Growing up in a middle class family of seven was a learning experience that caused me to think often about the whole issue of success and motivation. Our family was a microcosm of the different income levels ranging from wealth too low middle class. I researched the motivations (or lack) of those within these layers and here is what I discovered: somewhere in the lives of those who aspire to the top is an underlying reason why they need to Excel. Their reason is governed by two factors, craving for more, and fear of loss.
These types are, in a Word, driven. They can't sit still until they reach a certain goal and as soon as that goal is attained a new target larger than the first. Those of us who want to succeed can learn from these motivated people.
I've learned from my uncle Charlie (the Millionaire of the family) who gave me great advice. On one occasion I was visiting his factory and he shared some thoughts. He told me that since the Federal Reserve creating mini depression I could count on recurring booms and busts in the economy and should plan accordingly. When I look back at his company, I see exactly how he followed this advice.
Although the economy is booming and that he saved cash when the economy was a down-turn he would get a great price on new equipment and a new building. This has happened every time! Het verbaasde me; others would act like chicken little to say "the economy will never recover this time" or "it can take 10 years to pull off this" but Uncle Charlie just kept on building right through the apparent worst of times. His company grew bigger and better every time.
Uncle Charlie was one of the most honest and decent people I've ever known and this was a big factor in his success. When he said that he would do he did it. If a customer had an issue he solved it. He stood behind his work! Everyone knew she could count on him.
Uncle Charlie grew during the great depression and watched as people were fired from their jobs. He decided the only way to prevent such a phenomenon in his life would be like to own a business.
He reasoned that company may delay, but he would still be some customers who need work. He was right. There's always movement in the economy ...All the time. It stops never completely!
What motivated Uncle Charlie?
Motivation means two things; desire to better our situation and desire to reduce discomfort. Some call it just greed or fear. I think that's too simplistic ... base, really. The term greed is according to me far too negative. Use Skype to call Uncle Charlie greedy because he wanted to be a great service for its customers and a great legacy of his family would be very wrong.
He was very rich in the process and that was a result of excellence in all its contacts. He was a win, win, win, win, win ... always win for everyone who knew him. If you've dealt with him were you getting a quality product at a fair price. If you worked for him got you a fair wage (above Union rates!). Full honesty is what you got from Uncle Charlie.
Uncle Charlie just as everyone had to struggle with desire for more and fear of loss. He told stories of equipment break or workers who are unreliable and leaving him responsible for great work orders. Through it all he rose to difficult situations.
Desire for more and fear; There's always a battle rages between these two motivations. Sometimes fear motivation WINS and people do nothing. Sometimes the desire for more WINS and great things are achieved. If there is something to be run one should go ahead and do it.
As Uncle Charlie had focused on fear he himself would have said "a machine could break or an employee can stop or I could make a mistake" and if he had let that fear his company would never have already started!
But, uncle Charlie was the kind of person who once he got the idea that he was something that was going to happen. Here is an example; sometime during the 1930s, he went to University to study chemical engineering. At that time the only chemistry books were from Germany and were written in German! So, uncle Charlie German learned and passed chemistry!
Only three in his entire class achieves this. Oh yeah, his family did not have much so he made his way through the school worked. HE WORKED HARD!
Uncle Charlie believed that a solution for every problem. He loved elaboration of methods for production. He loved new more efficient systems. He loved creating products for his clients. He loved his family and taught them well. I remember meeting a woman who is one of Uncle Charlies sons had met and they raved about what a real gentleman who he was. That statement came right off the top. I don't mean Uncle Charlie. I mean the one above him.
I learned a lot from Uncle Charlie and I hope that I've been pretty sharing the opinion of this great man.
Let me quickly recap:
1. There is a solution to every problem
2. Our boom and bust economy is artificially created by the actions of the Federal Reserve. Plan accordingly: saving during the good times and bargains for the growth of your company during the downturn.
3. see the big picture and not an occasional glitch let stop you.
4. focus on a positive result because your goal like every part of life; the vast majority is positive with a small setback to spice up the thrown.
5. be honest in all your dealings and stand behind your work.
6. continually strive to improve.
7. let love be your engine ... for your family, customers, employees ... o your best to treat everyone equally.
Looking back I realize Uncle Charlie had some great things figured out. He left this world but his company continues to grow bigger and better.
Bigger and better ... seems like a good goal for me!
I hope to share a bit about Uncle Charlie helps you on your way to success.
He has definitely helped me!
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