How To Stay Motivated - The Locus Rule

Summary

In a 1998 study by Claudia M Mueller at Columbia University, fifth graders were given puzzles and praised for their performance. Half were told they succeeded due to being smart, while the other half were credited for their hard work. The former chose easier puzzles and showed less motivation, while the latter tackled harder ones, demonstrating increased motivation. This highlights the importance of an internal locus of control for sustained motivation. The narrator's sales team experience further illustrates the impact of believing in one's ability to influence outcomes.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The study by Claudia M Mueller at Columbia University in 1998 explored the effects of praise on motivation in fifth graders.
• 🏆 Students were praised for their performance on puzzles, with some told they succeeded due to hard work and others due to innate intelligence.
• 🔑 The students praised for their hard work showed higher motivation, spending more time on challenging puzzles compared to those praised for intelligence.
• 💡 The study highlights the importance of an internal locus of control, where individuals believe their actions determine their outcomes.
• 🧠 An external locus of control was associated with less motivation, as students believed success was due to uncontrollable factors like innate intelligence.
• 🤔 The study's findings suggest that attributing success to effort rather than ability can foster a growth mindset and increase motivation.
• 🛠️ Developing an internal locus of control can be achieved by solving personal problems and recognizing the role of one's actions in the solution.
• 💡 The speaker's personal experience with a sales team illustrates the practical implications of the locus of control in a real-world setting.
• 🚪 Salespeople with an external locus of control were less likely to persist in the face of rejection, attributing failure to external factors.
• 💪 Adopting an internal locus of control can be cultivated by acknowledging personal efforts and their direct impact on outcomes.
• 📚 The transcript mentions Skillshare as a resource for learning and improving skills, which can contribute to a sense of control and motivation.

Q & A

Who conducted the study mentioned in the script and where?

The study was conducted by Professor Claudia M. Mueller at Columbia University.

What was the main focus of the study conducted by Professor Claudia M. Mueller?

The study focused on the effects of praise on the motivation and performance of fifth graders when working on challenging puzzles.

How were the fifth graders divided after being told they scored well on the puzzles?

Half of the students were told they scored high because they worked hard, while the other half were told they scored high because they were smart and gifted.

What were the three types of puzzles the students were presented with after receiving their feedback?

The students were presented with easy puzzles, medium difficulty puzzles, and extremely challenging puzzles.

How did the students who were told they were smart behave during the subsequent puzzle tasks?

The students who were told they were smart spent the majority of their time on the easy puzzles, almost no time on the extremely challenging puzzles, and overall spent much less time trying to solve any of the puzzles.

What was the reaction of the students who were told they were smart to the overall experiment?

The students who were told they were smart reported that they did not enjoy the experiment.

How did the students who were told they worked hard behave during the subsequent puzzle tasks?

The students who were told they worked hard spent the majority of their time focused on the harder puzzles and spent more time overall attempting to solve any of the puzzles.

What was the reaction of the students who were told they worked hard to the overall experiment?

The students who were told they worked hard reported that they enjoyed the entire experience.

What concept does the script introduce to explain the different behaviors of the two groups of students?

The script introduces the concept of the locus of control to explain the different behaviors. An external locus of control refers to believing that external factors are the cause of one's success or failure, while an internal locus of control refers to believing that one's own efforts and actions are the cause.

According to the script, what is a key factor in maintaining motivation?

Having an internal locus of control, which means believing that you have control over your life and are responsible for your outcomes, is key to maintaining motivation.

How did the speaker in the script use the concept of locus of control in their sales team management?

The speaker would ask new salespeople why they thought they made no sales on a bad day. If they blamed external factors, it indicated an external locus of control and the speaker would know they wouldn't last. If they took responsibility, it indicated an internal locus of control, showing they were more likely to succeed.

What practical advice does the script offer for developing an internal locus of control?

The script advises solving problems in your own life and then recognizing that it was your actions that led to the positive outcomes. This helps build the belief that you have control over your destiny.

What example is provided in the script to illustrate how to develop an internal locus of control?

The script gives an example of someone who struggles with falling asleep. By researching and implementing changes such as getting more sunlight in the morning, only using the bed for sleeping, and installing a blue light filter on their phone, they can improve their sleep. Recognizing that these actions led to better sleep helps develop an internal locus of control.

What is the main takeaway from the study and the concept of locus of control as presented in the script?

The main takeaway is that fostering an internal locus of control can significantly improve motivation and overall satisfaction, as individuals believe their efforts directly impact their outcomes.

Outlines

00:00

🧩 Study on Praise and Student Motivation

In 1998, a study conducted by Professor Claudia M. Mueller at Columbia University involved fifth graders working on challenging puzzles. Regardless of their actual performance, all children were told they did well. Half were praised for their effort, while the other half were praised for their intelligence. The results showed that students praised for intelligence chose easier puzzles and exhibited lower motivation, whereas those praised for effort selected harder puzzles and showed increased motivation. This experiment highlights the concept of locus of control, emphasizing the importance of attributing success to effort rather than inherent intelligence.

05:01

🔄 Locus of Control: Internal vs. External

The study demonstrated the difference between internal and external locus of control. Children told they did well because they were smart developed an external locus of control, believing their success was due to factors beyond their control. Conversely, children praised for their effort developed an internal locus of control, attributing their success to their own actions. Having an internal locus of control is crucial for sustained motivation, as it instills a belief in personal responsibility and control over outcomes.

🚪 Personal Experience with Locus of Control in Sales

The speaker shares a personal anecdote from managing a door-to-door sales team, noting that individuals with an external locus of control often quit quickly. When new salespeople faced a bad day, those who blamed external factors like weather or the neighborhood were less likely to succeed. In contrast, those who took responsibility for their lack of sales demonstrated an internal locus of control and were more persistent. This reinforces the idea that believing in personal control over outcomes is essential for motivation and success.

🛠️ Adopting an Internal Locus of Control

To develop an internal locus of control, the speaker suggests solving personal problems and recognizing the impact of one's actions. For example, someone struggling with sleep might research and implement strategies like increasing morning sunlight exposure and using blue light filters on devices. When these efforts lead to better sleep, acknowledging that personal actions made the difference reinforces the belief in one's control over their life. This practice can significantly enhance motivation.

📚 Skillshare: A Resource for Personal Growth

The speaker promotes Skillshare, an online learning platform offering over 25,000 classes on various subjects. They recommend the 'Productivity Today' course, which teaches methods to improve focus and attention span. Developing these skills can help build an internal locus of control, further boosting motivation. The video concludes with a recommendation to explore Skillshare for continuous personal development.

Keywords

💡Locus of Control

Locus of control refers to the degree to which individuals believe they have control over the events in their lives. The video contrasts an external locus of control, where people attribute outcomes to outside factors, with an internal locus of control, where individuals believe their actions directly influence results. For example, students told they did well because they were smart developed an external locus of control, while those praised for their effort developed an internal locus of control.

💡Internal Locus of Control

An internal locus of control is the belief that one's own actions are the primary cause of outcomes. In the video, students praised for their hard work showed increased motivation and persistence, indicating they felt their effort directly influenced their success. This concept is central to maintaining motivation, as it fosters a sense of responsibility and control over one’s achievements.

💡External Locus of Control

An external locus of control is the belief that external factors, rather than personal actions, determine outcomes. The video illustrates this with students who were told they did well because they were smart; they focused more on easy tasks and showed less motivation, believing their success was due to innate intelligence rather than effort. This belief can lead to decreased effort and motivation.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the drive to engage in activities and pursue goals. The video shows how an internal locus of control boosts motivation by making individuals feel responsible for their success. Students praised for their hard work showed greater motivation to tackle challenging puzzles, demonstrating how a belief in personal control can enhance perseverance and enjoyment.

💡Praise

Praise in the context of the video is the positive feedback given to students about their performance. The type of praise—whether for intelligence or effort—affects their motivation and choice of tasks. Praising effort led to increased motivation and engagement with difficult tasks, while praising intelligence led to avoidance of challenges.

💡Experiment

The experiment conducted by Claudia M. Mueller involved giving students challenging puzzles and then praising them for either their intelligence or their effort. The results showed significant differences in the students' subsequent behavior and motivation, highlighting the impact of the type of praise on their locus of control and enjoyment of tasks.

💡Problem-Solving

Problem-solving refers to the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. The video suggests that actively solving problems and recognizing personal efforts in these solutions can help develop an internal locus of control. For example, adjusting habits to improve sleep and acknowledging the impact of these changes reinforces the belief in personal control over outcomes.

💡Feedback

Feedback is the information given about performance or behavior. In the video, feedback in the form of praise for intelligence or effort significantly influenced the students' motivation and task choice. Constructive feedback that emphasizes effort over innate ability can foster a growth mindset and higher motivation.

💡Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This concept aligns with the internal locus of control. The video illustrates that students who were praised for their effort adopted a growth mindset, spending more time on challenging tasks and enjoying the experience more, as opposed to those praised for intelligence who developed a fixed mindset.

💡Sales Team

The sales team example in the video highlights how locus of control affects motivation and performance in a professional setting. Individuals with an internal locus of control who attributed their sales performance to their own efforts were more persistent and motivated, while those with an external locus of control who blamed external factors were less likely to succeed.

Highlights

In 1998, a study at Columbia University by Professor Claudia M Mueller explored the impact of praise on fifth graders' motivation.

Students were given challenging puzzles and subsequently praised for their performance.

Half of the students were told they did well due to their intelligence, while the other half were praised for their hard work.

Students praised for intelligence chose easier puzzles and showed lower motivation.

Students praised for effort spent more time on challenging puzzles, indicating higher motivation.

The study revealed that the type of praise affects students' enjoyment and engagement in tasks.

The concept of 'locus of control' is introduced, explaining the degree to which individuals believe they control their lives.

Students praised for intelligence developed an external locus of control, attributing success to uncontrollable factors.

Students praised for effort developed an internal locus of control, believing their actions led to outcomes.

Internal locus of control is linked to sustained motivation and responsibility for life outcomes.

The speaker's personal experience with a sales team illustrates the real-world application of locus of control.

Salespeople with an external locus of control were less likely to succeed due to attributing failure to external factors.

Adopting an internal locus of control can be achieved by solving personal problems and recognizing one's efforts.

The transcript suggests that recognizing personal efforts in problem-solving can boost motivation.

Skillshare is promoted as a platform for learning and improving skills, with a special mention of a productivity course.

The productivity course on Skillshare is recommended for increasing attention span and fostering an internal locus of control.

Transcripts

A study was conducted in 1998 at Columbia University by a professor

Claudia M Mueller she took a large group of fifth graders

and had them work on numerous puzzles by themselves now these were very

challenging puzzles but regardless of how well each child did he or she was

told that they scored very well that they did better than most of the other

kids afterwards half of these students were told that they scored high because

they worked hard while the other half were told that it was all because they

were smart and gifted then they presented each student with three more

types of puzzles to work on easy ones medium difficulty ones and extremely

challenging ones and what they found was very interesting the students who were

told that they did well because they were smart spent the majority of their

time on the easy puzzles they spent almost no time on the extremely

challenging puzzles and spent much less time overall trying to solve any of the

puzzles which was a sign of lower levels of motivation and to top it all off when

asked whether or not they enjoyed the experiment they said that it wasn't that

fun for them on the other hand the students who were told that they did

well because they worked hard spent the majority of their time focused on the

harder puzzles they also spent a lot more time overall attempting to solve

any of the puzzles which was a sign of an increase in levels of motivation and

to top it all off after the experiment they said that they actually enjoyed the

entire experience so what can we learn from this study well there's a concept

called the locus of control which is essentially the degree to which you

believe you have control over your life the kids who were told that they did

well because they were smart and gifted were led to believe in what's called an

external locus of control they were led to believe that factors

outside of what they could control where the reason they did well right you can't

control whether or not you're born smart on the other hand the kids were told

they did well because they worked hard started to believe in what's called an

internal locus of control they believed that it was factors they

controlled that led to their outcomes it was their hard work and their extra

effort that allowed them to do well on the puzzles right because how much work

you put into something is something that you have

complete control over now studies on the locus of control like this one have

found time and time again that having an internal locus of control is the key to

staying motivated you must feel like you have control over your life and that you

are responsible for the things that happen to you if you want to feel

motivated all of the time I saw this happen with my own eyes back in the day

when I was in charge of a sales team this wasn't retail sales or car sales

this was old-school door-to-door sales which has one of the highest turnover

rates most people only last a week before quitting see you need to be an

extremely motivated individual to be able to face hundreds and hundreds of

rejections every single day before someone even considers buying something

from you now over time I was able to develop a keen eye for who would

actually last who I should spend more time and energy training all I had to do

was ask a simple question when a new salesperson on my team was confronted

with their first bad day a day in which they made no sales I would ask him why

do you think you made no sales today and I would see how they would respond if

they blame things like the weather the fact that it's a weekend and nobody

wants to be bothered on the weekends or because it was the neighborhood I would

instantly know that they wouldn't last because they had an external locus of

control they believed that the reason they couldn't make any sales was because

of factors outside of their control and because of this they spent less time

knocking on doors which was ultimately the real reason why they weren't making

any sales that's the curse of having an external locus of control when you feel

like nothing you do matters you stop working you stop trying

cuz what's the point of trying when the worlds conspiring against you right so

how do we adopt an internal locus of control so that we can start feeling

motivated all of the time well they found that the best way to do so is by

simply solving problems in your own life and then taking some time in

appreciating the fact that it was your actions that solve this problem I'll

give you an example just to make things more clear let's say you're someone who

struggles with falling asleep so you go do some research and you find out if you

get some more sunlight in the morning if you only use your bed for sleeping and

if you install a blue light filter on your phone

that should drastically increase your to sleep faster when bedtime comes

around you do all of those things and lo and behold you find yourself sleeping 15

minutes faster than before when you notice this improvement you need to say

to yourself wow it was because of the changes I made because of the effort I

put in that I am now able to sleep better it's that simple build up that

belief that you are in control of your destiny that you have an internal locus

of control and you will never have issues with motivation in your life

again this episode's brought so you have to help the guys at Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community for creators with more than

25,000 classes in design business and much much more if there's something you

want to learn and improve on chances are there's a class on that exact subject on

Skillshare click on the link in the description box below to get a 2 month

free trial after which it will only cost $10 a month to remain a member I suggest

you guys to check out the productivity today course which essentially teaches

you ways to increase and improve your attention span which we all know needs

to be worked on taking this course will allow you to focus and get more things

done which is a great way to develop that internal locus of control so you

will feel even more motivated in the future so I definitely recommend you

guys to check it out besides that guys stay tuned

you