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If you want to accomplish what's important to you, discipline and willpower won't get you where you need to go. In this iconoclastic new book, Susan Fowler reveals compelling insights and actions to help you master and maintain your motivation.
Motivation is at the heart of everything you do and everything you want to do but don't. Unfortunately, the ways we typically motivate ourselves don't work. Relying on sheer determination eventually becomes exhausting--it's not sustainable. And even setting goals can backfire--if you're not setting them for the right reasons.
Susan Fowler says motivation is energy, and what matters is the quality, not the quantity. Traditional "motivators" such as fear, guilt, or the promise of a reward provide low-quality, short-term energy. Drawing on the latest empirical research, she proves that high-quality, optimal motivation is a skill that you can learn and apply.
Science tells us that satisfying three basic needs--for choice, connection, and competence--is essential to optimal motivation. You need to feel like you've picked your path, not that you're being driven down it. Your goal should be linked to people or a purpose meaningful to you. And you want to continually learn and grow.
Through practical exercises and eye-opening stories, Fowler shows you how to identify and shift the quality of your motivation. The skill to master your motivation is important--it may be your greatest opportunity to evolve, grow in wisdom, and be the light the world so desperately needs.
Reading group discussion guide available.
Motivation is at the heart of everything you do and everything you want to do but don't. Unfortunately, the ways we typically motivate ourselves don't work. Relying on sheer determination eventually becomes exhausting--it's not sustainable. And even setting goals can backfire--if you're not setting them for the right reasons.
Susan Fowler says motivation is energy, and what matters is the quality, not the quantity. Traditional "motivators" such as fear, guilt, or the promise of a reward provide low-quality, short-term energy. Drawing on the latest empirical research, she proves that high-quality, optimal motivation is a skill that you can learn and apply.
Science tells us that satisfying three basic needs--for choice, connection, and competence--is essential to optimal motivation. You need to feel like you've picked your path, not that you're being driven down it. Your goal should be linked to people or a purpose meaningful to you. And you want to continually learn and grow.
Through practical exercises and eye-opening stories, Fowler shows you how to identify and shift the quality of your motivation. The skill to master your motivation is important--it may be your greatest opportunity to evolve, grow in wisdom, and be the light the world so desperately needs.
Reading group discussion guide available.
219 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
48 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Susan Fowler
11 books32 followersSusan Fowler is the founder and CEO of Mojo Moments, an international organization represented by channel partners and strategic alliances who recognize that motivation is at the heart of everything people do—and everything they don’t do but wish they did.
Susan is on a quest to help leaders at all levels flourish as they succeed. Widely known as one of the foremost experts on motivation, leadership, and personal empowerment, she gained her knowledge through extensive experience in business, advertising, sales, production, marketing, executive and lifestyle coaching, and leadership training in all fifty states and over forty foreign countries. Susan has worked with clients as diverse as AkzoNobel, Apple, Bayer, Bloomberg, Google, Harley-Davidson, Inspire Software, Merrill Lynch, Moody’s, National Basketball Association, Pfizer, TJ Maxx, and Wavetronix.
The first edition of Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work . . . and What Does became a bestseller translated into fourteen languages. Susan’s Master Your Motivation is a companion book teaching individuals the skill of motivation. She is the lead developer of the Ken Blanchard Companies’ Self Leadership program and coauthor of three books with Ken Blanchard: Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager, Leading at a Higher Level, and Empowerment. Susan has produced the audio programs Overcoming Procrastination and Mentoring and coauthored Achieve Leadership Genius with Drea Zigarmi. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for instructional design by the North American Simulation and Gaming Association.
Susan lives with her husband, Drea Zigarmi, in San Diego. Communicate with her at Susan.Fowler@MojoMoments.com and MojoMoments.com. Connect with Susan on social media:
Facebook: @SusanNFowler
Twitter: @fowlersusann
LinkedIn: Susan Fowler
Instagram: @susannfowler
Susan is on a quest to help leaders at all levels flourish as they succeed. Widely known as one of the foremost experts on motivation, leadership, and personal empowerment, she gained her knowledge through extensive experience in business, advertising, sales, production, marketing, executive and lifestyle coaching, and leadership training in all fifty states and over forty foreign countries. Susan has worked with clients as diverse as AkzoNobel, Apple, Bayer, Bloomberg, Google, Harley-Davidson, Inspire Software, Merrill Lynch, Moody’s, National Basketball Association, Pfizer, TJ Maxx, and Wavetronix.
The first edition of Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work . . . and What Does became a bestseller translated into fourteen languages. Susan’s Master Your Motivation is a companion book teaching individuals the skill of motivation. She is the lead developer of the Ken Blanchard Companies’ Self Leadership program and coauthor of three books with Ken Blanchard: Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager, Leading at a Higher Level, and Empowerment. Susan has produced the audio programs Overcoming Procrastination and Mentoring and coauthored Achieve Leadership Genius with Drea Zigarmi. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for instructional design by the North American Simulation and Gaming Association.
Susan lives with her husband, Drea Zigarmi, in San Diego. Communicate with her at Susan.Fowler@MojoMoments.com and MojoMoments.com. Connect with Susan on social media:
Facebook: @SusanNFowler
Twitter: @fowlersusann
LinkedIn: Susan Fowler
Instagram: @susannfowler
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 8, 2019
Have you ever noticed how one day you are on cloud nine getting things done with adrenaline coursing through your veins and the next day just making coffee is a chore? Unfortunately, motivation is an inconsistent tool for most of us to consistently master and as leaders, we really aren’t that effective at motivating others. Guess what? You CAN master and learn to consistently remain motivated. There is some strong science behind motivation and you can use science to bring consistency to being motivated every day.
Not long ago I read the book Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does by Susan Fowler. I was fascinated by her book. I have always been the manager who encourages people to reach for goals and perform. I would dangle “carrots” in front of them with sales or service contests. I was a ”rah-rah girl” and coaching my people without customers knowing it during a client interaction. I thought that I had the motivation and creating success deal down. Man, was I wrong. Susan’s book really opened my eyes to what motivates teams long term. It’s not contests, bells, whistles, and games… it’s more than that.
Susan Fowler’s follow up book Master Your Motivation – Three Science Truths for Achieving Your Goals is a book that everyone should read. Despite the title, the book isn’t full of scientific theories and hard to read tactics. It illustrates how we really don’t understand how to motivate ourselves and others. We have been fed some wrong information over the years. There really is a science to motivation and like any new thing that we try (like a diet), it is easy to fall off of the cart. You really can learn to master your inner motivation and skills to be consistently motivated and have tools to motivate others.
There are three scientific keys to motivate and thrive:
1. Choice: You need to feel like you are in control of your destiny and that no one is pushing you
2. Connection: Your goals must have meaning to you or be linked to those you care about. You need to feel connected to others and align your actions and goals to meaningful values and your desired outcome
3. Competence: You WANT to learn and grow, not have it forced. You should demonstrate effectiveness in all that you do and build skills over time. Always strive to learn on your own schedule
All of this will require a change in your own outlook before you can coach others. We should all identify what our outlook is, shift our outlook, and reflect on our outlook from time to time. Our motivation can be squelched if our outlook is one of disinterest, external, or is imposed on us. Our optimal motivational outlook should be aligned, integrated into our purpose, and inherent in everything that we do. When we reflect we need to be in the moment and remain in a state of mindfulness.
Your motivation needs to always align with your values. You are in control and remember to consistently be willing to shift your values and beliefs as circumstances change. Remember, “Not all beliefs are values, but all values are beliefs”.
If your motivation wanes it is because there are too many distractions for us to remain consistent. They include:
1. Materialism and being motivated for the wrong reasons
2. Searching for happiness in all the wrong places
3. Busyness
4. Changing what is important
5. Not asking why or asking too often
6. Notice your energy and why it is changing
Master Your Motivation is a must read for leaders and anyone who feels like they are on a trampoline with their motivation. The “scientific truths” will resonate with you immediately. Susan offers a variety of effective tools, real-life examples of people who have mastered their motivation, and suggestions that you can incorporate into your life every day. Pick up this read today!
Not long ago I read the book Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does by Susan Fowler. I was fascinated by her book. I have always been the manager who encourages people to reach for goals and perform. I would dangle “carrots” in front of them with sales or service contests. I was a ”rah-rah girl” and coaching my people without customers knowing it during a client interaction. I thought that I had the motivation and creating success deal down. Man, was I wrong. Susan’s book really opened my eyes to what motivates teams long term. It’s not contests, bells, whistles, and games… it’s more than that.
Susan Fowler’s follow up book Master Your Motivation – Three Science Truths for Achieving Your Goals is a book that everyone should read. Despite the title, the book isn’t full of scientific theories and hard to read tactics. It illustrates how we really don’t understand how to motivate ourselves and others. We have been fed some wrong information over the years. There really is a science to motivation and like any new thing that we try (like a diet), it is easy to fall off of the cart. You really can learn to master your inner motivation and skills to be consistently motivated and have tools to motivate others.
There are three scientific keys to motivate and thrive:
1. Choice: You need to feel like you are in control of your destiny and that no one is pushing you
2. Connection: Your goals must have meaning to you or be linked to those you care about. You need to feel connected to others and align your actions and goals to meaningful values and your desired outcome
3. Competence: You WANT to learn and grow, not have it forced. You should demonstrate effectiveness in all that you do and build skills over time. Always strive to learn on your own schedule
All of this will require a change in your own outlook before you can coach others. We should all identify what our outlook is, shift our outlook, and reflect on our outlook from time to time. Our motivation can be squelched if our outlook is one of disinterest, external, or is imposed on us. Our optimal motivational outlook should be aligned, integrated into our purpose, and inherent in everything that we do. When we reflect we need to be in the moment and remain in a state of mindfulness.
Your motivation needs to always align with your values. You are in control and remember to consistently be willing to shift your values and beliefs as circumstances change. Remember, “Not all beliefs are values, but all values are beliefs”.
If your motivation wanes it is because there are too many distractions for us to remain consistent. They include:
1. Materialism and being motivated for the wrong reasons
2. Searching for happiness in all the wrong places
3. Busyness
4. Changing what is important
5. Not asking why or asking too often
6. Notice your energy and why it is changing
Master Your Motivation is a must read for leaders and anyone who feels like they are on a trampoline with their motivation. The “scientific truths” will resonate with you immediately. Susan offers a variety of effective tools, real-life examples of people who have mastered their motivation, and suggestions that you can incorporate into your life every day. Pick up this read today!
August 10, 2024
In this book, the author shares real people's stories that highlight how the three C principles can truly work in everyday life. It makes a great case for how motivation comes from the mix of competence, connection, and choice. The writing is clear and straightforward, making it a breeze to understand. Unlike many self-help books that just repeat the same old stuff, this one gave me a couple of new ideas to consider.
March 31, 2023
يتضمن الكتاب أفكارا جيدة ولكن الاسلوب الآلي وغياب التعمق في شرح الفكرة بالاضافة الى الترجمة الحجرية تجعل الاستفادة محدودة برأيي.
September 22, 2020
I had to read Master Your Motivation for the intro class for my Writing & Rhetoric major. I definitely think it would be beneficial for someone looking for guidance on how to properly motivate themselves in school, work, or any sort of activity where they aren't feeling "optimal motivation," as Fowler calls it. She stresses the importance of mindfulness and creating "choice, connection, and competence" within whatever you're motivating yourself to do. I think I will carry these tips with me through my life, even if I do not actively implement them.
Master Your Motivation is an easy read, you could probably skim through it in a day or two. I think it could become monotonous if you're not careful. It gets a bit repetitive at times, especially when Fowler dives into some of her success stories. The first few are fairly interesting, but by the last ones you can guess how the anecdote ends so it's easy to just skim through them.
One more thing I want to mention is content warnings: the most notable thing within this is the constant example of a diet/weight loss plan. I see why Fowler used that as her prime example throughout, as it is something that many people struggle with for motivation, but sometimes the way she discussed it could be a little extra.
Overall: three stars. It's not something I ever would have picked up on my own, but it wasn't bad. I docked a star for the repetitiveness towards the middle and another for the excessive talk of dieting.
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Master Your Motivation is an easy read, you could probably skim through it in a day or two. I think it could become monotonous if you're not careful. It gets a bit repetitive at times, especially when Fowler dives into some of her success stories. The first few are fairly interesting, but by the last ones you can guess how the anecdote ends so it's easy to just skim through them.
One more thing I want to mention is content warnings: the most notable thing within this is the constant example of a diet/weight loss plan. I see why Fowler used that as her prime example throughout, as it is something that many people struggle with for motivation, but sometimes the way she discussed it could be a little extra.
Overall: three stars. It's not something I ever would have picked up on my own, but it wasn't bad. I docked a star for the repetitiveness towards the middle and another for the excessive talk of dieting.
Find me on Bookstagram here. Support the Open Book Initiative here.
June 4, 2019
During the first few chapters, I thought this book is nice, but it’s not really providing anything I haven’t heard already. However, about half-way through the book, I really started thinking about what Susan Fowler was saying and I had an Aha moment. Fowler shows how the Reinforcement Theory made famous by B.F. Skinner and the Self-actualization found in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs aren’t the best ways to master motivation. Motivation, Fowler says, is about choice, connection, and competence. And it really has to come from within. Part Two of the book is where it really started to resonate with me and my opinion about the book changed. There are some very good real-life stories that explain the three truths about motivation. I really think it is a superb book. I received an ARC for review.
October 23, 2019
Overall, the book has some weak places (e.g. There are a lot of repetitions and sometimes annoying tone of an author that is 100% sure her method is great) but gives an interesting perspective on different motivation types and how to switch your priorities or find them.
With the right distance, you can learn something new about motivation. I also appreciate the numerous examples that the author provided, both from workshops and her own life.
Some aspects (e.g. chapter about can people change and fatal distractions seemed oversimplified and a little bit naive for me. It's easy to say that money won't buy happiness if you have enough of them to live your life without feeling that finances block you in pursuing your dreams and aspirations.
With the right distance, you can learn something new about motivation. I also appreciate the numerous examples that the author provided, both from workshops and her own life.
Some aspects (e.g. chapter about can people change and fatal distractions seemed oversimplified and a little bit naive for me. It's easy to say that money won't buy happiness if you have enough of them to live your life without feeling that finances block you in pursuing your dreams and aspirations.
October 28, 2020
Motivation is a critical subject for leaders. I know this because every leader I talk to wants to better understand how to motivate their teams. If I could point you to a short book that would give you real research and real-life examples of how to do that, would you be interested? If you are, read on.
Susan Fowler is a student of and master of motivation. That is why when she writes a new book on the subject, I am all ears and eyes. Susan’s newest book is titled Master Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals. I want to tell you why this book is important to you personally and professionally.
Read more...
Susan Fowler is a student of and master of motivation. That is why when she writes a new book on the subject, I am all ears and eyes. Susan’s newest book is titled Master Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals. I want to tell you why this book is important to you personally and professionally.
Read more...
July 12, 2019
Being a helpless academic the science based research and evidence presented in the book is both interesting and appropriate for implementation in one's daily life for improved performance and satisfaction. Well worth the read.
February 26, 2020
This book is a great inspiration for taking control of your motivations. Her words - Choice, Connection, Competence - are ingrained in my head now and I hope I can hone my motivation mastering skills until I'm using them without even realizing it.
Read
March 5, 2022This book was ok. Can't say that it was groundbreaking. It is definitely more for a layperson. Could be useful depending on where you are in life. I think its usefulness is in your encouragement to reflect,which is typically useful.
May 28, 2020
Exceptionally corporate, but I gained from it. Read with a pinch of salt.
May 16, 2023
This book has a very different approach to motivation which may be helpful if applied.
July 1, 2022
This book is not as 'Scientific' as I thought it would be. There's no chemical science (Chemicals), Biology (Neurons or stuff) or Physics. I also dislike the fact that there's hardly/no statistical proof in most of the examples presented.
The author spoke some scientific truths and then threw in the references quickly. But it was not really explained and you would have to read those references to really know more on the Scientific aspects imo.
It explained that the right Choice, Connection and Competence are what you need to master your motivation. I did not particularly like some chapters although there were great chapters in between. Some of the points were repeated too many times in various chapters.
I disagree with parts of this book.
The author spoke some scientific truths and then threw in the references quickly. But it was not really explained and you would have to read those references to really know more on the Scientific aspects imo.
It explained that the right Choice, Connection and Competence are what you need to master your motivation. I did not particularly like some chapters although there were great chapters in between. Some of the points were repeated too many times in various chapters.
I disagree with parts of this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews