Motivations

by Rod Smith

“There are two sides to every story” is a common belief. 

I am of the opinion that things are usually more layered. It is probably more like 7 or 9 sides to every story.

Motivation – the “inside story” – is similar.  

What drives me – or holds me back, demands I succeed, or prefers I don’t – is usually more than one or two identifiable factors. People have mixed, often confusing motivations. Hidden, often unknown internal compelling swells drive people to surf historic and aspirational waves. 

Getting to the bottom of motive can be like any journey, beautiful, pleasing, satisfying, sometimes uncomfortably revealing. 

Time spent with a wildly successful person who donates to great causes and is appropriately honored for doing so led him to inform that very few people know how angry he really is at extended family who unashamedly live off him.

“I have to,” he said, “I have to support them. My wife knows it makes me angry. Everything is for my (deceased) parents.” 

Motives are cloaked, mixed bags, driving from deep within, often yielding incredibly beautiful results.     

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