Motivation

Here outlined, we will see a step-by-step plan on how we will maintain the willingness and desire to
prepare and inspire others, including myself, and including you.

Step number one, acknowledgement.

What do we do if we are hungry? We eat. Easier said than done, isn’t it? What if we don’t know that
what we are feeling is hunger? First, we will use the principle of observation. According to Kathleen
M. Zelman, Master of Public Health, Registered and Licensed Dietitian, we recognize the signs of
hunger with things like salivating, having our belly growl at us, a sensation that our stomach is empty,
among others. What if we don’t know that the solution to hunger is putting food in our stomach? We
will do some research, and by doing so, we will discover that hunger is caused by a lack of food.

Now, this was an oversimplification to an issue every human being has faced in order to give us some
context for our true topic: What do we do if we are unmotivated? First, we have to recognize if there is
a reason for not having interest or enthusiasm for what we are supposed to have a passion on doing
as trainers, as educators. Is the way we are teaching becoming monotonous and boring? Are we trying
to tackle every task by ourselves without any help from others? Is our physical space not enticing
enough for us to want to come back after spending some time in it? Introspection will have a huge role
on determining what will keep every one of us on the path of excellence.

Step number two, thoughts and acts.

It’s very easy to spend all of our energy into overthinking what we are going to do. While the importance
of planning is very much appreciated, motivation doesn’t miraculously appear into our lives. What we
will want to do knowing this is start and move.

We will talk to a mirror, or to stuffed animals, and explain to them the lessons beforehand. We will put
up colors that we already have in our lives if our surroundings are not enticing enough for us. We will
make sure to have a very well-defined reason to be doing what we are doing, following the “What’s in
it for me?” method that coaches are encouraged to use with the participants.

Finally, we will make sure to keep the expectations real, knowing that there’s going to be times when
we will make errors, but that it doesn’t mean that we can’t correct them and learn from them, and that
with time we’re going to be able to improve them.

Step number three, resources.

Using visual aids like post-its, notepads or a simple notebook to keep track of suggestions, motivators,
tasks, goals, and accomplishments, is going to play a key part in maintaining a good spirit on a daily
basis.

Having a network to support ourselves is going to be even more important. Being social individuals,
we know we can’t do everything alone. This means having constant feedback from and for the whole
training team. Participants, coaches, wave assistants, supervisors and all other interpreters. Building
a team where trust is the pilar, is what we are setting as the goal to be achieved. Because they all are
the ones who are in constant contact with the ends of our training, our clients and LEP persons, and
you trust them because they’re knowledgeable of their roles, because they’re reliable and because
we’re all working towards the same goal.