Category Archives: Motivation

person on kayak under blue and white sky

Motivation Coach buys a Kayak

“Let me introduce myself for those who have not met me before.
My name is Andrew, and I am a new ideas coach.”

Standing before the crowd, Andrew paused. He scanned the room.
His voice was steady but reflective, shaped by years of self-discovery.

“I coach people into believing they are about to get inspired by a new idea. This motivates me the most. I love the power of new ideas.”

The audience listened closely. Andrew had their attention.

“This is the story of how I got myself motivated. It took me more than three years. But here I am…inspired and motivated. Because I found the secret.”

He paused again.

“Well, it was a secret to me. The key to believing was what I looked for all my life.
It’s like losing your car keys and finding them again. I lost my way, and then I rediscovered the path.”

That path, Andrew explained, had started unexpectedly. When he turned fifty, he found himself in a crisis. It wasn’t dramatic; no single event triggered it. He bought a kayak, designed a sail, and spent his Sundays on the peaceful waters of Moreton Bay.
For a while, it worked. The early mornings were soothing.
The ocean stretched out before him, silent and still. But then, one day, that feeling left.

“I WAS LOSING INTEREST IN EVERYTHING,” Andrew said, raising his voice slightly to emphasize the depth of that moment. “WHAT AN ANTI-CLIMAX.”

The crowd nodded in understanding. He didn’t need to elaborate; they’d all been there at some point—when the things that once brought joy lost their spark.

“I realized I needed something more. A project. A purpose.”

He let those words hang in the air, then quietly added, “It only took me five years to figure out what that was.”

Chapter 2: The Turning Point

Andrew explained that it was February 2011 when everything began to shift. At fifty-five, he knew he had to change, to break free from the slight depression that had gripped him for too long. That was when the experiment began.

“I started waking up happy,” he said simply. “I realized that people around me were changing their circumstances by committing to something they believed in. They enrolled in university courses, studied hard, and emerged transformed—teachers, dentists, accountants. All because they believed.”

The audience leaned in. Andrew’s voice was calming but firm, as if each word was carefully chosen for impact.

“That’s when I decided I needed to find my ‘believing switch,’” he said, pausing. “And turn it on.”

He spoke about the plan he created. He watched a friend immerse himself in books during a university course and noticed how the act of reading transformed him. That’s when Andrew had his own epiphany: books and words had power.

“I thought, if universities can use books to change people into professionals, then I can use books to change myself.”

Chapter 3: The University of Believing

Andrew’s “university” was unconventional. There were no lecture halls or professors, just shelves filled with books on motivation, self-esteem, believing, wisdom, and relationships. He spent three years studying them religiously, reading the same ones over and over.

“I became a student again,” he said, smiling. “Except my classroom was my living room, and my lectures were the words on those pages.”

He shared how his plan was simple but powerful. He wasn’t just reading for the sake of it; he was absorbing each word, letting the ideas sink in. He treated every book like a stepping stone, every motivational speaker he listened to like a guide.

“For three years, I immersed myself in positivity. And something shifted inside me.”

The audience was quiet, the weight of his words settling in. They could see it—this wasn’t just a story; it was a blueprint for change.

“I found my believing switch, and once it was on, everything made sense.”

Chapter 4: A New Identity

By the time Andrew had finished his self-imposed three-year course, he was a new man.

“Alright, I admit,” he chuckled, “I’m a self-appointed ideas coach. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m happy, I’m motivated, and I’m helping people.”

He recounted the first time someone had reached out to thank him for his insights. An email from someone named Bobi Jo had landed in his inbox. It wasn’t long, but the impact was huge.

“She said my book, ‘I Love Your New Idea’ was invigorating. She said it removed all her doubts. It made her believe in herself again. And that, my friends, was when I realized something: I was no longer just a student. I was a teacher.”

The audience erupted in applause. Andrew stood tall, but he quickly motioned for silence.

“The reason I’m telling you this isn’t to boast. It’s to remind you that this power—this switch—it’s in all of us.”

Chapter 5: Believing and Becoming

As the applause died down, Andrew took a deep breath. He’d been waiting for this moment—the climax of his story.

“After three years, I learned that believing isn’t just an idea. It’s an action. It’s a choice. It’s a switch that we must turn on and keep on.”

He spoke about the importance of persistence. Just as a student doesn’t give up after the first difficult class, we can’t abandon our journey to believing after the first obstacle.

“Belief,” he said softly, “is the foundation of every new idea.”

And just like that, the path Andrew had walked became a map for others to follow.

“I hope you’ll join me,” he concluded. “In believing, in becoming, and in discovering that new idea waiting inside of you.”

The room was still. Everyone was captivated by Andrew’s wisdom, knowing they’d just witnessed a man who had not only found his way—but had unlocked the key for others to do the same.

Jessica Gave Ted a Motivational Book

Ted stared out his workshop window, the harsh Perth sun beating down on the corrugated iron roof.
Newly married and with Jessica’s hand in his, life should have felt idyllic.
Yet, a heavy weight sat on his chest.
His carpentry business, a source of pride since his teenage years, was struggling.
Everything from materials to tools had skyrocketed in price.
He couldn’t afford the upgrades he desperately needed to attract bigger projects.
The dream of expanding started to feel like a mirage shimmering just out of reach.

One evening, Jessica, sensing his despair, surprised him with a book.
Its title – “Think and Grow Rich” – promised a key to unlocking financial freedom.
Hope flickered within him.
The author, according to the back cover, had spent a lifetime unlocking the secrets of success.
Maybe, just maybe, this book held the answer.

Ted devoured the book, highlighter in hand, searching for the magic formula.
It talked about famous figures like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford, but it never quite revealed the core secret.
Frustration gnawed at him.
Was it all a sham?

Dejected, he tossed the book onto the coffee table. Jessica, watching him, picked it up and flipped through the pages.
“Maybe,” she said, a smile playing on her lips, “the secret isn’t a specific thing, but a way of thinking.”

Intrigued, Ted looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Think about it,” Jessica continued, “the book says true wealth isn’t just money, it’s happiness, too.”
She pointed to a highlighted passage: “Money and material things are essential for freedom of body and mind, but… there are some who will feel that the greatest of all riches can be found in loving family relationships.”
Jessica squeezed his hand.
“Maybe the secret is to believe in what you have, not just what you don’t.”

A spark ignited in Ted’s mind.
He reread the book, not for a magic formula, but for a shift in perspective.
He realised the constant worry about money was poisoning his creativity, the very thing that made his work special.

The next morning, with newfound optimism, Ted started sketching.
He envisioned furniture that used recycled materials, a way to keep costs down while adding a unique touch.
He called it “Eco-Craft” and started promoting it online.

Slowly, the tide began to turn.
People loved the sustainable approach and the warm, rustic aesthetic.
Orders trickled in, then flowed.
Ted finally hired an apprentice, the workshop filled with the joyful sounds of hammering and sawing.

Most importantly, the financial pressure lifted.
Ted could finally relax and enjoy time with Jessica.
They went on weekend hikes, explored local markets, and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
The book might not have revealed a magic bullet, but it had inadvertently shown Ted that true success wasn’t just about money.
It was about appreciating what he had and believing in his ability to create a fulfilling life, both personally and professionally.
And in doing so, he discovered a secret far more valuable than any sum of money.

For fifteen years, he enjoyed his carpentry business.
But the Perth property market was on fire, fueled by sustained population growth and major infrastructure projects.
His buddy, Mark, had become a real estate agent a year ago and was apparently living the high life.
Ted, ever the impulsive one, decided to follow suit, selling his business and enrolling in real estate classes.

Jessica, his ever-practical wife, wasn’t thrilled.
“Ted,” she said, handing him a well-worn copy of Think and Grow Rich, “you’re amazing with wood, but are you sure about this real estate thing?”

Ted scoffed. Mark’s boasts about his commissions ignited a spark of “what-if” in him.
The book, with its faded cover and promises of building wealth, felt like a relic of the past.
Yet, as Ted tackled nights studying market trends and legalities, a subtle shift occurred.
He began seeing the city with fresh eyes.
Dilapidated houses held potential; a strategic renovation could breathe life into forgotten spaces.
News reports screamed of record migration levels and a crippling housing supply crisis, a clear picture of a city yearning for homes.

Ted wasn’t a born salesman, but his knowledge of Perth’s unique housing market and his genuine desire to connect people with their dream homes surprisingly resonated.
He thrived on the thrill of matching families with the perfect property, a different kind of satisfaction compared to the joy of crafting bespoke furniture.

One evening, after helping a young couple secure a charming fixer-upper, Ted flopped onto the couch, exhaustion warring with contentment.
Jessica sat across from him, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
He glanced at the worn book resting on the coffee table, a silent reminder of his initial scepticism.

“Alright, alright,” he mumbled, finally conceding defeat.
“Maybe that old book of yours wasn’t so crazy after all.
Maybe…” he hesitated, searching for the right words, “maybe believing in something, even if it seems strange, can actually make it happen.”

Jessica’s smile widened, a tear glistening in her eye.
She knew that book would help Ted.

Ted chuckled, pulling her close.
He might have traded sawdust for contracts, but thanks to Jessica and a touch of unexpected inspiration, he’d built something new: a second successful career and a future as bright as the Perth property market.

A fictional story.

http://www.tonyegar.com

Your Christmas Present

Christmas Present
Christmas Holiday

If you knew the future you would not get upset when things don’t go your way.
The “all things work together for good” mantra that is dished up in various forms is not needed when the future is clear.
If you could see the future you would know for sure whether it was really working for your good!
The happy times when everything goes well, blind a person to what is waiting for them around the corner.
That is why we have insurance policies for as many things as possible.
The problem is you cannot insure your skills and if one of those skills is your golf swing, then nothing is guaranteed.
Slight changes in your relationships, finances, or sense of well-being can throw you out of your rhythm.
Your game goes the same way your confidence goes.
Out the door!
“Oh, I see.”
“You need a confidence boost.”
“Need a little food for your faith do you?”
Or is the real need not being addressed?
The answer my friend is…you guessed it.
The solution to most people’s situation is, wisdom.
You need wisdom.
“Come on you simple one’s,” she says.
“I’m calling out as you pass by.”

I like to get my wisdom in story form.
Preferably someone else’s story.
I love to hear tragedy turning into triumph stories.
Where their pain turns into their gain.
I love to be inspired and motivated by a book or a movie, or even a sermon.
It’s more interesting watching other people learning the lessons of life.

An evangelist friend of mine goes into Eastern European countries on ministry trips.
He always likes to invite the children to sit up near the stage so he can tell them a story.
What he noticed after doing this a few times was; the adults listened intently as he told the children their story.
But when he dismissed the children and began his sermon, the adults lost interest.
Eventually he changed his strategy.
He would still invite the children to the front and then he would weave his sermon for the adults into the children’s story, all the while holding the adults attention.
Now that is wisdom!

Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where everything is black and white?
Where there were no grey areas.
Confusion is not good for anyone who is in the middle of making a decision.
Today I was asked to give directions for a lady who had just stepped off the bus and was trying to find her way to her job interview.
I didn’t see her get off the bus so I presumed she was driving to her interview.
I proceeded to give her directions that were accurate but irrelevant for her particular situation.
I could see from her expression that something was not adding up.
Wisdom does not rush in without having all the facts.
Wisdom would ask, “Are you walking or are you driving?”
Here are a few questions that wisdom may well ask you!
Do you want it now or do you want it later?
Do you want the best or the second best?
Which timetable, yours or God’s?

You can see where this is leading!
Real wisdom, the high quality wisdom, is only available from one source.
You have to listen, you have to be very still, you have to be like those children listening to the evangelist telling them a story.
The adults were drawn into the children’s story by the atmosphere of innocence.
For a few minutes they put away their cynicism and weary thought life.
They forgot who they were and where they were.

It’s like Christmas day when the adults watch the children opening their presents.
The adults get excited when the children get excited.
Well, it’s the same with God; he gets excited when you get excited.
And here’s the kicker!
You get excited when you open your present.
And what is your present?
Today folks, your present is…the gift of wisdom you have been asking for!
That’s right, all you had to do was ask!

Tony Egar.