"Grabbing the brass ring" is a cliche. We know that. But do you know where it comes from? At amusement parks and carnivals, there was a post outside of the carousel that held a brass ring. It was beyond most peoples' reach while they were riding the carousel, but if you tried really hard and reached way out, you'd get it. Then you would turn in the brass ring to the carnival barker and they would give you something special, a prize.
What does this have to do with success? Everything. Because we're human. And we operate best in a system of positive reinforcement, or rewards. The brass ring was a goal. The prize was your reward for reaching that goal.
Back to the carnival. If you got the brass ring and just put it in your pocket to show all of your friends, they would say what did you get for it? Who wants a boring old brass ring when you could have had a reward? This shows two things: One, the brass ring was a Goal, not a reward. Two, there's nothing wrong with receiving a reward when you achieve a goal. You've earned it.
Back to real life. Let's say you've been working very hard on a project and you finish ahead of schedule. Finishing the project is the goal. What is the reward? A bonus from your boss? A raise? A pat on the back? What if you get nothing? What if you don't even get a thank you? Cue the dramatic music, please. You would be upset and resentful towards your boss for not even recognizing your extra effort. Maybe the satisfaction of a job well done is enough for some people. Personally I need a reward system to keep my motivation up. That's how my husband ended up quitting smoking: through a goal-oriented, positive reward system.
Now what if you're the boss, or perhaps a parent. In either case, setting up a healthy and appropriate goal/reward system will certainly encourage motivation and therefore effort. It's a win/win situation.
You can set goals for anything. In fact, you probably already do without even thinking about it. Now you have to figure out how to reward yourself, because you can't count on others for your own motivational foundation. In other words, you are responsible for yourself.
Here's the Plan:
1. Set a Goal for yourself. It can be anything from a simple chore to a life-changing goal such as quitting smoking.
2. Write it down, on paper. Add pictures if it will help. This is a very important step. It helps make your goal concrete and real.
3. Put the paper in a prominent place. Copy it and put it in several places where you'll see it easily, like on the fridge, or the bathroom mirror. This helps your conscious and subconscious mind stay focused on the goal.
4. Determine a suitable reward. It has to be proportionate to the task. For example, if you clean the kitchen, you can have an ice cream sandwich, you can't have a new car. But, if your goal is to quit smoking, then the ultimate reward should also be sizeable, and you should write it down as well. Incremental goals will help you maintain focus along the way. For example, my husband had 1-day, 1-week, 1-month rewards (appropriately proportioned) and so on, until he reached his eventual goal of being smoke free. In case you're wondering, after 1 year of being smoke free he rewarded himself with a motorcycle, and has been smoke free for 5 years. (He was able to afford the bike with the money he saved from not smoking.)
This simple formula will work as long as you are determined to put in the effort. It's not magic, you have to do your part, but it's quite satisfying. Here's to your success!
Neece, like everyone else, enjoys the finer things in life. She researches and discovers the best things available so you can find the luxuries you deserve as well as gifts for those you love all in one convenient place.
http://www.authenticindulgences.com/
Characteristics Of A Buddha
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