John Adair's 100 Greatest Ideas for Personal Success

Idea 67: The 50:50 rule for motivation

If you know the nature of water it is easier to row a boat.

Chinese proverb

This rule says that 50 percent of our motivation comes from within us as we respond to our internal program of needs; 50 percent comes from outside ourselves, especially from the leadership we encounter in life.

The 50:50 rule is not meant to be mathematically accurate; rather, it is indicative of the ever-shifting balance between internal and external influences. From it I have deduced six key principles for leaders who want to motivate others. These are as follows:

1. Be motivated yourself. If you are not fully committed and enthusiastic, how can you expect others to be?
2. Select people who are highly motivated. It is not easy to motivate ...