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Motivation



A manager, who had just returned from a Motivation Seminar, called an employee into his office and said, “Hence forth you are going to be allowed to plan and control your job.  That will raise productivity considerably, I am sure.”

“Will I be paid more?” asked the worker.

“No, no.  Money is not a motivator and you will get no satisfaction from a salary raise.  Happiness comes from within, you know.”

“Well, if I do my job better and production does increase, will I be paid more?”

“Look,” said the manager.  “You obviously do not understand the motivation theory.  Take this book home and read it; it explains what it is that really motivates you.”

As the man was leaving, he turned and asked, “If I read this book will I be paid more?”


The above story is taken from Anthony de Mello’s book of parables, The Prayer of the Frog.

The moral given by the author is: “Truth does not lie in theories.”


A meeting which I attended today motivated me to bring this story here.   People, including me, have their own pet theories about almost anything.  The truth lies beyond those theories.  The truth often lies in simple things, like feeling of security, for example.   The real motivator is that simple, personal truth.

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  1. NamrotaJanuary 14, 2014 at 12:24 PM

    I feel every individual has his/ her own motivational ingredient in life...its always situational.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 14, 2014 at 3:26 PM

      It is always situational, Namrota. Put a man in a slum and he will have a totally different motive for acting compared to putting the same man in a mall.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2014 at 3:16 PM

    nice post!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DeepanshiJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:26 PM

    thats so wonderful....great thought ...“Truth does not lie in theories.”
    Action is the word....which is in demand today ....rest of the things remain peacefully theortical......

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJanuary 16, 2014 at 6:46 PM

    It's hard for philosophers to believe but I think nothing beats money when it comes to motivation. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 17, 2014 at 7:56 PM

      Indeed, Pankti. But there are some exceptions, of course.

      Delete
  5. UnknownJanuary 21, 2014 at 12:38 PM

    It depends....what motivates which time. ...money does matter sometimes. .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 23, 2014 at 9:25 AM

      Why only "sometimes"? Doesn't money matter most times? In today's world?

      Delete

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