Mojo
Gaining, retaining, reclaiming
Description
Mojo arises when you engage in meaningful, impactful, and positive actions that resonate with others. It's the internal satisfaction and external recognition of exceptional performance. To harness great mojo, you must align your self-perception, celebrate recent successes, nurture your reputation, and embrace acceptance.
Understanding these elements helps maintain and amplify your mojo, enhancing personal and professional fulfillment. Successful individuals often engage in activities that boost their mojo, leading to increased happiness and a sense of purpose. Only you can define what meaning and happiness entail, and that's the essence of mojo.
Table of contents
01Charting mojo foundations
Mojo is a term that encapsulates the essence of positive spirit and enthusiasm in what we do, radiating from within and influencing those around us. It's a concept that has been discussed and analyzed in various contexts, from public speaking and sports to a more spiritual perspective.
At its core, mojo is about loving what you do and showing it. To truly harness and maintain great mojo, four critical ingredients are necessary: identity, achievement, reputation, and acceptance. Identity is about knowing who you are, your values, and what you stand for. It answers the question, "Who do you think you are?" and is foundational to developing your mojo.
Achievement refers to the accomplishments you're proud of, providing substance to the question, "What have you done recently?"
Reputation is the external perception of your track record, answering, "What do others think of you?"
Lastly, acceptance is understanding what you can change and what is beyond your control, allowing you to let go and move forward.
Contrasting mojo with its antithesis, "nojo," helps to clarify its meaning. While mojo involves taking responsibility, moving forward, loving what you're doing, and being inspirational, nojo is characterized by playing the victim, staying in place, feeling obligated, and being resentful. This dichotomy highlights the importance of a positive spirit in achieving and maintaining mojo.
02First pillar: self-concept
Personal identity is a complex blend of how others perceive us and our self-perception, influenced by our past actions, experiences, and aspirations. It's essential for maintaining a positive spirit, or mojo, which is the inner force that radiates outwardly. Understanding and shaping our identity involves four key components: our remembered identity, which is based on past actions and experiences; our reflected identity, shaped by others' memories of our past actions; our programmed identity, formed by societal expectations; and our created identity, which we shape through our choices and decisions.
To enhance our mojo, it's crucial to reflect on our current identity and envision who we want to become. This process involves setting clear goals based on what truly matters to us, thereby defining our version of success. Establishing specific criteria for success allows us to measure progress and maintain motivation, distinguishing between vague aspirations and concrete plans.
03Second pillar: success
When asked about recent activities, it's common to reflect on achievements, which can be categorized into professional and personal accomplishments. These achievements not only showcase our abilities to others but also boost our self-esteem. Ideally, our professional endeavors align with our passions, but this is not always the case for everyone. Some may find themselves in careers that, while financially rewarding, do not fulfill them personally. Recognizing and reconciling the gap between personal values and professional duties can significantly enhance one's mojo, or personal drive.
Marshall Goldsmith, in his work on mojo, emphasizes the importance of understanding what achievement means to us and how it impacts our sense of fulfillment. By aligning our goals with what truly matters to us, we can increase our mojo. This involves either improving our performance in our current endeavors or redefining our goals to align with our personal values.
04Third pillar: esteem
Reputation is the collective perception of one's identity and achievements, shaped by the opinions of others. It's a reflection of how you see yourself and how effectively you act in the world.
Striving to be effective rather than just smart can enhance your reputation and boost your mojo, which is the positive spirit that arises from receiving favorable opinions.
Your actions over time build your reputation, but sometimes a single event can have a significant impact. To solidify a good reputation, you must demonstrate consistent success across various situations.
Understanding your current reputation among peers is crucial, and taking steps to improve it can also increase your mojo. Marshall Goldsmith emphasizes that while you can't control your reputation entirely, you can take steps to maintain or improve it, which in turn affects your mojo.
Deciding whether to stay in a job or leave is a tough choice that involves differentiating between professional and personal mojo. Professional mojo is what you bring to your job in terms of motivation, knowledge, ability, and authenticity. Personal mojo is what the job brings to you, like happiness, rewards, meaning, and learning.
05Fourth pillar: approval
Acceptance is a powerful tool for maintaining your mojo, or personal charisma. It involves changing what you can and letting go of what you can't. This mindset is crucial for moving forward and achieving happiness.
Many people believe happiness is contingent upon reaching certain goals, such as accumulating wealth, losing weight, or seeing their children succeed. However, this is an illusion. New challenges always arise after achieving one goal, such as the pressure to earn more money or the need to maintain weight loss. To boost your mojo, it's essential to enjoy your current life instead of fixating on future goals or dwelling on the past.
In the workplace, it's common to feel more knowledgeable than your manager in your area of expertise. However, it's important to remember that decisions are made by those with the power to make them, not necessarily the most qualified individuals. Influencing the decision-maker is key to making a positive difference. Accepting your boss's authority and treating them well can lead to a better life and more resources for your projects. It's also beneficial to teach your team to influence upwards and outwards, which can improve the entire organization.
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