Josh's Weekly Insights - January 14, 2026

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.”

-Stephen R. Covey

I recently had a conversation with a leader about creating a bonfire in people. I told him that I am happy to meet with leaders and try to create a spark, however the leader is responsible for bringing the fuel to keep the fire burning. What we were talking about is motivation. In regard to motivation, an outside force could create a spark in someone, but it won’t last for very long.

Think about a time you went to a training with a great presenter. With that image in mind, think about after the training/presentation. Were you motivated? Did they create a spark for you? However, once you got back to the office, I would be willing to bet that many of us were then faced with obstacles. We wanted to create change but didn’t have the right fuel. Then all the day to day responsibilities hit us and smothered that spark.

This is why most training fails to create lasting change. We didn’t bring our own fuel to the party, so the spark doesn’t last long and definitely doesn’t catch fire. This means that if we want to create lasting change, we need to bring our own fuel to the party. So, let’s look at some items that help create fuel for growth and development.

1) Energy - What does your energy level look like? Do you wake up tired or unmotivated? Do you get halfway through the day and start to drag? If you wake up tired or start to drag, look at your habits around eating, exercising, and sleeping. Those are areas that will have a direct impact on how much energy you bring into each day.

2) Purpose - When you understand the “why” behind something, it is easier to commit your full effort to completing it. Sometimes it is hard to commit to lasting change because we can’t see the world the result and the challenges drag us down. In those moments, purpose creates clarity for better decision making.

3) Environment - Are you surrounded by like-minded

people who want the best for you? Surround yourself with people that value growth and development as well as people who believe in you. These groups will push you to be your best and stick to your growth plans. Even ask them to be your accountability partners to make sure you don’t slow down when you start trying to gain momentum.

Those areas will help you have the fuel ready to create your own bonfire. Then you just need to find your spark!

Now get out there and crush your week!