When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get feedback and information on how they're doing.
Interpretation
Progress and improvement motivate individuals, requiring feedback to understand their growth.
In this quote, Daniel H. Pink emphasizes the relationship between progress and motivation. He suggests that as individuals improve in their skills or tasks, the feeling of making progress becomes a driving force for further effort. This process is supported by receiving feedback and information, which help individuals understand their performance and areas for improvement, ultimately fueling their motivation to continue developing and achieving their goals.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a motivational seminar to inspire employees about feedback and growth.
While complying can be an effective strategy for physical survival, it's a lousy one for personal fulfillment. Living a satisfying life requires more than simply meeting the demands of those in control. Yet in our offices and our classrooms we have way too much compliance and way too little engagement. The former might get you through the day, but only the latter will get you through the night.
Succeeding makes us feel good. But beating someone else makes us feel really good. Comparing ourselves to others and coming out on top creates a sense of entitlement. And when we feel entitled, we cheat more because, of course, the rules don't apply to awesome people like us.
We have this myth that extroverts are better salespeople. As a result, extroverts are more likely to enter sales; extroverts are more likely to get promoted in sales jobs. But if you look at the correlation between extroversion and actual sales performance - that is, how many times the cash register actually rings - the correlation's almost zero.
Too many people hold a very narrow view of what motivates us. They believe that the only way to get us moving is with the jab of a stick or the promise of a carrot. But if you look at over 50 years of research on motivation, or simply scrutinize your own behavior, it's pretty clear human beings are more complicated than that.
Greatness and nearsightedness are incompatible. Meaningful achievement depends on lifting one's sights and pushing toward the horizon.
In many professions, what used to matter most were abilities associated with the left side of the brain: linear, sequential, spreadsheet kind of faculties. Those still matter, but they're not enough.
What we can control is our performance and our execution, and that's what we're going to focus on.
Human beings thrive on action. Stagnation does not wear well with us. We are said to have our origins as hunter-gatherers. We run and we chase. We are problem-solvers. We must be continuously tested and we continuously test ourselves. And it will not end until our lives end because of life itself.
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime, what better place than here? What better time than now?
Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.
A goal properly set is halfway reached.
Gymnastics is a lot like life. You don't become an Elite gymnast by bickering and having a negative attitude. You have to be positive to get to that level.
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