What's the secret to motivation? Assignment due in (actually 5 weeks late!)

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What's the secret to motivation? Assignment due in (actually 5 weeks late!)

28 posts & 19 voices | Started 6 months ago by Mintyjim | Latest reply from kiwijohn

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Mintyjim - Member

Work asked and I agreed to do a diploma in management. They paid up and now every Tuesday I go to college for 4 hours in the evening.

I actually quite enjoy the lectures and the interaction - refreshing to be with some women because I work for a manufacturing company.

Problem is when I get home I have zero motivation to do anything for the course and worse, the assignments. I really can't be bothered.

Today, and oh what a beautiful day, I stayed in to ensure I finally did some college work. I found every excuse under the sun and ended up steam cleaning my carpets and then stripping my totem forks to the individual components.

My first assignment is now 5 weeks late and I have number 2 to do in 2 weeks.

My boss would go ballistic if he knew how far behind I am.

Why can't I just knuckle down, it's not even a difficult topic. But here I am, I've now written more words on STW than I have on my assignment - what a loser!

Hypnosis? How do I start caring? What's worse is that one of the girls in the class even gave me her assignment to help. I've not even opened it!

I think the fact work is shit hard at the mo and my love life recently hit the rocks doesn't help. Still managed two rides since Friday though!

Your thoughts please.

Posted 6 months ago #
The Southern Yeti - Member

Solitaire or maybe minesweeper.

Nothing says studying like hours playing these.

Posted 6 months ago #
scaredypants - Member

AT my place you'd fail it after 2wks overdue and be capped at passmark for anything 0-2wk late

Posted 6 months ago #
iDave - Member

Posted 6 months ago #
Mintyjim - Member

scaredypants - that would probably push me to get something in but the lecturer is cool and understands that work comes first. I've got a ton of responsibility and travel a lot so there's no way I'd have made the first due date anyway.

Anyway, where's all the secrets to motivation??

Posted 6 months ago #
Mintyjim - Member

iDave - nice! Can I use my double clubcard vouchers on that?

How do people find appropriate and amusing picture things so quickly?!

Posted 6 months ago #
Surrounded By Zulus - Member

Procrasturbation?

Posted 6 months ago #
druidh - Member

Will your boss ask for the money back given that you're not holding up your end of the bargain?

Posted 6 months ago #
bigthunder - Member

Focus.

Posted 6 months ago #
loum - Member

Have a sicky tomorrow, do it then

Posted 6 months ago #
don simon - Member

You're certainly cut out for management, aren't you? Can I come and work for you?

Posted 6 months ago #
The Southern Yeti - Member

How does this work for you...

Posted 6 months ago #
kevj - Member

Google for distraction techniques.

Basically you are doing anything other than the most important thing.

Firstly, mtfu.

Secondly, just crack on. Once you have a bit of motivation, let this carry you. If can be more infectious than you would think.

Posted 6 months ago #
Northwind - Member

Either 1) Tell boss the bad news. Accept results or
2) Do the thing you know you have to do to avoid this.

Posted 6 months ago #
jonah tonto - Member

try ritalin

Posted 6 months ago #
don simon - Member

try ~~ritalin~~ resignin'

Posted 6 months ago #
Mintyjim - Member

I love the hostile responses you get on here.

I won't lose my job, might have to pay back the fee though. I was only letting out a bit of frustration at myself for being such a tool with this.

Kev, you're no doubt right, once the seal is broken the momentum usual builds.

Posted 6 months ago #
don simon - Member

Surely the key is whether the namby pamby, nicey nicey approach gave you the motivation or the hostile responses, no? Either way if you have to ask externally for motivation, how on earth do you think you'll be able to motivate a team under your control?

Posted 6 months ago #
stumpy01 - Member

Why not stay at work after hours and get started on it in your work environment, where you might have less distractions? And stay away from the internet; write is using pen & paper if need be to stop you 'just nipping on STW for 5 mins'......

If you find people keep interrupting you with 'work stuff' then either explain to them what you are doing and you are only at work to avoid distraction, not to actually 'work' or book a meeting room, go and sit in there & close the blinds/shutter, put a note on the door saying 'do not disturb' - whatever it takes....

Posted 6 months ago #
teamhurtmore - Member

Mintyjim

Good luck with sorting this out. There is the positive that you recognise that you need to do something (and it seems that you want to do something) and the negatives:

...when I get home I have zero motivation to do anything...I really can't be bothered...I found every excuse under the sun...My first assignment is now 5 weeks late and I have number 2 to do in 2 weeks...what a loser!...work is shit hard at the mo and my love life recently hit the rocks doesn't help.

So there is a lot going on here. This seems like a cry for help, so my advice would be the opposite of Northwinds. I would make an appointment with your boss. Explain what has happened (make no excuses and accept responsibility) and discuss and commit to a plan of work that will get you back in track. If he/she is committed enough to pay for your training, he/she is likely also to be willing to help.

Then start slowly but conscientiously. Ban STW for the duration. Do the work early and then think about rides and house stuff afterwards. Once you get into the assignment, you will probably enjoy it and get more out of the rest of the course.

Above all, do not let this fester. Commit to act now and engage help from all quarters. Good luck, it is probably a lot easier to solve than you think.

(as an aside, after you have written your plan for the boss, read this: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2f52b7bc-174c-11e1-b00e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1erIXYG2I)

Posted 6 months ago #
fourbanger - Member

The secret to motivation is foresight.

Posted 6 months ago #
hels - Member

Different things motivate different people.

Sounds like they are too soft on you, the penatly for failure is clearly not high enough.

Maybe you should focus on the reward for success ?? Is there any ??

If there isn't, then why are you bothering, jack it in and do something fun...

Posted 6 months ago #
Bedds - Member

I can kind of understand what you're going through, the company I used to work for paid for me to do a Safety Diploma.. its a good course and requested on most job adverts for the upper end of things these days.

Work was busy, really busy, my study plans went out of the window and time went on.

I tried to sit an exam.. and failed..

I tried to get back into it, knowing that it would do me good, but to be honest, I was in a comfy job, where I knew all there was to know and the Diploma was a nice to have not something that really meant anything to me - I was doing it because it felt like the right thing to do.

At the start of this year I was made redundant.

All of a sudden, that lack of motivation was biting me on the ar5e and I regretted the time spent putting more effort into not doing the study than the study would of actually required.

It meant the jobs I wanted were out of reach and I had no one to blame but me. I was miserable, I'll make no excuses, I had a few rejection letters but on the whole heard nothing. I got a lucky break though and now I'm in a cracking job that has given me the desire to study and make the most of myself, I've got my drive back, two exams down, one to go and I'm starting on my large work based project.. I'm determined to nail it too.

Not sure if you can glean much from the rambling, but think of what the qualification will do for you should the worst happen out of the blue...

Posted 6 months ago #
Mintyjim - Member

teamhurtmore - thanks for those words of advice. I like what you're saying and fortunately my boss is a great guy, who I respect, so I'll do it today.

The irony is I'm a great motivator for others, either my team or friends. In fact, on the course I spend most of my time helping others.

Hels, you've kinda got a point there - I'm (probably) one of many on here who has a good job but feels no 'ummph' and yearns for something fun hence no motivation to the course.

Stumpy - good words also, nipping on STW is about right! Pen & paper is exactly what I use when I do actually get real work done!

Don Simon - you're a little bit odious aren't you

Posted 6 months ago #
CharlieMungus - Member

Carol Dweck

Posted 6 months ago #
don simon - Member

Don Simon - you're a little bit odious aren't you

No. Only trying to help.

Posted 6 months ago #
teamhurtmore - Member

don simon - Member
Don Simon - you're a little bit odious aren't you

No.

Minty - have a click on the link I also posted. Its from today's FT and essentially about the need to 'tell it straight' sometimes!! Lucy Kellaway is good at getting through the guff.

Posted 6 months ago #
kiwijohn - Member

Been there, done that, pulled through. Had some real bad times in the middle as well, so pull your finger out.
7 year bachelor of applied science (winemaking) since you ask.

Posted 6 months ago #

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