At first glance, you think “Yeah, that makes sense.” When you’re new at something, you try everything because you have tons of ideas. But you become more experienced; you learn the ropes and know what works. You’re seasoned… wise.

And if you think you’re right about the meaning of that phrase, think again.

It’s actually urging you to always have a beginner’s mind. When you think you’re there, head the other direction.

It’s taken you years to acquire the experience you have- now put everything you’ve learned on a top shelf somewhere. Think without inhibitions. Everything is possible without the restraints and ceilings of society. As much as we hate to admit it, we’re human, and most of us conform over time. A beginner’s mind is only trying to find itself- exploring every possible option.

If you can take what you know to be true in your industry, and cross-examine your truths with every other possibility, you’ll be perpetually relevant.

… Isn’t it funny how you work so hard to find your comfort zone, yet to produce greatness you have to continually work outside of it?

• Are you governed by company rules?
• Are you most productive at a certain time?
• Do you work in spurts during the day?
• Do you work only at night?

If you have the luxury of setting your own hours, what motivates you to get off your bum and work?

In the most recent podcast from Boagworld, Paul mentions that the only reason he works so hard is because he wants to evade the feeling of guilt that he’s letting other people down.

I think it’s really interesting that an emotion toward others is what drives his productivity, as opposed to his own excitement toward his work. And I’m not saying this is a bad thing, because I suspect the drive is a little different for everyone.

For me, it’s the opportunity to learn every single day that gets me energized. I am surrounded by people who are willing to teach and explain things to me, (I’m not a nerd, after all…) and the vast wealth of information to absorb is fascinating.

Once I got to thinking about this, I became interested in what motivates everyone else.

For Laura, it’s making enough money in a short period of time to take time off to do things like earn her pilots license, learn to scuba dive, and travel through Asia.

This article suggests giving people real projects to work on instead of bonuses is what motivates them from a corporate point of view.

So what about you? What lights a fire under your a**? What makes you want to skip your morning coffee so you can get to work faster? Figuring it out might help you focus more on what you’re really passionate about…