I have a few trinkets that are rewards for practicing. I thought that focusing on the goal, the prize, or an end point motivated me to practice. For example, I received a medal during a Tae Kwon Do competition for board breaking. It required practice to achieve that medal. I received a trophy for my motorcycle skills at an international women’s motorcycling conference. It required practice to achieve that trophy. I ran a half-marathon and received a medal for completing the race. It required practice to achieve that medal. Outwardly, it looks like getting some kind of outward reward is the reason for practicing. The prize can be a powerful motivator. When I look deeper into the motivation, these outward rewards were not my only motivator. In each of these examples, the result was caused by a vision or higher purpose I had for myself. I’ve come to understand that it is the strength, depth and belief in my vision that determines the degree to which I will practice. Desire, commitment, perseverance, and drive are by products of our belief in our vision and willingness is the key to allowing our vision to be our reality.
So here we are, at the reason for practicing. This reason is
called many things and there are many books written about our motivations. It
is called our why, our vision, or our thing that we want. It is the thing that
brings a smile to our face, a light to our heart, a sparkle in our eyes and a
spring in our step. This thing marks a moment in our lifetime that, when we
have fulfilled our dream, we have reached a level that we had only aspired to
before. When we achieve our vision, when we realize that “we did it”, we are
lifted. That moment when we know we achieved something we’d imagined as only a
possibility, when we land on a destination that we’d seen in the distance, in
that very moment we arrive at a new plateau. This is why we practice, this is
why we continue to practice, this is why we don’t ever give up on what we are practicing.
Once we are clear that what motivates all of us to practice is
our Why, along with any potential rewards that accompany the journey, we have
an opportunity to define what it is for us. When we apply this understanding to
project management, a number of opportunities become available. Writing it
down, making it clear to ourselves is the first step. Take some time and write
all the reasons why you chose to become a project manager. Don’t hold back,
write down every reason. To make money, to lead, to work in the technology
field, to deliver a specific type of product, to build things, etc. Whatever
the reasons, be clear on your own reasons for being a project manager, for working
in the practice of project management.
I fell into being a project manager, I didn’t start out saying
“Yes” to project management. I was good at being a developer and I showed
promise as a leader so one day I found myself managing projects. My experience
isn’t everyone’s experience, and I’m sure there are individuals who may start out
wanting to lead projects. However, I think more often than not, people land in
the practice of project management as a result of being good at being a team
player in whatever field they are working in and showing leadership skills. Whatever
reason landed you in the world of project management, knowing what is keeping
you there and deciding how good you want to be by defining your why will make a
difference in how you practice project management and your practice will make
an even bigger difference to the people you lead.
