the terrible working time and the desirable living time.

Don't fall into this trap. After all, where does it say that you can't be just as happy on Monday as you are on Saturday? And what kind of life is it where you spend five days doing things that you don't actually like or even despise?.

And all this just to be able to enjoy real life in the short time available at the weekend. The consequences of this Attitude can be observed every day in the suburban trains, buses and trains of this republic. Most followers of the Robinson principle bumble along more badly than well. They have no great worries, but no real joys either. There is no lasting satisfaction, but the dissatisfaction is not yet great enough to change anything.

Intrinsic motivation or a life of quiet desperation?

This is exactly what I call the mental no man's land. A life of quiet desperation. At a young age, many people have a head full of dreams and fantasize about everything they want to be, do and have in their lives. The inner fire burns brightly.

But then you come to your senses in the middle of the journey. Something comes up. The job as head of department, the prestigious project at the law firm or the reassuring security of civil servant status as a history teacher at a secondary school. And before you know it, you have lowered your own standards and resigned yourself to your current situation.

You're not entirely satisfied, but you're not dissatisfied either. No, it could certainly have been worse. Yes, of course, the dreams from back then are still there, but the mortgage for the semi-detached house doesn't pay for itself.

The inner fire either burns only on a low flame or is completely extinguished. You settle comfortably into mediocrity, which is just pleasant enough to stand in the way of developing your full potential.

But luckily dreams are persistent. They come knocking again with regularity and remind you that they have by no means disappeared. And this inner longing needs to be recognized and then put into action. You have a choice every day. To give your word and let your powerful intrinsic motivation work for you, or to slowly but surely take the path to spiritual no man's land. Which do you choose?