It's been quite some time since I have sent my fellow CREATORS a newsletter. Please forgive me, but I've been very busy promoting my latest book: "Travel Cheap-Travel Well!"- Confessions Of A Traveling Pauper.

The web site not only took some doing, but the forum has been a constant work of love as well. I hope you'll visit it: http://www.paupertravel.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOW onto this week's message:

This week I want to put a 'fire' in your belly! Yes, I want to know what motivates you to take action. When you come up with an idea---what do you do? Why?

I know you have ideas, that's a given---after all, you're a CREATOR! But let's look at motivation from a new perspective:

MONEY

Yes, this is an age-old motivator. In America, especially, we are driven to use our ideas for money. Inundated with images of success, houses, fast cars, exotic lifestyles of the 'rich & famous', we Americans work longer hours, are more productive, invest the most amount of effort and time into our 'employ'. More than any other country in the world. I'm not a big fan of that!

I have found that if money is your sole purpose for creating, then you usually aren't too creative. It's not a bad thing, to want the 'trappings' of success; just don't let it be your sole motivator and keep your life in perspective. Perhaps that's why they are called 'trappings' in the first place---they 'trap' you into living a stunted life of consumerism for its own sake.

PERSONAL EXPRESSION

This makes more sense to me. There is a deep seated need in all of us to express our take on the world. As children we do it naturally. Our species has moved inexorably toward greater civilization and technology through this motivator. It stands head & shoulders above money as a way for art to flourish.

RECOGNITION

In the massive sea of humanity we strive to 'stand out'. We want to have validation for our existence. Yet, this often stems from an egoism that can be very unhealthy to a CREATOR. If, however,, you accept the positive qualities in a need for recognition, then you can use this motivator to great effect.

Confucius said it well: "The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability he has."

DISSATISFACTION

This is a true motivator! Often we look around us; our lives, our economic condition, our environment, our family and social circle, our employ and creative outlets---and are dissatisfied.

This can motivate our desire to excel and create.

SURVIVAL

This is a prime mover! There is nothing more motivating than our inbred, subconscious need to survive. It has been laden into our very DNA by Nature. If you can tap into this you're assured of accomplishment and growth. It is a difficult thing to see, in our modern time, since most of us are well fed, housed, and generally have a life free of primal fear.

Though we may not experience a need to survive "physically" it is vital that we understand our need to survive mentally. Here is what Hugh Gilmore wrote once in the Philidelphia Inquirer Magazine:

"The human mind is as driven to understand as the body is to survive."

I couldn't agree more!

EXCITEMENT

What turns you on? What makes your blood pump a bit faster, your heart race a bit quicker? This is living, my fellow CREATOR, and if you have nothing which excites you---your death is more than eminent---I see dirt on your forehead, right now!

DEADLINES

Some people can't be motivated until they face an impending deadline in their work and living. Unless there is a 'finish line' they hardly enter any race, at all. Is this you? Do you need this motivator to really get a 'fire in your belly'? Then by all means start creating dealines for what you create.

REVENGE

It's an ugly word, I know. But, before you consider yourself above such a petty emotion let me remind you that this motivator is not all that negative. One person takes revenge on an English professor who said he would amount to 'nothing' by becoming a great writer with one best-seller after another. One 'ugly duckling', takes revenge on a cruel cadre' of high school classmates by creating the most beautiful of fashion designs in the world of Haute' Cuture.

For the most part I agree with E.H Chapin when he said:

"Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it forgoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury."

However, if revenge is a motivator to excellence and productivity, which is harmless to the offender(s), then I say---revenge on!

FUN

In my book: "The Secret Creator Within"- 23 Ways To Awaken Your Creative Genius,
(http://www.crerativepops.com) I devote a whole chapter to this motivator. My God, we never have enough! In our drive to succeed as adults in a competitive, sometimes ruthless world, we have set aside the joy, frivolity, and meaninglessness of pure satisfaction for its own sake. In so doing, we deny ourselves of the very bedrock of creativity and expression.

DO THIS:

Write one of the above motivators that most appeals to you on a simple card. Pull it out throughout the day and look at it. Use the opposite side to write a note on that motivator that makes sense to you during your day. Let it motivate you during the week to perform something you thought you couldn't do.

Next week, choose one that you LEAST like. Perhaps it's 'revenge' or maybe it's 'fun'. Choose the one that makes you most uncomfortable and is farthest from you as a motivator. Then do the same thing you did with the motivator you 'liked'.

By exploring our attitudes and uses of different motivators we expand our consciousness and ability to create.

That great footbal coach Lou Holtz put it wisely when he said:

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

Victor K. Pryles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of you may be in my shoes, trying to get traffic to your web site. Here is a company I found very useful. Don't get me wrong, it costs money to use their services---but this stuff worked for me and it might for you, as well. Here's their simple ad:

Let us do the Advertising for You!
We'll bring the customers right to your Web Site!

Guaranteed "Targeted" Web Site Traffic!
Real Customers = Real SALES!

"The Difference is our Standards"

Click here now:
http://www.classifiedadcentral.com/?hop=godot

Don't even think about using any other method of traffic delivery other than ours.
Pop up/under windows, exit exchanges etc. are NOT effective.
You're just throwing your money away.

Includes "real time" statistics panel.
View your campaign progress at any time.

http://www.classifiedadcentral.com/?hop=godot

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make it a creative week!

Victor K. Pryles
http://www.paupertravel.com


P.S. And I promise not to be so long between issues in 2005!