Managing My Career - Intrinsic Motivation Interview

This Managing My Career Intrinsic Motivation interview is with my friend and colleague Bill Williams. Bill and I had fun working together, years ago, when we were both working to help people in job change and transition.

The most important thing to know about Bill, in my opinion, is that he's sincerely passionate about helping others find work that they love.

Bill brings his sharp mind, strong spirit, powerful intrinsic motivation and business expertise from his experiences in:

• the Army
• as a corporate executive
• career consultant
• certified business coach
• small business owner
• to his current work as Franchise Division EVP for Murphy Business and Financial Corporation of Georgia.

Bill's living in sync with his own intrinsic motivation (which means one's internal, genuine and real desire to take action...). He's a great person to share insight around self awareness and intrinsic motivation in our free motivation and inspiration test.

Read on to find out about the three 'musts' Bill shares with all clients, what he believes stops most people from Waking Up Eager and how he uses 'good newsbriefs' to keep his own motivation and inspiration strong.

Intrinsic Motivation and Self Awareness Interview with Bill Williams:

Suzie: Bill, first of all, thank you for taking time to share your Wake up Eager thoughts about intrinsic motivation and self awareness with Priceless readers. Let's start with the good stuff - what are you passionate about in your work? Tell us what you do and why you do it. Also, we'd love to know about a hobby or interest that you have, outside of work.

Bill: Since leaving the corporate world for self employment 8 years ago, I’ve realized how often I dreamed about being in business for myself. And, how uninformed and misinformed I was and how much I feared striking out on my own.

My passion? My passion is to educate others with the same dreams, fears and lack of knowledge to help them move into entrepreneurship and business ownership. Taking control of their careers and leaving the uncertainties of corporate employment for the pride of owning a business. There is risk in this endeavor but there's risk in doing nothing just as well.

I’m collecting my notes with the idea of writing a book comparing the game of golf to the game of life and careers. Stay tuned for further announcements.

Suzie: Throughout your career as a corporate executive, consultant and business adviser - tell us your viewpoint on the importanceof intrinsic motivation and feeling rewarded by your work. What happens when people do not like their work? What’s the impact?

Bill: Being rewarded for success is the prime driver in everything we do. Rewards for work can be monetary, promotion, self fulfillment, pride, helping others achieve success. As a corporate executive, I learned how valuable it was to put incentive plans into place for every job, where individuals could achieve performance goals and be rewarded.

As a career consultant, my greatest reward was seeing the impact a re-employment workshop could have on those who had just lost their jobs. Create a new resume, gain some insight to their strengths and weaknesses and how to best answer interview questions gave people a lift and you could see the light in their eyes that was not there a day or two earlier. That’s a reward!

Today, it’s seeing the excitement in a client’s whole persona when they venture into their own business.

What happens when people don’t like their work or better yet, their work environment? Performance falls off, mistakes are made, service declines, profits decline and revenue suffers. Set a common goal, enlist people by providing direct incentives for making progress toward that goal and you change their outlook and job appreciation.

"Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul." ---James Allen

Suzie: How can having work that is energizing and in alignment with one’s intrinsic motivation, strengths and values positively person’s personal and professional success and happiness?

Bill: If we work 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 25 years that equals 50,000 hours. Most of us work more than 40 hours a week and more than 25 years. If you’re not happy in your work, if you don’t find it rewarding, that’s a long time to be unhappy!

I find too many people who have had careers by accident. They accept a job offer right after college with only a vague idea of what they really are going to be asked to do. They become accustomed to regular compensation and follow the routine of every day life and are very often miserable. Their work “meets minimum requirements”, they live for weekends when they be “free”, they dislike their boss, they feel under-appreciated, they often develop dependencies on stimulants and they think this is what life is supposed to be like.

Learning what your strengths are and how to capitalize on them is key. (Suzie note: THIS is self Awareness and intrinsic motivation.) Knowing your weaknesses and how to minimize or overcome is next. Having a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, in detail, and then building a plan to achieve that vision will energize you again and again as you work toward that vision.

Suzie: What actions and mindsets do you most recommend to help business people find and feel more wake up eager days? (Wake up eager means: Starting and living each day with genuine energy and focused direction.)

Bill: We have three “musts” that are given to all of our clients:

1. Any business that you consider must be good for you and your family.
2. Any business that you consider must allow you to make the amount of money that you need to make.
3. Any business that you consider must make you happy.

"Know thyself." ---Socrates

Find the business or franchise that will create the lifestyle that you want, have a clear vision of that lifestyle image, focus on the business model not the business and go forward all the energy and determination that you can muster.

Suzie: What do you think are the things that stop most people from waking up eager more often?

Bill: Fear. Fear of facing their doubts and weaknesses. Fear of taking charge of their careers. Fear of failing. Fear of being criticized for being positive. Fear of job loss. Fear of taking a chance on themselves.

A lack of leadership in the workplace can keep these fears alive. A lack of personal leadership can keep people from overcoming their own fears.

Suzie: What things do you personally do to stay energized, focused and interested in your work?

Bill: I write out weekly, monthly and quarterly goals and then write up “good news” briefs to myself at the end of the week, concentrating on my successes, understanding why I may not have accomplished everything 100%.

Usually, I over commit and I have to remind myself that to take a big step, you have to take many smaller steps, even a setback is a positive step as you learn how to overcome or avoid the same pitfall for next time. Know what you don’t like to do, do those items first and get them out of the way. Leads to more enjoyment of the things you like to do.

Suzie: Tell us about your work and how you help people tap into their intrinsic motivation to Wake Up Eager more often.

Bill: I help people start new careers in business ownership. I facilitate informed decisions on the part of my clients. I help people find a business or franchise concept that fits their strengths, interests and capabilities to provide the best possible likelihood for success.

How great is that? Helping people change their lives, find more time with the family, be directly rewarded for their efforts, learn how to cope with business demands and become more fully in control of their destiny.

Suzie: How can people contact you?

Bill: They call me directly at 770-973-0878. My email address is: b.williams@murphybusiness.com Folks can also visit our website. Opens a new window.

"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." ---Hebbel

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