A tale of two motivators

I encountered two articles today which struck me as being in the same "motivational speaker" vein, but coming from two totally different directions. Actually, if I want to keep the human biology analogy going, perhaps one was from a 'vein' and the other an 'artery' -- one leading away from the heart and the other to the heart, at least in my opinion.

The first article is about James Arthur Ray, best known as being the motivational speaker featured in "The Secret", discussing how the Law of Attraction can provide you with wealth.

I watched The Secret almost two years ago now, back when it was just starting to pick up in popularity. Though I enjoyed what it had to say about what your intentions can do, I did find that there were too many allusions as to what one can do for themselves, rather than for the greater good of humanity. And maybe that idea was polarized all the more by this gentleman. Certainly he can grab your attention, and certainly he can motivate. But at the same time I also found myself feeling that he wasn't truly genuine about helping the greater good. It seemed to me that what he was doing was telling us that there is no problem or guilt to be had in becoming wealthy (of which I agree), but it seemed to stop there. Then I read this article, and it made me wonder -- what came first? His desire for money and wealth, or his desire to make wealth happen for himself and others? I got the impression that his wasn't a heart-based message.

Then I saw this article about Randy Pausch. I haven't been able to watch the entire 'Last Lecture' YouTube video yet, but what I have seen was very moving, and appeared to me to come from a place much closer to the heart.

Money is money. It is necessary in this world we have constructed for ourselves, but it is not all there is. Perhaps why I was put off by what Ray has to say is summed up in one sentence in the article: "Ray says he was bored in junior college and eager to start making money." ...eager to start making money.

I know that many people feel that way when they get to college and determine what career they want. But, wow. How about, eager to prove to himself he can do his job well? Or eager to help people? Or eager to have fun? I can tell you that my occupational choice out of college was in the entertainment business - radio, specifically. I can guarantee you that the last thing on my mind was being eager to make money. It was to do a job I really enjoyed doing. To have fun.

I know, most jobs aren't fun to people. I guess I'm one of the few people who actually discovered exactly what I wanted to do and did it at a young age. I would have worked in my radio jobs for free, frankly. I wanted to entertain, I wanted to play good music, to be creative in my production/recording work, and oh! I actually get a paycheck for doing this, too? That's a nice benefit. And I got recognition for a job well done by not only those who worked with me, but by the listeners as well. That was what I was eager to experience -- respect, a sense of integrity, fun times, personal improvement. Not money.

Now, love is more necessary than money. I think we all know this (or should, really). Doesn't matter if the love comes from outside of you, or (more importantly) from inside of you. Randy Pausch's speech came from a place where love lives.

More power to him as he lives his last days. May they be long and continue full of love.