Entrepreneurs and emergent leaders develop passions for ideas, ideals, or tasks that give them the enthusiasm to "go for it" even when others criticize, object, resist, or ignore an opportunity or threat. A self-starter takes the initiative and the risk to transform their ideas or ideals into results that benefit others. All leaders have to rely upon their own instincts and establish an environment that motivates others; sometimes in lonely and uncertain conditions. They must influence others to motivate themselves who, in turn may become leaders in their own right.

Self motivation has five ingredients: positive attitude, ambition, confidence, commitment, and self assessment.

Positive attitude:

Attitude reflects an individual's positive or negative state of mind towards an event, activity, condition, item or another individual. Attitude affects actions; it is easy to be negative and think of barriers, obstacles, and failure. Whereas contingency plans should always be considered to prevent or recover from negative outcomes, it is better to think of what is possible than what isn't. Attitude can be changed through persuasion; favorable results and success stem from positives attitudes. Hence, it is important to examine the benefits of the situation or proposition, and think in terms of how the best results can be achieved effectively and efficiently.

Ambition:

Ambition is the basis of motivation for achieving status, power, and results. Ambition requires an aspiration (ideal or dream) - a mission and a vision, and self-esteem - the belief in oneself to achieve a positive result.

Confidence:

Confidence is the level of certainty that a hypothesis regarding an intended action or outcome is correct. With respect to accomplishing the intended outcome, confidence is the level of certainty that the related people, processes, and products and/or services are capable. Self-confidence is belief in one's own capabilities. Confidence is the basis for motivation for action.

Commitment:

Commitment is the pledge to an aspiration and creates the obligation to engage and remain in activities that realize it.

Self assessment:

Self assessment is the willingness to understand one's own strengths and weaknesses so as to undertake a specific role and associated responsibility. The consequence is taking advantage of strengths, improving weaknesses, or compensating for them by engaging others.

The criteria for self assessment include: aptitude, qualifications, ability, proficiency, and experience:

• Aptitude - suitability for a role
• Qualifications - standard conditions or requirements to perform the role and accept the responsibility
• Ability - expected quality of performance
• Proficiency - level of competencies (knowledge and skills)
• Experience - application of competencies (or lack thereof) to actual situations, with the related learning

Competence includes:

• Personal - intra (self) and inter (relationships with others) - oral and written communications, and appearance
• Professional and technical
• Enterpriship - entrepreneurship, leadership, and management

Leaders cannot attract followers unless they are self-motivated; they can manage but they cannot lead.

The ability to self-motivate is an enterpriship competency.

About the author:

Nigel A.L. Brooks is an entrepreneur, business enterprise owner, management consultant, and motivational speaker. He is president of The Business Leadership Development Corporation, a management consulting firm that specializes in business strategy, technology strategy, organizational reviews and performance assessments. Prior to The Business Leadership Development Corporation, he was president of Javazona Cafes, Inc., senior vice president at American Express Company, vice president and partner at Booz Allen Hamilton (now Booz and Company), and a partner at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). He has experience in North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific in the financial services, food services, manufacturing and distribution, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, wholesale, retail, transportation, and government industries. His entrepreneurial activities have included establishing a publishing firm, operating a European-style gourmet coffee cafe and catering business, and a health-related business. He has also been a radio show host.