Larry Winget

Title: 5 Time New York Times/Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, The Pitbull Of Personal Development®

Perspective: The best way to motivate someone to alter their life is to make them so irritated with their current path that they can’t help but make a change.

What do you feel is the most effective way for someone to motivate themselves to make a change in their life?

People change when they want to change. They never change when someone else wants them to change, at least not for long! And people change when it hurts so badly where they are that they have to change. That’s why I have trademarked that I am The World’s Only Irritational Speaker™. Most the motivational bozos believe you can motivate someone to go from where they are to a better place by making that “better place” so attractive they can’t wait to get moving. That is a total load of crap. My goal instead is to make you so irritated with where you are, so sick of your current circumstances, so disgusted with your situation that you will do anything to go anyplace else. I believe the avoidance of pain is a bigger motivator than the desire for pleasure. When people take a realistic look at their situation, stop blaming others for their results, take total responsibility for everything in their life and then know they can do better if they will just get off their butts both mentally and physically, they can change their situation and that is when they will make the necessary changes. And it’s important to understand that any small change in behavior creates a change in results. Do anything differently and your results will be different. So get started today. Not tomorrow. Today!

What in your opinion is the best way to end the ongoing cycle of poorly trained employees being hired by companies who are willing to accept less than satisfactory performance?

I am pretty hard on employees and employers. Businesses exist for one reason: to be profitable. Any employee that understands that concept will do whatever they can to help their employer be more profitable, knowing that is the best job security they can create. Your employment must bring more value to the company than your cost to the employer. If it doesn’t, you are not necessary and should be fired. Companies can’t afford unnecessary expenses and unless you are worth more than you cost, you are both an expense and completely unnecessary. Both employers and employees must understand and practice this basic concept of business.

Next: Any company willing to accept less than amazing performance is guilty of not caring about their customers and deserves to go out of business. No excuse is acceptable when it comes to poor performance. Simply communicate what you expect from your employee and the consequences for non-performance. Then train to make sure the employee has the skills to deliver according to your expectations. Stay involved to make sure the work is being done according to your training and your clearly communicated expectations. If it is, celebrate. If it isn’t, correct the problem and give them another chance. If it happens again, fire the employee and get someone who will do what you need to have done. Employees are easy to come by so don’t let a bad one hold you hostage and make your customers suffer while undermining your authority.

What influenced you to change your style from the “typical motivational crap”, to the current “in your face” attitude that you employ presently?

A lack of authenticity caused the change. I realized that I simply didn’t believe that a positive attitude could change your life and that feeling good about yourself was not enough to make you successful. I was frustrated with the “believe it and achieve it” mentality that has become so popular. I knew in my own life that hard work and excellence had been the key to my own success and that was contrary to what most of the motivational bozos were saying. You can’t attract success and there is no secret – you have to get off your lazy butt and go to work whether you are happy about it or enjoy it or even whether you hate it. You don’t have to find your purpose or your passion. Instead, you have to take action on what is right, become committed to your commitments and be willing to sacrifice temporary enjoyment for long-term financial success. I have no problem pointing the finger of blame directly in your face and telling you “if your life sucks, it’s because you suck!” My willingness to be the first guy in the personal development business to tell folks that their lives and their pitiful results are their own damn fault set me apart from the other personal development people. Then my first book, Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life became a Wall Street Journal bestseller, cementing my trademarked approach to self-help and allowing me to become a recognizable brand with a unique point of view in an industry that is full of folks that you can’t tell apart.