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Episode 1321:
Brian Tracy introduces a novel perspective on motivation and ambition in his article "Something For Nothing: Ambition," expanding on the traditional Theory X and Theory Y with his own Theory Z. Tracy explores the complexities of human motivation, proposing that individuals are motivated by a variety of factors beyond mere financial incentives, ultimately seeking freedom and fulfillment in their lives.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.briantracy.com/blog/general/something-for-nothing-ambition/
Quotes to ponder:
"Theory X was defined as the idea that employees were basically lazy, and had to be continually motivated to do their jobs by using the 'carrot and stick' method of rewards and punishment."
"Theory Y, which said that people are basically positive, desire to do a good job and will strive toward excellence in their work if the proper incentives exist."
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[00:00:00] This is Optimal Work Daily, Episode 1321, Something for Nothing, Ambition, by Brian Tracey
[00:00:07] of bryantracie.com.
[00:00:09] And I am Dan and I am your personal narrator here on OWD, reading to you from these great
[00:00:14] blogs that we find on work and entrepreneurship and all kinds of related topics.
[00:00:19] So let's get to it now as we dig into our Monday post and optimize your life.
[00:00:29] Something for Nothing, Ambition, by Brian Tracey of bryantracie.com.
[00:00:36] Theory X vs Theory Y In the 1960s, Harvard psychologist Alex McKenzie
[00:00:42] suggested two visions of people in the workplace, each leading to different forms of motivation
[00:00:48] in organizations.
[00:00:49] McGregor called these two views of mankind Theory X and Theory Y.
[00:00:54] Theory X was defined as the idea that employees were basically lazy and had to be continually
[00:00:59] motivated to do their jobs by using the carrot and stick method of rewards and punishment.
[00:01:06] McGregor postulated Theory Y, which said that people are basically positive, desire to do
[00:01:11] a good job, and will strive toward excellence in their work if the proper incentives exist.
[00:01:17] McGregor divided working conditions into two categories, hygiene needs and motivators.
[00:01:23] A hygiene need was defined as including things such as a secure work environment, a decent
[00:01:28] paycheck, pleasant surroundings and proper work tools.
[00:01:32] His conclusion was that the presence of these factors did not motivate people to work harder,
[00:01:37] but if they did not exist, workers would be demotivated and would not do their best work.
[00:01:42] McGregor defined a motivator as something more.
[00:01:44] It was a factor such as special attention from the boss, praise and encouragement,
[00:01:49] opportunities for promotion and advancement, greater responsibility and recognition by bosses
[00:01:55] or coworkers.
[00:01:56] He concluded that by practicing Theory Y management, managers could bring the very best out of
[00:02:01] their people and achieve the very best and highest quality results.
[00:02:06] Theory Z Management
[00:02:08] Based on my experience with hundreds of companies, I suggest a third factor, which I call
[00:02:13] Theory Z.
[00:02:14] Theory Z says that people are neither good nor bad, they are neither positive
[00:02:18] nor negative, they are neither motivated nor unmotivated, they are merely expedient.
[00:02:24] In everything they do, mentally, emotionally and physically, they are subject to the overwhelming
[00:02:29] force of the E factor.
[00:02:31] According to this assessment, people are lazy, greedy, ambitious, selfish, vain, ignorant
[00:02:38] and impatient and they will manifest these qualities in a positive or negative way depending
[00:02:43] on the structure of financial and non-financial incentives in the organization.
[00:02:49] Money as a motivator of behavior
[00:02:51] It has been said that money may not be the most important thing, but it is way up there
[00:02:55] with oxygen.
[00:02:57] The fastest and easiest way to get the things you want as quickly as possible is almost
[00:03:01] always to have enough money to be able to buy them whatever the cost.
[00:03:05] For this reason, the desire to acquire money quickly and easily and as much as
[00:03:09] possible is a major motivator of human behavior.
[00:03:13] But it is not usually money that people really want.
[00:03:16] Sometimes I will ask my clients why they want to acquire a lot of money and after thinking
[00:03:20] about their answer for a couple of minutes, they finally conclude that what they want
[00:03:24] more than anything else is freedom.
[00:03:27] In reality, they see money as a means to achieving the freedom they really desire.
[00:03:32] They define freedom as having enough money so they can get everything they want.
[00:03:36] Having enough money will enable them to be completely free from worry about safety, security,
[00:03:41] comfort, leisure, love, respect and fulfillment.
[00:03:46] They see having lots of money as the fastest way to the good life.
[00:03:50] 10 Million Dollars
[00:03:52] In our advanced coaching and mentoring program we do an exercise in values clarification.
[00:03:57] When everyone is seated, we hand out individual checks made out to each person in the amount
[00:04:02] of 10 million dollars.
[00:04:04] But of course the checks are not cashable, but the idea of receiving 10 million dollars
[00:04:08] cash gives people an opportunity to fantasize about what they really want in their lives.
[00:04:13] We then have the participants break into groups, discuss what they would do if they suddenly
[00:04:17] received 10 million dollars and then report back to the group.
[00:04:21] We go around the room and write down their answers on a whiteboard or flip chart.
[00:04:25] Here is the most amazing discovery.
[00:04:28] Almost everything that our clients would want to do, have or acquire does not
[00:04:32] cost any money.
[00:04:34] When people think of suddenly being financially independent, they immediately think about
[00:04:37] quality of life issues.
[00:04:39] As we go around the room, the answers that come back are things like,
[00:04:43] I would work shorter days and spend more evenings and weekends with my family.
[00:04:47] I would take a long vacation with my wife.
[00:04:49] I would join a health club and exercise every day to lose weight and get fit.
[00:04:53] I would write that book I've always wanted to write.
[00:04:56] I would get more involved with my church or political party.
[00:04:59] I would take up painting.
[00:05:00] I would write poetry.
[00:05:02] I would reorganize my business and my life, etc.
[00:05:06] This is an exercise that you can do as well.
[00:05:09] Imagine that you received 10 million dollars cash today.
[00:05:12] What would you do differently in your life if you had all the money that you could ever
[00:05:15] need?
[00:05:16] You may be surprised at the answers that you come up with.
[00:05:22] You just listened to the post titled, Something for Nothing, Ambition by Brian Tracy of
[00:05:28] bryantracie.com.
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[00:06:31] And thank you so much to Brian for today's post.
[00:06:33] Brian Tracy is the chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International.
[00:06:37] He and his company help people achieve personal and business goals quickly and easily.
[00:06:42] Brian has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics,
[00:06:47] history, business, philosophy and psychology.
[00:06:50] And he's the top selling author of over 70 books.
[00:06:53] His talks and seminars on leadership, selling, self-esteem, goals, strategy, creativity
[00:06:59] and success psychology are super effective in creating immediate changes and long-term results.
[00:07:05] Brian's also active in community and national affairs, and he heads up three companies based
[00:07:10] in Solana Beach, California.
[00:07:12] You can come by his site, bryantracie.com to learn a lot more.
[00:07:15] And again, a big thank you to Brian for letting us share his work regularly here on OWD.
[00:07:21] So that's going to do it for today.
[00:07:22] Hope you have a great one out there and that you'll join me again tomorrow
[00:07:25] for the Tuesday show where your optimal life awaits.