The ModernSquib

By Harry Stamper

The carrot and the stick. You’ve all heard of this method of ‘motivation,’ but have you really thought about how it works? Picture the donkey with a rider loaded with some burden or other. The donkey has the carrot dangling out in front him and the rider has a whip. We know that the donkey will never get the carrot no matter how far he goes but he certainly will get the whip if he slows or stops.

The idea then is that the poor beast of burden, a stupid brute, can’t figure out that he will never achieve the ‘reward’ and is really just trying to avoid the inevitable whip. The only sure fact is the punishment… the reward is an illusion.

Now think of yourself as that beast of burden…you can even sing a few bars of the Stone’s song if you’d like while you imagine that in some way, you are working toward a goal that will never be reached and in reality, you are just trying to avoid the alternative of not working for any goal. Now let us add the ‘whip’ of punishment… self-inflicted if you will for your efforts of not pursuing any ‘meaningful’ goal. You are much more satisfied with your current state of equilibrium…you are in a completely acceptable state of ‘balance’…Inertia is the governing factor in your safe and sane life and the force necessary to overcome your inertia is more than you can muster. Certainly, you’ve decided, you will not be the source or cause of such an action. Everything is OK as far as you can tell so why should you ‘upset the apple cart?’ Change is for the Young, you say to yourself.

I couldn’t agree more strongly…I say to hell with goal-seeking, problem solving, and any effort to improve one’s lot in life! After all, one will most likely be disappointed with the results anyway. And the waiting for results? Forget it. Just say to yourself, “I have just what I need right now, no muss no fuss. If I go chasing after something ‘over there’ I will be forced to abandon my warm and fuzzy niche!” Voila, you are guilt free, free from the whip of the taskmaster and clear in your mind about the real chances of never reaching the Carrot!

Let’s face it, change begets turbulence. Continuously striving for ‘something better’ is nerve wracking and what with all the competition to achieve the same ‘something better’ you are forced to behave like some Maori Warrior screaming and making faces at your competition.

That’s no fun!

So I say let Inertia rule, remain static and in balance. Let the other Donkeys chase after that Carrot and ditch the Whip of Guilt!

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