To be honest, I was sort of excited to read Daniel Pink's book Drive because at the time Susan and Ray had just pumped us up with these ideas of making a difference and leaving a trade mark before we leave school, and just because I keep an ear open to new things even if I already know them. The first couple of chapters turned me off and my flame of inspiration was quick to go out, so I left it off until the last week before school started. When I picked the book back up it was a drag until I read about how we seem to be motivated by "sticks and carrots." I could relate to various situations in my life when I was only doing things when I got paid, but when I didn't I performed a poor job. Though he talked about being rewarded as a way to motivate, I also related to Pink as he wrote about how some are motivated by inner-self rewards, and I agree because I feel the same when I'm at school; even if it's not a grade I go for it because i know it's only helping me out with every extra piece of knowledge I gain.
I extremely admired where he said that major companies were given a "Fed-Ex" day to work on whatever project the want and deliver it over night. I liked this because I never knew and never would of thought that companies did this; I always had the image of companies as a strict, tuck in your shirt, boring type of place to work at. I immediately felt how it could benefit a company, person, and world after reading that post-its were invented over a Fed-Ex day at a company. Overall after readink Pink's Drive, my eyes were open to new things about myself and how I function to realizing how flexible well known companies really are.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Again
When I first read this book, as a mater of fact i was quite disinterested. I started reading and it just seemed like another author's philosophy on life. I already read the bible, why do i need someone else telling about life? Though, the ideas behind motivation in the human race are quite complex and Daniel Pink tries to uncover them all to our world. I would have more to write if i was in disagreement with him, but the truth is I'm not. I can compare his text with situations in my life like the simple idea of carrots and sticks. It works for a while, but after a while, i just became interested in reward. That motivation had to come from within and that's the only thing that truly drives us. It brings success if we are interested in something and not forced to do it
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Drive Yourself
Before reading Drive, terms such as “sticks and carrots”, extrinsic/intrinsic motivation, type I behavior, type X behavior, flow and Motivation 2.0/3.0 were never a part of my vocabulary. I didn’t understand why I did what I did or even how I did what I did. I just did something without giving any thought to it. Then I would continue on with my life. When I got the book drive I glanced at the book cover and thought, “Why are we getting a book that tells us about driving?” I didn’t even look at the subtext that clearly stated what the book basically was about: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. In my mind, I felt that this book would have no interest to me and that I would only read it because I was obligated to. Little did I know that this book would have a major impact on my perspective of many things.
While reading this book, I agreed on and was awed by many of the facts that the eloquent author, Daniel Pink, gave us. I started to relate to many of the things that was said. I remember when I used to get paid to take out the trash, clean my room, make my mom’s bed, and vacuum the entire house. I did those things because I was extrinsically motivated to do so. This went on for a while until one day I didn’t receive any payment. I put less effort into my chores, even when the “sticks” kicked in. The longer time progressed, the more I started to slack off. Then, one day I decided to clean because I was happy that I did well on a test earlier that day. When my mom came home, from a long, stressful day at work, and noticed the house clean, she gave me gratitude. Later that day, I reflected back and came to a conclusion that not only did it feel great to get praised for doing a good deed, but it felt great to do chores. I immediately thought about myself as being crazy for liking how I felt during chore-time. I never could explain this awkward feeling, until now. I was in “flow” when doing chores. The amount of time I had to clean the entire house before my mom came home was very little. It was difficult to complete the task in time, but not impossible.
After reading this book, and learning about type I and type X behavior, I realized, that as a teen, I showed some characteristics of type X behavior. At times, I would only do things for extrinsic recognition. Immediately, I wanted to change this type of behavior. Now that I am aware of the consequences of type X behavior in the long-run, I tend to think more about how and why I do things. I want to do things because they make me happy and because they are better for me and others around me in the long-run. I am more aware of my “drive” and how I can use it to the best of my abilities. I’ve learned that with a purpose and with autonomy you can improve your “drive.” Nothing feels better than completing something when you want to, how you want to, and with whom you want to. And with a purpose, completing something is easier and more “fun.”
You may be wondering, “Why did you take all your time just to write this long post, Robert?” Besides the obvious fact that this was a mandatory assignment, it is because I want you all to think about what is your “drive.” Then I want you to ponder upon how to master your “drive” to by always having a purpose and autonomy.
While reading this book, I agreed on and was awed by many of the facts that the eloquent author, Daniel Pink, gave us. I started to relate to many of the things that was said. I remember when I used to get paid to take out the trash, clean my room, make my mom’s bed, and vacuum the entire house. I did those things because I was extrinsically motivated to do so. This went on for a while until one day I didn’t receive any payment. I put less effort into my chores, even when the “sticks” kicked in. The longer time progressed, the more I started to slack off. Then, one day I decided to clean because I was happy that I did well on a test earlier that day. When my mom came home, from a long, stressful day at work, and noticed the house clean, she gave me gratitude. Later that day, I reflected back and came to a conclusion that not only did it feel great to get praised for doing a good deed, but it felt great to do chores. I immediately thought about myself as being crazy for liking how I felt during chore-time. I never could explain this awkward feeling, until now. I was in “flow” when doing chores. The amount of time I had to clean the entire house before my mom came home was very little. It was difficult to complete the task in time, but not impossible.
After reading this book, and learning about type I and type X behavior, I realized, that as a teen, I showed some characteristics of type X behavior. At times, I would only do things for extrinsic recognition. Immediately, I wanted to change this type of behavior. Now that I am aware of the consequences of type X behavior in the long-run, I tend to think more about how and why I do things. I want to do things because they make me happy and because they are better for me and others around me in the long-run. I am more aware of my “drive” and how I can use it to the best of my abilities. I’ve learned that with a purpose and with autonomy you can improve your “drive.” Nothing feels better than completing something when you want to, how you want to, and with whom you want to. And with a purpose, completing something is easier and more “fun.”
You may be wondering, “Why did you take all your time just to write this long post, Robert?” Besides the obvious fact that this was a mandatory assignment, it is because I want you all to think about what is your “drive.” Then I want you to ponder upon how to master your “drive” to by always having a purpose and autonomy.
SELF
As soon the book "Drive" by Daniel Pink was put into my hands my first thoughts were completely negative. I said to myself "Oh man. Why do we have to read this book, especially over the summer." To be honest I put off even reading the book till the last minute, which was actually late august. Finally though when I decided to sit down and actually read the book I digested so much of it that it actually changed some things in the way that i see things and the way that I stand, for example Daniel pink talks about being self directed and to be honest i have never seen myself as a self-directed person. Usually when people aren't around I don't go and do the proper and right thing. Usually i follow the crowd and just play along like everything is fine and dandy. After reading Drive however i decided to look into what he was saying about how a person should be driven into doing the right thing even when someone isn't looking because thats were it counts the most, and as a senior I have had to learn to push myself to stay focused and on target because i could just go and do something else for example at evening study hall I could say forget my homework and go to sleep but instead i decide to stay driven and do my homework because in the long run it affects me the most and even though there is no one there to congratulate me, my rewards come from within.
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