As much as they may hurt to read, the above words from Chuck Close regarding motivation are seethingly true. The word ‘motivate’ means “to stimulate (someone’s) interest or enthusiasm for doing something.”
This sounds very nice, but in reality, interest alone doesn’t make a difference in your community. Enthusiasm by itself doesn’t create change. Any bum can get excited after hearing a great speaker or reading an inspiring book. The difference between the artist and the bum in this circumstance, is that the artist takes her interest and enthusiasm, and uses them to impel her to make something.
To impel means “to drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.”
Note the difference here...
Motivate=interest in doing something
Impel=actually doing it
I hate to debate semantics, but this small difference makes all the difference.
Does this mean motivation is a bad thing? Certainly not. Enthusiasm and passion are important pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. The mistake that the amatuer, or the bum, makes is believing that motivation alone will provide him with the whole picture.
The artist knows that motivation and enthusiasm are more like the corner pieces to the puzzle. They’re a good place to start, but they certainly don’t make a complete picture all by themselves. She understands that there is a big difference between getting inspired and getting to work.
This sounds very nice, but in reality, interest alone doesn’t make a difference in your community. Enthusiasm by itself doesn’t create change. Any bum can get excited after hearing a great speaker or reading an inspiring book. The difference between the artist and the bum in this circumstance, is that the artist takes her interest and enthusiasm, and uses them to impel her to make something.
To impel means “to drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.”
Note the difference here...
Motivate=interest in doing something
Impel=actually doing it
I hate to debate semantics, but this small difference makes all the difference.
Does this mean motivation is a bad thing? Certainly not. Enthusiasm and passion are important pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. The mistake that the amatuer, or the bum, makes is believing that motivation alone will provide him with the whole picture.
The artist knows that motivation and enthusiasm are more like the corner pieces to the puzzle. They’re a good place to start, but they certainly don’t make a complete picture all by themselves. She understands that there is a big difference between getting inspired and getting to work.