Before I continue I must mention that I do not have anything against motivational speakers. This despite the fact that they wear better suits, have more money, have better teeth and better vocabulary than me. 2020 must be the year where we reached a peak of motivational speakers in the world. Suddenly, everyone it seems has become one. If you didn’t have weekly inspiration to share and a catchy hashtag like #keepgoingdontstop #kgds then you really weren’t trying hard enough. I have decided to put some thoughts on paper in order to help us understand why everybody and (literally sometimes) their dog has decided to become a motivational speaker. Or at least bombard us with “motivation”.
1. Very very low barrier to entry
I type my blog posts mostly on my phone on the rare quiet day when I’m not on a Teams call or attending to my family. All the resources I need to put my thoughts on paper and motivate you I already have and would have had anyway. If I were to start a podcast, or weekly video channel I could download some free or relatively cheap software off the internet to get going. There are no qualifications required really. I could have failed accounting but be called upon to motivate an audit company. I could know nothing about medicine but be asked to do a keynote at a pharmaceutical company. Basically, if you can get it right you can go from zero to billing clients in a relatively short space of time.
2. It’s Maslow’s fault
The highest rung of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is Self Actualisation. This is when a person is motivated to realise their full potential and understand who their true self is. As people progress in their careers they may achieve their physiological, safety, love and esteem needs. If Maslow is correct they may now wish to answer the question of who they are and what their true purpose is. Fortunately or unfortunately this manifests itself in a social media motivational binge as we need an outlet to show how much we have self actualised. Ever noticed how many motivational speakers are professionally successful or individually well off?
3. We are trying to convince ourselves
Life is tough even when there is no pandemic. For most people everyday requires faith and hard work. Sometimes in trying to create a better future for ourselves we do stumble on some nuggets that help us to be better people. Telling people about this validates us in that it reinforces that our struggle is real, that we are growing, that we are thinking and that we are improving. In the process we get motivated ourselves, especially if we have to live up to the ideals we have been telling the world about. 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years and it is impressive that people have found outlets that can help them get through it all.
4. The Ego demands it
We all have it. That voice in our heads that we link to self esteem. That need to be appreciated and acknowledged. The need for people to know you are in the room. The need to know you are right. The need to be told you are innovative, creative, intelligent or maybe even funny. The ego has to be fed even if it means using the platform of motivating others to achieve it.
5. We have too much time on our hands
Due to significantly less commutes during the Coronavirus pandemic many people found themselves with a lot of additional time. Enterprising people will find activities to fill that time if they are not saddled with household chores and responsibilities. That time will become a blog, podcast or YouTube channel with the hashtag #kgds
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