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We must have a pure, honest, and warm-hearted motivation, and on top of that, determination, optimism, hope, and the ability not to be discouraged. The whole of humanity depends on this motivation.

HH The Dalai Lama

When you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in life recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Motivation is knowing you are learning, growing, and succeeding toward your desired outcome while sustaining positive momentum.

Jaren L. Davis

Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.

Benjamin Franklin

Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Louis "Lou" Holtz

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Jim Ryun

Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

Mario Andretti

Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Louis "Lou" Holtz

Motivation Randy Pausch

When 45-year-old Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he chose to focus on living rather than dying. As a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Pausch was asked to deliver a “last lecture.” This well-known campus tradition allowed professors to share worldly wisdom with students as if, hypothetically, they were dying and had one last lecture to give. The only difference in Pausch’s case is that Pausch really was dying, a fact that only motivated him more. He delivered his last lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” on Sept.18, 2007, to a packed McConomy Auditorium. Pausch began by sharing several of his boyhood dreams, some which he had achieved and others he hadn’t. He described the importance of having dreams and how anyone can still learn a lot by reaching for those dreams, even if they don’t always succeed. He shared the values, learned through experience, which he hoped to pass on to others: integrity, honesty, character, hard work, laughter and gratitude. Pausch’s last lecture received a great deal of praise and attention. It became a viral YouTube hit, and in October 2007, he presented an abridged version on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He turned the lecture into a book by the same name, which quickly became a best-seller. Readers were deeply moved by the book’s portrayal of Pausch’s lifelong philosophy and the way it revealed the ultimate source of his motivation—his three young children. Randy Pausch passed away July 25, 2008, but his voice lives on in the recorded lecture and his book. He continues to motivate us all by encouraging us to never give up on our childhood dreams—a source of inspiration that can never run dry.

Giving Back Andre Agassi

Every once in a while, an individual comes along with a vision - an idea born that challenges established practices. At first, the idea may be ridiculed; even fiercely resisted but eventually it is accepted by the mainstream. The man with this idea is someone perhaps you wouldn't expect. You may know him as a former World No. 1 professional American tennis player. A winner of eight Grand Slam singles tournaments. An Olympic Gold Medalist in singles tennis. One of five male players winning all four Grand Slam singles events during his career. The only player in the open era to win every Grand Slam singles title. These are but a few of his athletic accomplishments, as you'll soon see there are more - yet of a different kind. His name - Andre Agassi - Founder of The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which has raised over $60 million for at-risk children in Southern Nevada. His idea - the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (AACPA) in West Las Vegas, NV a K-12 public charter school for at-risk children - it's changing the face of how we educate our children. Founded by Andre, and funded by a 40 million dollar contribution from The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, Agassi Prep opened in 2001 with 150 students in grades three through five. A growing student body has expanded Agassi Prep into a K-12 eight-acre campus. In 2005 Agassi Prep was the only middle school in Clark County, NV to receive an "Exemplary" designation from the Nevada Department of Education. In addition, was named a National Model Charter School by the U.S. Department of Education. Tuition is free - the majority of students are African American selected by lottery and there's a waiting list. The Agassi Prep mission? "Providing educational and recreational opportunities to enhance the character, self-esteem and career possibilities of at-risk boys and girls." Agassi Prep gives children who don't fall into traditional "teaching guidelines" an education and the tools to develop into well-rounded adults who in turn contribute to the community. Beyond a conventional academic curriculum, Agassi Prep inspires students to develop intangible traits such as character, respect, motivation and self-discipline, which until recently due to emphasis on analytical skills have been undervalued. Students must memorize The Academy's Code of Conduct posted inside the front door, which states, "The essence of good discipline is respect. Respect for authority and respect for others; respect for self and respect for rules. It is an attitude that begins at home, is reinforced in school and is applied throughout life." Agassi Prep holds students, parents and teachers to a higher standard and individual accountability. Each one must sign a "Commitment to Excellence." Consequences for not upholding the Academy principles can lead to loss of certain privileges and relative to its teachers, dismissal from AACPA. Humanity is ripe for the hallmark of a true teaching academy like Agassi Prep. Its creative methodology inspires students to a higher level of development without personal agenda. But what inspires Andre to continue this monumental mission? For Andre it's a selfless undertaking. It's a labor of love and devotion. Helping children realize their full potential and to stand on their own - is the highest reward.

Fitness Linda Fondren

“If you’re not healthy, you’re not happy.” With this simple but powerful mantra, Linda Fondren has been changing lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi. It’s never easy to lose weight, but with the right motivation it is possible. In her hometown of 24,000 people, Linda has made it her mission to help her community get fit and healthy. Inspired by her own sister’s untimely death due to complications related to obesity and diabetes, Linda knew she had to do something to help future generations lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. She took the first step by becoming a certified personal trainer and opened her own gym called Shape Up Sisters, which offers a free day each Saturday. Even with the gym’s success, Linda wanted to do more. So in the fall of 2009, she asked the mayor, other city officials, and even local restaurants to make health a top priority—and then challenged the people of Vicksburg to lose a total of 17,000 pounds in 17 weeks. More than 2,500 people participated in Linda’s Shape Up Vicksburg initiative. “I turned a weight-loss challenge into a life-transformation challenge,” says Linda. “It’s not so much about tracking the pounds; it’s about prompting the action, getting people to move, getting communities to move so that we are all helping each other. Because if we’re not helping each other, my goodness, we might as well hang it up.” By August of 2010, the citizens of Vicksburg had lost more than 15,000 pounds. They reached their goal of 17,000 pounds within the following few months. Linda continues to keep the momentum going by offering free nutrition classes and fitness activities, including a once-a-month walk around the city of Vicksburg for anyone who wants to join. Through the community’s loss of weight have come gains in self-esteem, energy and a sense of bright optimism for the future. Now that’s fitness—of body, mind and spirit.

The Long Shot.

The Olympics always produces some of the most memorable images of the year, and the 2024 Paris event was no different. We love come-from-behind stories, we love our heroes, we love sportsmanship gestures between competitors and countries, and we love love stories.

Paris, the city of love, gave us the image of Tara Davis outleaping the world in the long jump, then leaping into her new husband’s arms. The golden couple met while competing, Davis in the Olympic long jump and Hunter Woodhall in the 400 meters in the Paralympics. How did this fairy tale come to be?

Scott Mansch of the Great Falls Tribune interviewed Woodhall and his family back in 2016, when Woodhall was 17 years old, after the youngster strode confidently into the local barbershop on prosthetic legs, the high-tech kind they call “blades.” Watching him run in those days was remarkable. His lithe body strode smoothly, perfectly balanced, the upper body in fluid cadence, hip flexors and thigh muscles pumping in rhythm. Achieving the kind of technique to get around the track so quickly would take much more practice than with natural legs. But Woodhall was confident he could do it. There was no pity in his family, only a bunch of rowdy, athletic siblings and cousins to try to keep up with.

“Nobody ever treated him different, from day one,” says Woodhall’s uncle Wyatt. “He’s the most determined kid I’ve ever seen.”

Woodhall was born with a condition that prevented the bones in his lower legs from forming. His parents had to make a difficult decision: Amputate the legs below the knee and give their son a chance to walk, or accept what was and keep Woodhall in a wheelchair his whole life. The emotional decision to have the surgery turned out to be the best thing for Woodhall.

“He’s exactly the way he’s supposed to be and has the talent he’s supposed to have,” says his father, Steve.

Woodhall went on to compete in youth football, basketball and wrestling. He rollerblades and skateboards. As he got older, it was on the track where he found himself, that lonely oval that pushes back the same way every day: relentless, unyielding, no matter how many times you attack it. Woodhall competed locally, in the Western states and internationally. He won the Utah state high school championship in the 400 with an astonishing 47.64 seconds. He went on to compete in college against able-bodied athletes, and then the Paralympics.

The motivation to continually get better has had to come from within. “Coaches treat you differently,” Steve says. “They don’t necessarily get mad at you, they kind of put you in a glass box. So the motivation and work ethic, that’s all his. Nobody pushed him. He’s pushed himself.”

As the miles on the track have added up, so have the medals. Woodhall has competed in the World Championships and the Paralympics since 2015, and dozens of competitions along the way. Track is where he belongs, and it is where he met the love of his life, Olympic Gold Medalist Davis. The embrace that melted a million hearts also delivered the most profound line from one champion to another: “I knew you could do it,” Woodhall said to Davis, to himself and to all of us.

Are You Smarter Than a Seventh-Grade Business Owner?

Ask just about any 12-year-old what their favorite time of the day is and you’ll get a resounding answer: lunch! But for Alejandro Buxton, it’s a bit different. He can’t wait to get home to dive into his candle-making business. Alejandro has a goal of being a bright light in the world. He also has a little sister for an assistant and a mother who is good at taking directions and giving a little advice.

It all started when Alejandro discovered that commercial candles gave his mom headaches. He figured there must be a way to make an all-natural candle that was safe. So he dug into the world of wax and found a soy-based wax that is chemical-free. He also found natural oils to add scent, and Smell of Love Candles was born.

Alejandro sells his candles at local fairs and to his neighbors. Then his online orders began picking up. In the fall of 2022, he started seventh grade — and opened his first retail store, becoming the youngest leaseholder at Tysons Corner Center, a regional mall outside Washington, D.C. As his candles become a much bigger operation, he is always experimenting with new scents like Donut Kill My Vibe, the perfect after-school scent that gets you in the mood for a snack.

He started his business to build his college fund. But running a business is about more than making money for Alejandro. He sets aside a portion of the profit to give back to the community. Some of the money supports the local homeless shelter, and some goes into a scholarship fund for kids who need a little help with college.

“My future goal is to just help people around the world,” Alejandro says. His mother, Patricia, is impressed with her son and loves to spend time with him as his business grows. She says it has strengthened their bond to be together and see how his mind works, adding, “It’s been really inspiring.”

Alejandro has big goals. And an even bigger heart. With all the problems that seem to rob many of us of the motivation to move forward, Alejandro has chosen to focus on a solution that works, not only for him, but as an inspiration to others, no matter their age.

The Mistakes We Learn From and Build On.

About 44% of criminals released in the United States return to prison within the first year after their release. It’s all part of a pattern: Their lives often reveal a series of bad decisions influenced by their environment, including disrespect and disregard of laws.

While they wait out their time in prison, they are making no progress in changing destructive behavioral patterns. Many argue that simply locking individuals up only delays their next crime.

Most incarcerated people have yet to earn any higher education degree. But time and experience have shown that education programs have proven to be the best at reducing recidivism, the rate at which people are re-incarcerated. After all, acquiring knowledge builds confidence and emotional maturity, no matter the individual’s background. According to research done by Northwestern University, vocational training cut the recidivism rate to 30%. The higher the degree, the lower the rate of recidivism: 14% for those who obtain an associate degree, 5.6% for those who earn a bachelor’s degree, and 0% for those earning a master’s degree.

These are impressive numbers. But change is still up to the individual, and finding the motivation to finish school while incarcerated can be difficult.

“At first, the teachers wanted me to graduate more than I did,” remembers Cesia Ortiz. “Eventually, I started excelling and earning credits and became very satisfied.” Cesia stuck with it and looked to a better future. “I think about my children often and how this new stepping stone — getting my diploma — won’t just benefit me, it will benefit all of them. I want to be able to help them with their schoolwork, to be there every step of the way … and to show them they’re not alone. I want to provide for myself and for them.”

Stephanie Patton, the director of adult education for the Utah State Board of Education, says: “Heroes don’t become heroes overnight. Becoming a hero requires a process or a journey. The journey always includes an abyss that stretches you to your breaking point, and it’s an abyss that transforms you.”

Each of us will have our own journey, our own quest to accomplish. Like all great literary heroes, we will be tried in many ways and depend on our wits and skills to carry us forward. But we also can’t do it alone. Perhaps the greatest heroes are those who overcome incredible odds, transcending their backgrounds and their histories. Thanks to them, we can stand as witnesses that greatness can be achieved, one step at a time.

‘Couldn’t’ was Never in his Vocabulary.

For some people, there seems to be far more reason not to achieve than to try. It might seem simpler to give up, to say, “Life has not been fair to me; why try?” But for Kayleb Wagner, every setback has been a challenge to overcome, to step up and achieve.

Wagner came out of the womb without a left hand and without the family stability many kids are born into, but with a desire to overcome. Growing up in Florida, surrounded by sports and athletes, is a great way for a kid to socialize, find friends and discover the rituals that lead to success. Wagner threw himself into the culture. He loved competing: basketball, football, track. Without a left hand, Wagner learned to compete harder, to find ways to not only compensate but prove he could be among the best on the field.

As a high school running back, Wagner broke NFL running back Derrick Henry’s high school career rushing record. The first time he carried the ball in a college game, he scored; a brilliant, spinning, deft move into the end zone that exploded the sideline in celebration.

His teammates love him. And he will do whatever it takes to help them win. More importantly, he does whatever he can to inspire others to win.

When Wagner was in high school, the medical engineer who made Wagner’s prosthetic brought his own son to the game. The son was also missing part of his hand and kept his limb hidden in his jacket. “After he heard my name on the PA a couple of times, he rolled up his sleeve, and he wasn’t scared to show his arm anymore,” Wagner says. “That’s the motivation for me to wake up and do it again tomorrow. No matter how bad my day is, I’ve got to keep doing it for the kids like that who are watching me. If I give up, what are those kids going to think?”

Being a multi-sport athlete is demanding. In Florida, spring football overlaps with track season. Wagner would go to football practice, then head straight for the track. Double workouts every day would make any of us complain. Wagner was in his coach’s ear about it, in a playful way. Finally, the coach said, “Fine, no more running today. Go do the shot put.” Wagner responded by qualifying for state two years in a row.

As Wagner demonstrates, each challenge is a chance to prove to yourself that you can be more, despite limitations. When he scored that first college football touchdown, Wagner recalls, “I stuck my left arm up in the air and ran around. To me, that’s who I am. I was embracing it. In a way, it was letting everybody know, ‘Yeah, I have one arm, and I’m still out here doing things that most people thought I couldn’t.’”