What Drives You? (part 3 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 To know what drives you, ask yourself: What excites me? What do I seek and desire? What do I do exceedingly well? What gives me energy? The answers to these questions reveal a great deal about the way the Creator has shaped you. There are over 200 different types of drivers – things that motivate us, cause us to perform well, and fill us with energy as we do them. But at the simplest level, all these drivers fall into one of three categories. The 3 types of drivers are: Power, Image, & Contribution. Today we will continue our exploration of what drive people by looking at the nature of people who are driven by Contribution. People driven by a desire to serve or to make a contribution do not want to be in charge. They may have very little concern about how something looks or is perceived by others. They are driven instead by a desire to see goals reached and people helped. Those who are driven by a goal of making a contribution may have a rumpled appearance because their focus is not on themselves, but on others. They often deserve a hero’s badge, but if are given one, they would quickly pin it on someone else. Their heartfelt goal is to help others succeed. Examples include servant leaders such as Mother Theresa, social workers, and missionary nurses. To determine if you have contribution as the foremost driver in your life, ask yourself the following questions: Do I shun the spotlight? Am I uncomfortable being singled out, recognized, or made a fuss over? Do I care most of all that something good is accomplished, regardless of who does it or how it is accomplished? Do I find myself moving almost automatically to help others who seem to be struggling or in need? Do I find myself annoyed with what I perceive to be the materialism of fashion-consciousness of others when more important things are to be done? Do I prefer to be in frontline active service rather than in a decision-making role? Do I care more about getting the job done than about whether an awards ceremony or recognition dinner is planned after the job is finished? If you have answered yes to more than one of these questions, you are probably driven by contribution. It’s OK to contribution be your foremost driver. Those who are driven by contribution are often unheard and unseen, working behind the scenes to get the job done. They can make a valuable contribution to any group. Conversely, avoid the trap of pride in thinking that because you are driven by a desire to contribute, you have special access to the high moral road. Don’t think ill of those who are in power, since they may very well be the ones who provide the venue for the contribution you desire to make. Also avoid the tendency to disregard those who are image driven, thinking that they could get more real work done if they cared less about appearance. Are you driven by power, image, or contribution? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the proper use of your foremost driver? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com