WE LIVE IN AN ERA OF UNPRECEDENTED EXPECTATIONS.
Consumers want the best product, at a better value, delivered yesterday. Employees want to make an immediate impact, do things their own way, and have personal meaning in their work. This calls people to bring their best day every day to deliver breakthrough results.
WHAT'S THE ISSUE?
We need to stop desperately trying to externally motivate others to do their job better to meet today's expectations, as the brain will never feel like taking on anything hard, uncertain, or new. That's why so often when we set a lofty goal (e.g. new years resolution to run every morning), we either don't actually start, or fall short of it quickly. The brain knows there is a higher chance of failure over success, looks at it as a threat, and works to shut it down. WHAT INSTEAD?
Do better. We must leverage the intrinsic powers of our brain so it has a personal stake in something with meaning and purpose. When we feel pulled internally by something (versus just setting a goal for something we should do), this is when we experience meaningful breakthroughs with results that last.