Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

Motivation: The Cure for Complacency


Q. I've always tried to work hard enough to provide for my family and be content. The problem is, when I'm content, I get complacent, and everything starts to fall apart. How do I keep going and avoid getting complacent?

A. There's nothing wrong with feeling content. It's something that we all strive for in life.

The problem comes, as you have so well stated, when we drift from contentment into complacency. Let me give you an example of the results of complacency, and then how to overcome it.

I recently heard Clay Shiver, former FSU All-American center and former center for the NFL Dallas Cowboys, speak about complacency.

When he got to the NFL, Shiver, who played center, was the only starter on the offense who wasn't an All-Pro player. The team also had won three out of the last four Super Bowls.

The year he started, the Cowboys posted a record of 6 wins and 10 losses. Shiver said he thought the reason for such a bad season was that the team had gotten complacent, had lost its hunger. He remembered being in the huddle where two All-Pro Super Bowl champions talked about how they couldn't wait until the season was over so they could go on a fancy trip. They lost the next five games.

That's the best example of complacency I think I could offer you.

I can sum up the cure in just one word. Ready?

Ants.

That's right, a-n-t-s, ants. One of the benefits of having kids is you get to watch their favorite videos hundreds of times. In the movie "Bug's Life" the ants teach us at least five strategies for dealing with complacency.

1. Ants never, ever give up

Put something in front of them, and they will get around it, over it, under it or through it. If one way doesn't work, they will try another. If that way does not work, they will try still another way. And so on until they find a way around the obstacle.

There's nothing wrong with feeling content. It's something that we all strive for in life.

2. Ants are always getting ready for what's next

They don't ever rest on their laurels. In the summer, they are thinking about the winter and getting ready for it.

3. Ants are creatively industrious and resourceful

Ants don't complain about not having the right tools to do what needs to be done. They take what is available right in front of them and find a way to make it work.

4. Ants are always hopeful

In the winter, when they are holed up in their little ant mound, they are using what they stored up all summer and know that as cold as it is, summer is coming, and they are getting ready for it.

5. Ants don't seem to believe in the concept of enough

They store up all that they can for the winter. You have seen the acronym on restaurant signs AYCE. I used to think that must be some kind of special brand of food. It took me forever to figure out that it stands for All You Can Eat.

Instead of focusing on All You Can Eat, I think we would do better to focus on what the ants do, AYCD, which stands for All You Can Do.

If you constantly follow these five tips, you will consistently beat complacency. Think of it as being content and always hungry to make things better.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.


MORE RESOURCES:

Chiefs suffer from lack of respect, not motivation
Kansas City Star, MO - 20 hours ago
It means the Chiefs don’t have to look far for motivation this season. Herm Edwards won’t have to spend much time preparing his pregame speeches. ...


Motivation, Mockery and the Power Business Ballad
Workforce Management, Ca - 4 hours ago
As far back as 1915, businesses used corporate songs as team-building and motivational tools. Today, the tradition continues, sometimes spontaneous and on ...


WELT ONLINE

Djokovic Feels Fine, and That's Motivation Enough Against Roddick
Washington Post, United States - Sep 4, 2008
By Liz Clarke Whether real or imagined, Novak Djokovic's list of ailments was so long just two days ago that Andy Roddick couldn't help but poke fun. ...
Angry Djokovic exacts revenge on Roddick CNN International
Novak Djokovic defeats Andy Roddick to set up semi-final showdown ... Telegraph.co.uk
Djokovic, angered by Roddick, beats him at US Open The Associated Press
Sports betting previews - Tennis-X.com
all 2,968 news articles


Motivation freeze gets extensions
The Gazette (Montreal), Canada - Sep 6, 2008
... 22 a 90-day freeze order against Productions Action Motivation Inc. at the request of provincial securities watchdog Autorité des marchés financiers. ...


New York Daily News

Ex-Publicist: 'Money Was Heather Mills Motivation For Marrying Sir ...
Gigwise, UK - 14 hours ago
by Jason Gregory Heather Mills former publicist Michele Elyzabeth has claimed that money was behind her client’s marriage to Sir Paul McCartney. ...
Heather Mills former publicist calls Mills 'a liar and a gold digger' Melbourne Herald Sun
Heather Mills' ex-publicist calls her 'gold-digging witch' who ... Daily Mail
Heather Mills' former publicist: 'She's a gold-digger' New York Daily News
Fametastic - News of the World
all 36 news articles


Vancouver Sun

Giant upset puts motivation’s at Pats’ fingertips
Boston Herald, United States - Sep 4, 2008
By Gerry Callahan The ball stayed there on the side of David Tyree’s helmet like it was attached with Velcro, a play so strange and fluky that it still ...
These guys are only motivated not to look back Boston Globe
Colts, Chargers set to dominate in Week One Desert Valley Times
We’re just saying…kicking off the Patriots' season KeepMEcurrent.com
Colts.com - Boston Globe
all 178 news articles


Theatre, the latest motivational tool
Economic Times, India - Sep 6, 2008
Theatre serves many purposes, one of the primary ones being motivation. A recent theatre workshop showed the medium is fast becoming a potent motivation ...


Find motivation in these pages
Pasadena Star-News, CA - Sep 6, 2008
By Michelle J. Mills, Staff Writer Need some motivation? You might want to pick up "Utmost Living: Creating and Savoring Your Best Life Now" (Harmony Books, ...


Blind ignorance ties judo champ in knots
The Australian, Australia - 12 hours ago
THERE will be extra motivation behind the 90kg frame of Australia's sole judo representative Anthony Clarke, when he takes to the mats tomorrow. ...


E! Online

Hillary Clinton’s New Motivation
Forbes, NY - Aug 31, 2008
Now, she will have added personal motivation. Look to see Hillary pounding the campaign trail, hoping to fend off Palin’s bid to take what she views as ...
Palin power energizes Colorado Springs Rocky Mountain News
No, No Sexism at All National Review Online Blogs
all 1,283 news articles

Motivation - Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.