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Executive Blueprints
                www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com
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Why We Work

What drives your desire? Typically individuals are motivated by one of the following three reasons:

More Money
The desire to make more money may be related to financial obligations to support a family, to pay for education, to earn recognition, or to have the ability to purchase personal luxury items. The desire to sustain or increase financial status should not be confused with greed. Greed is associated with inflicting harm to others in the pursuit of personal gain. The pursuit of financial reward can also be accomplished by ethical means, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and cooperation. If you are motivated by monetary reward, don't question your motivation, just use principled judgment in your actions to achieve your goals.

More Time Off
Sometimes the motivation to work hard is based on personal rewards. It may be a desire to finish early and spend more time with the family, enjoy vacations, or seek early retirement. Family time and personal activities can be powerful motivation. If your priorities are at home, then your professional efforts should be designed to support and sustain your priorities. Invest your time and energy in your professional responsibilities, but reserve your emotional investments for home.

Make a Difference
Sometimes the most powerful motivation is the desire to contribute to a greater good. This is evident in professional organizations as well as volunteer associations. Some individuals are rewarded and inspired by helping coworkers, customers or clients to achieve greater goals. For some, working long hours or making personal sacrifice is justified by the positive impact to the customer, the coworker or the company bottom line. It can be a desire to see measured accomplishment, or to see improved satisfaction.

None of these reasons is any more or less noble than the others. Reasons for motivation are not good or bad, we can only measure and compare the methods to achieve the desired results. Once you embrace your personal motivation, you can make plans and daily decisions that influence and support your motivation. It may be taking another look at your savings, how you use your energy or your time management. Fuel your personal power by recognizing how your daily efforts contribute to your personal motivation and your enthusiasm will be contagious. 

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Words of Wisdom

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting."
- Benjamin Franklin

"Retirement kills more people than hard work ever did."
- Malcolm S. Forbes

"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." 
- William Shakespeare

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers." 
- Daniel J Boorstin

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You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.

About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.

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