What We Can Learn From a 2012 Presidential Campaign Quote

Today is election day 2012. A time that Americans will go out and vote for President, congressmen and women, governors, mayors and many other local, elected positions. It is truly an amazing time with all the civil unrest and economic turmoil going on around the world, that one country can peacefully elect a leader – whether that is to re-elect the incumbant or take a new direction with the challenger. 

So on the that note let’s consider a quote that was said during this current campaign season:

“Don’t boo—vote.”

Those are the words of current President Barack Obama, to his supporters in response to their protests against his opponent throughout his presently running campaign. The quote, as simple and succinct as it is, is a testament to the humanistic discipline that “actions speak louder than words.”

But what does that quote mean for you?

Whether you’re campaigning for President or getting ready to settle in a new job, what you can actually take from that quote is so simple, you probably don’t realize it as you’re reading now.

It’s all about motivating yourself in your job and even in your life, just so you can actually diverge from learned habits. Politicians will always remind their supporters to vote for them, because voting can make a difference in the long run. For you, it’s all about sticking with what you want to accomplish and actually following through with your plan.

Motivation is the key here—it’s that inner drive or energy that pushes you toward acting or performing actions that help you achieve your goals. Both desire and ambition are closely intertwined with motivation, and much like the presence of sunlight that warms our planet, if ambition and desire remain absent, so will the heat—or motivation.

So, stop complaining! If you’re an office worker, stop bemoaning the documents you need to sort out. If you run a home-based business, stop procrastinating. If you’re a purchasing professional, don’t avoid dealing with your suppliers.

Purchasing managers face challenges. There is no doubt about that. You have challenges within your place of employment. Maybe it is office politics or maybe it is trying to secure that coveted promotion. You have challenges with the suppliers and vendors you deal with. What you do about those challenges directly effect the outcome both short-term and long-term 

Complaining will deter your motivation, making it so you will have to keep restarting your campaign towards getting your work done. If you’ve got the desire and the ambition, just think about what you can accomplish in one day, one week or even throughout the month or year.

Take this as an example: a student who’d rather procrastinate instead of studying for their test will eventually lose their motivation throughout the period lasting from the assigned study date to the day of the test itself. A student that is motivated to study, however, will succeed, going into the day of the test with confidence and the drive to complete the assignment.

Simply put, a motivated professional will get their work done and without any complaining. The main route to becoming motivated is setting a goal, a map marker, that you’ll follow on your personal road map. It’s an end goal to look forward to when you’re just about complete.

So, don’t boo—get to work!