‘THREE SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS FOR ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS’
by Susan Fowler
Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 9781523098620
eBook ISBN: 9781523098644
Copyright (c) 2019 by Susan Fowler
“Simplifying motivation into two types, intrinsic and extrinsic, presents a conundrum when you aren’t intrinsically motivated. Your only fallback position is extrinsic motivation. And if extrinsic motivation is your only other option, you are more likely to succumb to traditional and outdated techniques to compensate for your lack of intrinsic motivation—perpetuating those proverbial extrinsic carrots and sticks to motivate yourself and others.
The challenge this book takes on is to simplify motivation science without oversimplifying it. Yes, this new and cutting-edge science is more complex— and reaching the other side of complexity takes time, experimentation, and diligence. That’s why I’ve spent decades working with some of the best minds in the world to develop a unique framework and approach to motivation that has proven both empirically sound and practical to use.
When my book Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does was published in 2014, its focus was to teach leaders how to nurture a work environment where people are more likely to experience optimal motivation, produce results, and thrive.
The focus of this book is you. Instead of waiting for someone else to shape your motivation, you will learn the skills for mastering your own motivation. The ideas have been vetted by individuals from across the globe in almost every type of industry you can imagine, representing people of all ages and generations. Many of them share their firsthand accounts in this book. My greatest hope is that you will discover and embrace the insights and tools to master your motivation, improve the quality of your life, and, in the process, find joy in contributing to a world that works for all.
PART ONE
THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTIVATION
What if you were offered three elixirs promising to transform your everyday experiences? Imagine you suddenly understood the real reason dieting doesn’t work and what does. Imagine you grasped why you tear your hair out each month to submit expense reports on time and how to meet those deadlines while not losing your hair. Imagine discovering peace of mind.
What if you were told these magic potions could help you generate the positive energy you need to achieve your goals, promote your mental and physical health, experience well-being, be more creative, improve your work performance, and fuel work passion? The only caveat is that the three elixirs must be used in unison—each potion by itself is beneficial, but real magic happens when you combine them. Would you be intrigued enough to explore the possibilities?
The three scientific truths at the heart of mastering your motivation are like the three elixirs. Using them in combination could transform the way you approach goals and live your life. These three scientific truths are not a magic cure-all that is too good to be true; they are backed up by empirical research and testimonials from people with firsthand experience. Frankly, the three scientific truths to master your motivation are even better than elixirs because they work like magic but are real, don’t cost a fortune, and won’t cause harmful side effects. Their discovery represents one of the greatest breakthroughs in motivation science.
FROM THE BOOK JACKET:
If you want to accomplish what’s important to you, discipline and willpower won’t get you where you need to go. In this iconoclastic new book, Susan Fowler reveals compelling insights and actions to help you master and maintain your motivation.
Motivation is at the heart of everything you do and everything you want to do but don’t. Unfortunately, the ways we typically motivate ourselves don’t work. Relying on sheer determination eventually becomes exhausting—it’s not sustainable. And even setting goals can backfire—if you’re not setting them for the right reasons.
Susan Fowler says motivation is energy, and what matters is the quality, not the quantity. Traditional _motivators_ such as fear, guilt, or the promise of a reward provide low-quality, short-term energy. Drawing on the latest empirical research, she proves that high-quality, optimal motivation is a skill that you can learn and apply.
Science tells us that satisfying three basic needs—for choice, connection, and competence—is essential to optimal motivation. You need to feel like you’ve picked your path, not that you’re being driven down it. Your goal should be linked to people or a purpose meaningful to you. And you want to continually learn and grow.
Through practical exercises and eye-opening stories, Fowler shows you how to identify and shift the quality of your motivation. The skill to master your motivation is important—it may be your greatest opportunity to evolve, grow in wisdom, and be the light the world so desperately needs.
AUTHOR INFO:
Susan Fowler has thirty-five years_ experience as a consultant, coach, and global leader in the field of personal empowerment. She is the creator and lead developer of the Ken Blanchard Companies_ Optimal Motivation product line and author of Why Motivating People Doesn_t Work . . . and What Does, as well as the coauthor of six books (three with Ken Blanchard). She is also a professor in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership program at the University of San Diego.
This week’s selection ‘MASTER YOUR MOTIVATION: THREE SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS FOR ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS’ by Susan Fowler appears Monday thru Friday and comes to you courtesy of dearreader.com, and BurlingtonPublicLibrary.ca Business Online Book Club.
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