The value of drive

The common definition for the word drive is to propel, control, direct and guide. Pertaining your life if I was to ask you what control’s it, what propels it, what directs it and where do you get your guidance from what would your answer be? The value of drive can be looked at as the source of the energy that influences, rules and control your life. Generally when you ask people at different points in their life they will tell you they are either driven by a problem, pressure, and deadline to meet, a painful memory, a haunting fear, their circumstances or emotions

1. Driven by problem

There are those who are driven by problems to which they see no way out so their main focus is on the problem. They think of the problem and focus mainly on the negatives aspects of it. While there are those who a driven by the need to find solution to the problems they are facing. The solution focused people drive themselves out of any problem they face.

2. Driven by pressure

Whether it is political pressure, peer pressure and organizational pressure, those driven by pressure are influenced by the pressure exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, beliefs or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member (for example, political party, trade union), or a social clique. A person affected by peer pressure may or may not want to belong to these groups. Peer pressure can cause people to do things they would not normally do, e.g. promote hatred, take drugs, smoke, get a girlfriend, marry, get a job, have children, buy items they don't really need (cars, houses, boats), etc. So always check those around and how they influence you and remember to remain true to yourself, your values and beliefs.

3. Driven by deadline

Sometimes we set unrealistic deadline or people set deadlines that we have to meet and the duration of reaching this deadline the attainment of it becomes the primary focus of our life. A classic example is towards the end of every year and end of April most accounts departments for many firms have a deadline to meet and during this period everything is left on the way side and the primary focus is on the year end.

I will encourage you stop and have look at yourself and ask what is driving your life?