Hello Roses,
If I were to ever do a Masters (not likely) I would like to research what drives and motivates some individuals to achieve so much more than others. This is a topic I often think about and I guess subconsciously I wanted to find out. Hence, I decided to start a business.
One of, if not my favourite song ever is by Billy Joel and it’s called Vienna. There is a lyric that says “don’t you know that only fools are satisfied” and satisfaction (or lack of it) is what drives me forward. I’m never satisfied. I’ve been told numerous times to not be so hard on myself and that I’ll never be happy if I’m never satisfied with what I’ve got and done.
But I look at it a different way. I have to agree with Billy in that if you are satisfied, what’s the point in striving for more? Un-satisfaction provides the basis for innovation and achievement. When I was at University, I was devastated if I got a 2:1 in a piece of coursework or exam because I knew I could get a first and why would I not want to get a first? For me, this is the difference between people who make their dreams a reality, and those that perhaps fall off the bandwagon.
I believe there is a direct correlation between satisfaction and achievement. Richard Branson was not satisfied with just Virgin Airlines, so he created Virgin Trains. He was still not satisfied because he knew he could do more, perhaps in the banking industry, and then hotels.
I recently asked a serial entrepreneur (who sold her last business for tens of millions) if she is ever satisfied in business. Her one word answer was no. No because she wants to achieve more. She knows she can achieve more, and guess what, it has nothing to do with money. Now this does beg the question, will you ever be satisfied? And that I believe to be a personal judgement. I think I will know when I have reached a level of contentment in that I have achieved what I originally set out to achieve. That probably won’t stop me going back for more, but there will be a bank of contentment and once that is equal to or greater than the gut wrenching feeling of having not yet achieved your goal, THEN a wry smile may cross my face and I’ll give myself a little pat on the back. But until then, I’ll keep working on my dream and wanting you guys to be a part of it (sign up form is on the Home page).
Once again, get involved by commenting on my Instagram and letting me know your thoughts. What will make you satisfied? Are you ever satisfied?
Lots of Love,
Emily xx