Continued from yesterday . . .

Paty:  It’s funny that you should say that it’s hard to get started, the opposite is true for me.  Easy to get started, extremely hard to finish!  I lose interest or I’ll get distracted by another newer and more interesting project.  UGH!  It’s so frustrating sometimes.

Clifford:  It certainly is.  That’s why being motivated is key.  Motivation not only gets us started but also sustains us to the end.  And sometimes that motivation can change from when you start to when you finish.

In high school, my motivation for getting my engineering degree was money and prestige.  Being able to collect a fat pay check, and say “Hi, I’m an aerospace engineer” appealed to me.

Boy was I dumb.

In college, my engineering classes were not easy.  I’m not one of these naturally smart people: I have to work and work hard.  Eighteen hour days were normal, even during the weekend.  Doing homework, studying, projects, going to labs . . . barf!  By the time final exams were over, my brain was fried.  Each semester, I’d return home ready to quit.  What kept me going?

Leiderhosen.

Yep.  Leiderhosen.  Those goofy German leather shorts.

During the Christmas and summer break, I’d leave my school in Florida and return to Michigan.  The only job I could find was being a server in a German restaurant.  Leiderhosen was my required uniform.

Little old ladys, grabbing the hair on my legs.  Constantly being asked “Do you yodel?”  Picking up plate after plate, filled with half-eaten chicken parts.  Cold mash potatoes and gravy, dripping on my shoulders.  Getting stiffed by Canadian tourists.

My motivation started off with profit and prestige.  When that fizzled away, my motivation changed into fear.  Fear of having to wear Leiderhosen and refill cokes for the rest of my life.

Paty:  What is the most valuable piece of advice you can think of?

Clifford:  Two pieces would compete for most valuable.

(1)  Find your motivation trigger point.  We all have them.  What is yours?  Greed?  Fear?  Excitement?  Whatever it may be, hit that point and hit it hard.

(2)  Be very very selective of who you listen to.  Ninety five percent of the people out there will tell you that it can’t be done.  If someone tells you no, move on.  Eventually you’ll find that 5% who can show you how to do it.

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