"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." ~Walter Bagehot

Everybody loves an underdog.

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan

Can you imagine a world where the super-villain wins in ever movie, the number one seed always triumphs in the March Madness tournament, and rags never turn to riches?

It sounds awfully dull to me. What if it were impossible for anyone to rise from the bottom and reach the top?  If we had nothing to work for and nothing to prove, what would be the point in trying to accomplish anything at all?

A huge source of motivation for me is the ability to prove people wrong.  As Walter Bagehot stated, "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."  Whenever you are faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, doesn't attempting the task becomes all the more tantalizing?  And, when someone tells you that something is "too difficult," or that your goal is "unattainable," doesn't your goal become irresistible?

The other day in class, we made lists of things that motivate us.  My list included:
-When people are counting on me
-A due date
-Satisfaction of finishing
-Something to look forward to
-Proving people wrong

When I first made my list, I avoided adding things like recognition, self-affirmation, and rewards because they seemed selfish.  Yet, when I thought more about it, I realized that all of those things play a large part in keeping me motivated.  Sometimes, I try to convince myself that I don't seek the approval of others and do not care what others think about me.  However, I would bet that almost everyone is motivated by reactions of other people.  We have so many interactions with a plethora of people each day.  We'd be lying if we tried to say that we always live unselfishly and never think about ourselves and how our image comes across to others.

The last item on my list was "Proving People Wrong."  I almost didn't add it out of embarrassment, simply because it seemed petty and selfish.  But this is, quite honestly, my number one motivating factor.  As I thought about all my proudest accomplishments and what motivated me, they were almost exclusively driven by the desire to prove someone wrong.  Being the underdog in a game, competition, interview, or in achieving any goal is wonderful.  When I identify as the underdog, I take pleasure in working harder and in knowing that, by winning or achieving my goal, I will surprise people.

I determined out of this exercise that it doesn't matter what motivates you, as long as you know what it is.  Nobody will know what is motivating you, or care what drives you to work but they will notice when you accomplish a difficult task.

No matter what, there is pleasure in proving others wrong and in proving your self-worth.  Proving oneself is a vital component in motivating a person to continue to seek future successes, regardless of who the person happens to be.

Now, whenever somebody tells you that something is out of your reach, be sure to use their criticism to fuel your desire to accomplish your goal and prove them wrong.