Self Motivation | Brendan Clark | TEDxYouth@BarnstableHS

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker emphasizes the critical role of motivation in achieving success and effecting change. They argue that while motivation comes naturally for passions and interests, the true test is finding it in mundane or uninteresting tasks. The speaker suggests putting oneself in others' shoes to understand the value and appreciation of one's efforts, which can drive motivation. They share personal anecdotes about finding motivation in tasks like dressing well and attending town council meetings, highlighting that appreciation from others can be a powerful motivator. The talk concludes with a call to harness motivation to make a difference and change the way things are done.

Takeaways

• 🔑 Motivation is essential for effecting change and achieving goals.
• 📄 The difference between work done with and without motivation is evident.
• 🌟 Motivation is the driving force behind our daily activities.
• 🤔 Finding motivation in uninteresting tasks is a true test of one's determination.
• 👟 Personal interests like sports, drama, or music naturally inspire motivation.
• 👣 Motivation can be found in everything, even in tasks that don't initially interest us.
• 👟 Empathy, by putting oneself in another's shoes, can uncover motivation.
• 🙏 Appreciation from others for our efforts is a significant motivator.
• 📚 Even mundane tasks like filing papers can be motivated by considering their impact on others.
• 👔 Dressing well is not just for personal enjoyment but also for the appreciation it garners.
• 💪 Motivation is crucial for making a difference and bringing about change.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speech?

The main topic of the speech is motivation and its importance in effecting change and achieving goals in various aspects of life.

Why does the speaker believe motivation is crucial?

The speaker believes motivation is crucial because it is the underlying factor that drives people to accomplish their tasks and make a difference in what they do.

How does the speaker differentiate between a paper written without motivation and one written with passion?

The speaker implies that a paper written with drive and passion will clearly be superior to one written without motivation, as the passion reflects in the quality and effort put into the work.

What does the speaker suggest as a method to find motivation in uninteresting tasks?

The speaker suggests putting oneself in someone else's shoes and considering how one's effort will be appreciated and help others, which can serve as a source of motivation.

Why does the speaker personally find motivation in attending town council meetings and reading budgets?

The speaker finds motivation in these activities because they believe that their effort and attention to such details are appreciated by others and contribute positively to the community.

What role does appreciation play in the speaker's motivation?

Appreciation plays a significant role in the speaker's motivation, as the recognition and thanks from others for their efforts are what inspire them to continue doing their best.

How does the speaker approach assignments given by teachers?

The speaker approaches assignments by considering the effort the teacher put into creating the assignment and the appreciation they will have for the work done, which motivates them to complete it well.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate finding motivation in mundane tasks?

The speaker gives the example of filing papers, suggesting that one should think about the help and the responsibility they are fulfilling for others, which can be a source of motivation.

Why does the speaker dress finely every day?

The speaker dresses finely not only because they enjoy it but primarily because they know people appreciate the extra time and effort they put into their appearance.

What is the speaker's final message about motivation?

The speaker's final message is that motivation is essential for achieving one's goals and making a difference. With motivation, one has the passion to effect change and improve the way things are done.

How does the speaker suggest we should tackle issues or tasks that we might initially find uninteresting?

The speaker suggests that we should look for the appreciation and the positive impact our efforts can have on others, which can serve as motivation to tackle even the most uninteresting tasks.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Power of Motivation

The speaker, Victor Borges, begins by emphasizing the importance of motivation in achieving goals and effecting change. He contrasts the quality of work done without motivation to that done with passion and drive, highlighting motivation as a key factor in daily tasks. Borges suggests that while it's easy to be motivated by things we're passionate about, the real challenge is finding motivation in tasks that don't interest us. He shares his personal interest in mundane activities like town council meetings and budget reading, and encourages the audience to find motivation by considering the impact of their work on others. Borges recommends putting oneself in others' shoes to understand the value of their efforts and how their work can be appreciated by others. He concludes by stressing that motivation is crucial for making a difference and achieving desired outcomes.

Keywords

💡Motivation

Motivation refers to the internal and external factors that drive individuals to take action and achieve goals. In the video, motivation is portrayed as the key to effecting change and achieving what one sets out to do. The speaker emphasizes that motivation is essential in daily activities and can be found even in tasks that may not inherently interest us. For instance, the speaker finds motivation in reading a lengthy town budget, suggesting that motivation can be cultivated by understanding the value and impact of one's actions on others.

💡Change

Change, in the context of the video, represents the transformation or improvement that can be achieved through motivated action. The speaker suggests that motivation is necessary to drive change, whether it's personal, professional, or societal. The concept is exemplified by the idea that a motivated individual can make a significant difference in their work or in the world around them.

💡Passion

Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion, typically one that is aligned with a deep interest or enjoyment in something. The video script uses the term to illustrate how passion can fuel motivation, leading to higher quality work and a greater sense of fulfillment. The speaker contrasts papers written with and without passion, highlighting the superior outcome of the前者.

💡Effort

Effort is the exertion of physical or mental energy to achieve a goal or complete a task. In the video, effort is closely tied to motivation, as the speaker explains that without motivation, one is unlikely to put forth the effort needed to achieve desired outcomes. The speaker encourages viewing tasks through the lens of the appreciation it will garner, which in turn can motivate the effort required.

💡Appreciation

Appreciation, in this context, means recognizing the value or importance of something or someone's efforts. The speaker uses appreciation as a motivator, suggesting that the knowledge that one's work will be valued or appreciated by others can inspire motivation. This is exemplified when the speaker talks about doing assignments, implying that the teacher's appreciation for the effort can be a driving force.

💡Interest

Interest here refers to a feeling of wanting to know or learn more about something or someone. The video discusses how motivation often comes naturally when one is interested in a subject or activity. However, the speaker challenges the audience to find motivation even in areas that do not immediately interest them, suggesting that motivation can be cultivated.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is the process of being motivated, typically to do something, by someone or something. The script mentions inspiration as a source of motivation, where individuals are driven by external influences or internal ideas to pursue their interests and passions. The speaker implies that finding inspiration can lead to heightened motivation.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in the video is depicted as the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or someone. The speaker connects responsibility with motivation by suggesting that understanding one's role and the impact of one's actions on others can lead to a sense of responsibility that, in turn, motivates action.

💡Task

A task is a piece of work that needs to be done, often used to describe a specific job or duty. The video uses the term 'task' to represent any activity or assignment that one might undertake. The speaker encourages finding motivation in tasks, even mundane ones like filing papers, by considering the positive impact and appreciation these tasks can bring to others.

💡Fulfillment

Fulfillment refers to the state of being satisfied and pleased, typically because one has achieved something. In the context of the video, fulfillment is mentioned as an outcome of motivated action. The speaker implies that when one is motivated and puts effort into a task, they are likely to feel a sense of fulfillment upon completion.

💡Difference

Difference, in the video, signifies a change or a distinction made by one's actions. The speaker talks about the power of motivation to make a difference, suggesting that with motivation, individuals can enact change and create a distinct impact on their surroundings or in their work.

Highlights

Motivation is key to effecting change in anything you do.

Motivation can be seen in the difference between a paper written without effort and one written with passion.

Motivation is the underlying factor in everything we do daily.

Lack of motivation hinders achieving goals.

People are naturally motivated by their passions and interests.

The true test of motivation is finding it in uninteresting tasks.

The speaker finds motivation in activities like attending town council meetings and reading budgets.

Motivation can be found in everything, even if it doesn't initially interest you.

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes can help find motivation.

Understanding the impact of your work on others can be motivating.

Appreciation from others for your effort is a strong motivator.

Even mundane tasks like filing papers can be seen as helpful to others.

Responsibility and helping others fulfill their roles can be motivating.

The speaker dresses finely not just for personal enjoyment but because others appreciate it.

Motivation is crucial for accomplishing goals.

With motivation, you have the passion to effect change and make a difference.

Motivation allows you to change the way things are done and make an impact.

The speaker thanks the audience for their time and attention.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Victor Borges Reviewer: David DeRuwe

Thank you for such a wonderful introduction.

Great.

I'm here today to talk about motivation,

and I've learned in my few years on this earth

that motivation is really the key

to effecting change in anything that you do.

You can put a paper that was written without motivation, without any effort,

and a paper that was written with drive and passion

next to each other;

it's clear which one is the winner.

Motivation is the underlying factor,

I believe, in everything that we do on a daily basis.

If you don't have motivation in something that you do,

then you really can't achieve what it is that you want to achieve.

Everyone has motivation for things they're passionate about,

things that interest you, things that inspire you,

and of course you'll have motivation

if you play a sport, if you're in drama, if you're in a band,

you'll have motivation to accomplish that task.

But the true test of finding motivation

is if you can find it in something that doesn't interest you.

Personally, I'm interested in sitting through town council meetings

and reading the 404-page town of Barnstable budget.

But others might not find so much paper so interesting.

However, motivation can be found in everything that you do.

I like to look at it, in terms of finding motivation,

as just putting yourself in someone else's shoes.

When you're questioning, "Why do I have to do this?

Why do I have to put in the time and the effort?"

you can just look at what you're doing

and say, "This helps this person because ... "

or "This person is going to appreciate

my effort and my motivation on this task because ... "

And I've always found that that appreciation

that others have for the effort that you put in,

that's what motivates me,

the fact that someone is going to appreciate what I did.

So when the teacher gives you a paper or something to do,

and you say, "This is stupid. I have better things to do.

I'd much rather go outside and throw a football."

Whatever it is,

look at it and say, "This person is going to appreciate the work.

This person put in the effort to create the assignment.

Now they're going to see it and appreciate it."

I do that in every assignment I'm given

and everything that is ever brought before me.

And that's always something that I think we need to go out and look at

when we go out to tackle an issue.

Filing papers - people might not find it interesting.

But think about how much help you're doing to somebody else.

Think about the responsibility that you're helping someone else fulfill.

And that sort of help and appreciation motivates you.

For me, fine dressing is something that I like to do every single day,

and I don't just do it because I enjoy it; I do it because people appreciate it.

People see that I took the extra time

to prepare myself for whatever it is that I'm doing,

and they thank me for it, and that thanks, that appreciation,

is truly what motivates me to go out

and do whatever it is that is put before me.

So I want to finish briefly

just by saying that motivation is so important in anything that you do,

and without it, you really can't accomplish what you want,

but with it, you have the passion to effect change,

the passion to make a difference,

and you really do have the passion

to go out and change the way things are done

and make a difference in anything that you want to do.

Thank you for your time and your ears.

(Applause)