Make changes in the environment, learn the self-instructions, and provide the rewards necessary to get done what you need to do.
See
chapters 4 and 11, especially learned industriousness. Reinforce your
constructive behavior several times a da 17217v2124r y, give larger rewards every week.
Shift from extrinsic to intrinsic reinforcement (See chapter 4).
Talk
to yourself, taking responsibility and giving
directions, pep talks, and praise. Confront negative self-talk, like "I'm
too stupid to be an engineer," by testing out the idea, "I'm smart
enough if I work hard." (See methods #1 and #3 in this chapter.)
Associate
with friends who support your achievements. Encourage each other. If you admire
or identify with someone, hopefully he/she will model the desired behavior for
you. Be prepared to leave friends as you move on.
Surround
yourself, if possible, with able and highly motivated people. You will be
threatened, but you will learn much more, you will be motivated by them, and
your group will achieve much more. Some "hot shots" can't stand to
get help from others or to share success. The experience of being part of a
highly effective team is the thrill of a lifetime. Don't let your ego or your
insecurity deprive you of the experience.
Follow
your own directions, set your own goals. Research has shown that high achievers
are independent, while low achievers conform to others' wishes. So, try to avoid being too desperate for others' approval or to
belong to a group (unless that group supports your achievement).
Record
your "target" behavior daily and plot it. Most people will seek
success if they think success is likely. Thus, maximize the probability of
success and minimize the stress of failing. Low self-esteem people give up
(self-handicapping) when failure seems likely, so make sub-goals easy. Failure
motivates high esteem people (Raynor & McFarlin, 1986). Use failure as a
cue to try harder.
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