How to motivate one smile or “butt kick” at a time
Posted: April 26th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »How many of you, when feeling down, funky, or un-motivated, turn to a self-help or personal development book to get an extra shot of MOJO?
Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the following tweet earlier this month from @sparkwisdom.
Let me tell you, reading that comment got my MOJO working!
It’s a wonderful feeling when something you say (with your tongue or a pen) motivates people into action – one smile or “butt kick” at a time.
It’s an awesome feeling, isn’t it?
Here is a list of Six Ways to Motivate one smile or “Butt Kick” at a Time:
- Tell then a funny story that has a moral that speaks directly to their situation. (For example, when my daughter was partaking in a bit of 9yo gossip, I told her about the time I spoke behind someone’s back in junior high, only for it bite me in the butt. Lesson learned: Don’t talk about people. If so, be prepared to talk about it directly to their face.)
- Buy them a self-help book. Tell them to read and report back 5 things they learned.
- Write a self-help book. Writing a self-help book is cathartic for you, and your closet family and friends. It forces you to research personal development principles and master those skills. Give the book to your family and friends. They will be inspired.
- When they complain about the same thing over and over, ask them “So what, now what?” That statement forces them to come up with a solution or shut-up.
- Every experience in life has merit. Help them find out the positive in their circumstance. There is a positive in every situation, although it may sometimes take years and decades to find this message.
- Gratitude. Help them write list of of things to be grateful for – when they come from a place of gratitude, they realize there is little to complain about.
How have you motivated people into action – one smile and/or “butt kick” at a time? Please share your stories below.
NOTE: If you haven’t read Goal Digger, you can get a free sample on Scribd and Kindle, even if you don’t own an eReader. Enjoy!
Well, you know I am a big fan of the gratitude journal and getting books to boost people who need a lift! Motivating people can be a wonderful gift, especially when you can inspire people to grow.
The difference between giving people a smile and giving them a butt kick is that when you smile, you are letting them make their own mistakes in their own time. And when you give a “butt kick”, you are giving them a mirror and showing them the truth of who they are. Some people don’t like to be shown the truth until they are ready to see it (so the butt kick may not be a welcomed approach) and others appreciate the effort (and hire you as their coach;)
Willingness to see weakness or vulnerability in ourselves (which is usually the catalyst for the butt kicking) comes with a level of self-awareness and confidence. So, if you want to inspire others with a butt kicking, make sure you ask if the push is welcome, offer support and do it with love! When it comes to matters of the heart (ie: passions or personal growth) respect that everyone is on their own evolutionary path. Some people love a good butt kicking and others may feel offended. So, smile at them
Perfect differentiation Britt. Asking someone permission for the “push” is important before giving them a “butt kick.” It shows them you respect them. I usually ask people if I can “challenge them.” They usually say yes!
I like breaking down what I am sharing into easy to understand action steps. I find this motivating and have been told others find it inspiring too.
Sometimes we get in our heads too much and allow ourselves to be derailed from moving forward because we over analyze or over -think the next steps.
Broken down into small actions or simplified so that the next steps are easy to understand and clearly defined makes moving forward much more possible–because we can see ourselves doing it!
Small action steps are the key!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC – 531 BC)