Re: 20YR OLD HERE WHO NEEDS MOTIVATION - Posted by eric-fl
Posted by eric-fl on September 18, 2003 at 16:36:46:
Join the Air Force. I’m totally serious. My father was an LC, and I had a lot of exposure to the culture growing up. Why the Air Force? Because they will help to cultivate exactly what you are seeking - “internal motivation”. In fact, that’s actually what they call it, and they distinguish it from “external” motivation. You see, in the Air Force, they want people who are motivated from within, think independently, and act with self responsibility. This is in direct contrast to many of the other armed forces, wherein the motivation is almost purely external, and what they are seeking most is immediate compliance to orders.
*** Before going any further, let me state - I am not making a judgement call about the armed services here - I greatly admire all of them, and came very close to enlisting in the Marines at one point - decided against for purely personal reasons. I’m not looking to start a side debate.*****
The reason that the Air Force is different about all of this, isn’t because they are “smart”, or the Army is “dumb” - it’s got to do directly with their mission, and their operating environment, which is markedly different from the other services. It dictates the “corporate culture”, if you will. Again, this isn’t to say the other services don’t - but in the Air Force, there is much more direct responsibility assigned to personnel, even amongst the lower ranks. They are so stringent about it, they literally will not even tolerate your bouncing a check, not even off base. Spend a couple of years operating in that environment, learn a skill, serve your country - and you WILL develop that internal sense of motivation.
It’s just free advice, and you can take it for what it’s worth - but I can tell you this, without hesitation. Real Estate is not a job, it’s a business. And in this, as in any business, you MUST be absolutely several times motivated than the average person to succeed, as an entrepreneur (vs. an employee). A few years detour, at such a young age, might actually SAVE you time in the dividends it will pay down the road.