Motivation

I did a management course once that told me everyone has there own motivations, you just have to figure out what it is and provide it. Managment is achieving an outcome through the efforts of others. I considered myself a good manager in my hay day, I used to be important to my employer you know! I paid attention to people and listened, responded with empathy and ask for help in solving their problems. I was Management 101 and it worked well. High praise and more responsibility followed until one day, I looked at where I was. The hours I worked and the heart ache I had to cope with as so many direct reports poured out their financial, family and work troubles. My MD was only a few years older than me so I was as high as I was going to get in that company. What was my motivation for staying? Well I had none. Combine that with still living within 5 km of where my wife and I had attended school, and my universe was pretty limited. I had motivation to move, to expand and grow. I had motivation to find new motivation. Does that make sense? I think so. In any case, my love so so generously agreed to moving north to Brisbane. A bigger city, a hotter climate and something new. When I say 'agreed', I do so with full admission to essentially bullying her into it. I knew I couldn't keep doing what I was doing so had no choice. I once drove straight from work to the hospital because my chest pains were so concerning to me. I didnt tell anyone and it was only when Jane saw the little shaved patches on my chest from the stick on electrodes that I had to confess. So you see, my need to find new motivations affected others too. I wasn't going to steer into an oncoming car but the fanciful thought had crossed my mind in a day dream sort of state. Things had to change. 
We packed up and moved north, it was expensive and disruptive, exciting and concerning and totally alien. Jobs are not hard to find so employment has never been a concern for me but leaving our friends behind was tough. If I had not found my new motivation, the impact would have been devastating I think. But fear not! Arrive it did. With my boys growing and flourishing in this new environment, Jane's career exceeding that of my own, my drive to provide was replenished. New friends established, old ones maintained and life goes on. My motivations these days are not so different as they were when we married 23 years ago. I just have to remind myslef of them from time to time. Be a husband and father, provide sustenance and guidance, be a role model and impart values that put the boys in good stead for thier future. You only have to see Lewis cutting off the bit of bread with the olives in it to give Griff the 'olive free' version, that I am succeeeding. His sub-motivation could be to access the PS3 though.