"Return" is a book published by TED. I didn't know until I got this book that TED began to publish those high-level speeches into small books, so that the speakers of TED Talks could explain their views in more detail through TED's books. As mentioned in the last article, I like TED talk. I especially like the TED talks given by some economics or psychology professors and their best-selling books in their professional fields. These lectures and books enable the public to benefit from their research results. The author dan ariely is a professor of psychology at Duke University. He made several speeches in the TED talk and introduced his psychological research results. The goddess boss and the author's wife are good friends. According to the boss, Dan is the smartest and funniest person she has ever met. After the book was published, the boss decisively bought a copy for everyone.
Dan ariely has published several books before, and this book is his latest bestseller. Mainly through experiments and storytelling, we can effectively motivate ourselves and others in our work and life.
What motivates you to work?
Is it money? Of course, money is important. Without pay, I'm afraid most people won't work hard at their present jobs. We work hard, earn more money, let our parents enjoy their old age, let our children grow up healthily and happily, and travel around the world after retirement.
But if you don't like your present job just for money, will you continue to do it? Even if you do, do you have the motivation to work hard? Will you be happy at work? So besides money, what motivates us to work hard?
As a patent agent, I feel very happy and satisfied whenever I successfully persuade Patent examiners of the Patent Office to apply for a patent for my client. This sense of accomplishment inspires me to do every project well and apply for patents that all customers deserve. Maybe you are an electrical designer. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment when you see the substation you designed put into operation? Maybe you are a doctor. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment when you see the patients you have treated recover? Maybe you are a programmer. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment when you see your program compiled successfully? No matter what you do, if the work can bring you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel that the work is meaningful, this sense of accomplishment will motivate you to work hard and gain more sense of accomplishment.
As patent agents, the clients to be served come from various technical fields. This job requires us to learn and master the latest technology in a new field quickly. For example, the live broadcast of sports competitions involves data collection, tracking technology and game rules. It was while doing some sports live broadcast related projects that I learned how to watch American football and rugby, and the technical process behind the live broadcast of the game. This challenge of learning new technology and the sense of enrichment of acquiring new knowledge inspire me to work hard on every unfamiliar project. Of course, we all do some repetitive work more or less. How to keep the enthusiasm in repetitive work? As the author said, constantly improve the existing procedures and try new methods. For example, an actor plays the same role in the same play hundreds of times a year, and each performance can try different accents and even different expressions. A teacher who has been teaching for decades can add fresh content to each class or try different teaching methods. All these can make repetitive work more interesting and encourage us to work hard every day.
The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that the work itself gives us is of course important. But if you don't like your boss, will you work hard? This book tells many cases about how bosses motivate employees. In the final analysis, the boss's praise, thanks and recognition can greatly increase the motivation of employees. My goddess boss has done a good job in this respect. Every time everyone in the office finishes a project, she will praise it vigorously. She will put some bad things in the second place, making you feel sorry for the boss's trust next time.
Besides the work itself, a boss who cares about your life is more caring. For everyone's birthday in the office, the boss will buy a birthday cake with his favorite taste. Married, giving gifts. Give gifts to people with children. If you have something to do, invite everyone out for dinner. And as I said just now, she often shares with us the good books, articles and opinions she has seen.
Think about it. If the boss didn't give us the book, but gave us $20 each, as the author said, would it inspire you to work harder? Anyway, when I first got this book, I was much happier than finding 20 yuan.