The Motivation Crisis

Many people have achieved great fame and fortune before turning 40. Mozart died five years before reaching 40. Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor and died at 34. When Jack Benny was in his 60s and 70s, he used to get laughs by claiming to be 39 instead of what he really was:

say 74. Why did Benny pick 39?

Some consider 39 to be the last-gasp outpost of youth. In business, the goal to be president or the ambition to invent a world-renowned product may run smack into reality at 40. A 40-Year-old often has a long history of work experience including a few scars from failures.

Many 39-year-olds and even younger men and women have accomplished a lot. They may have been promoted every three or four years and their compensation packages may be in six figures.

They may also have realized that the corporate program or the management hierarchy is becoming narrow and that their opportunities are decreasing. The first 15 years in the work force are often years of advancement, recognition, autonomy, and high expectations.

Motivational inspiration is all around. By 40 motivational inspiration may be harder to find.

A few examples will highlight how self-motivation becomes a very serious concern for many

people around 40 years old. Edward hit the wall at about 38 years old. He was a senior product

manager at Borden's Consumer Products Division in Columbus, Ohio. He had always wanted to

be president of a company. At 38 he realized that, at Borden, this wouldn't happen. His goals

were being stalled. He left Borden and joined a manufacturing firm in Dayton. Today, at 44, as

vice president for sales, marketing, and engineering applications for Freund Precision. he is

happier and more realistic. He wants to be financially independent at 55, but he is not going to

drive himself to exhaustion.

Wie was a fast tracker when the birth of her son made her rethink her goals. The Princeton

graduate had been only 34 when she stepped up to the top rung of the management ladder as

president of telemarketing. At 36 she started to assess her life, the dizzying schedules and the

frequent travel. She concluded that a person can have it all, but not all at the same Edward !? By

all, she meant success, power, money, recognition, energy and influence. Wie is now enjoying

motherhood. When she wants to go back to managing, she will go back to work. She is

confident, satisfied and very aware of the costs and benefits of being a mother, wife and

management superstar.

About 4 million Americans turn 40 each year. Forty is the age at which reality pyramid is

narrowing and self-assessment become crucial. However; success can be measured in many

ways. How a person copes depends on many things. Self confidence, talent, resourcefulness,

goals and adaptability etc.. People who love their work have strong work ethics and know

themselves well will not be obstructed by the "40" wall. The over-40 successes are the ones who

like Jack Benny have a passion to accomplish to achieve and to be creative well into old age

without feeling a day over 39.

Questions for Discussion

a) Can a person like Edward achieve a sense of self-actualization even though he hasn't

achieved one of his major goals (becoming a president of a firm)'? Explain.

b) What role does self-confidence play in terms of motivation for Juanita? How did Edward and Wie use self-assessment to their advantage in maintaining a strong degree of self-

motivation?

c) What you have learnt from this case? Give your own feelings.

(Broadly Explain 2P)