The quest for discovering our best selves motivates each one of us as we strive to live with purpose and meaning. Although we recognize our desire to constantly improve, we do not always understand how to best accomplish that noble objective. Often the challenge is not in knowing what we ought to do, but in understanding how to develop the self-discipline and moral courage to put our lives in order. As we mature, we recognize that the patterns we develop and the barriers that we impose on ourselves are often the biggest challenges to overcome. The purpose of this paper is to address the quest to motivate ourselves most effectively as we struggle in understanding our identity and finding our voice. The paper begins by identifying the often-subconscious nature of our identities and the process we use to equate our actions with our beliefs about ourselves. We then address the nature of our individual voices as that concept has been described by Stephen R. Covey. Following that introduction, we present seven insights about the identity as it relates to motivating ourselves in the pursuit of personal excellence. The paper concludes with a summary of five benefits that derive from becoming the person we have the potential to being and words of encouragement to those who struggle with achieving that goal.

1) Caldwell, C. (2009). “Identity, Self-Deception, and Self-Awareness: Ethical Implications for Leaders and Organizations.” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 90, Supp. 3, pp. 393-406.

2) Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009). Identity Theory. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

3) Ibid.

4) Caldwell, C., (2020). Communication, Meaning, and Identity: Moving Toward Discovery. Hauppage, New York: NOVA Publishing

5) Caldwell, C. (2009), op. cit.

6) Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009). Identity Theory. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

7) Fishbein, M. & Ajzen, I., (2015). Predicting and Changing Behavior: A Reasoned Action Approach. New York: Routledge.

8) Ibid.

9) This entire identity standard model in Figure 2 comes from Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009), op. cit.

10) Ibid.

11) Caldwell, C., (2020), op. cit.

12) See, for example, the recent articles Hussain, I., Shu, R., Tangirala, S. & Ekkira, S., (2019). “The Voice Bystander Effect: How Information Redundancy Inhibits Employee Voice.” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 62, Iss. 3, pp. 828-849 and McClean, E. J., Martin, S. R., Emich, K. J. & Woodruff, C. T., (2018). “The Social Consequences of Voice: An Examination of Voice Type and Gender on Status and Subsequent Leader Emergence.” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 61, Iss. 5, pp. 1869-1891.

13) Ibid. Italics are in the original.

14) Ibid.

15) Ibid., p. 5. Italics are in the original.

16) Ibid.

17) Ibid.

18) Ibid.

19) Covey’s message about moral duty is found throughout his many books and is a major theme of The 8th Habit.

20) For example, see Hasan, Z. and Caldwell, C. (2016). “’Live Your Life in Crescendo’ – Moral Insights from Stephen R. Covey.” Graziadio Business Review. Vol. 19, Iss. 1. Available on line at http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2016/04/live-your-life-in-crescendo/

21) Covey, S. R., (1994). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Kottayam, Kerala, India: DC Books.

22) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

23) Fox, S. & Spetor, P. E., (2000). “Relations of Emotional Intelligence, Practical Intelligence, General Intelligence and Trait Affectivity with Interview Outcomes: It’s not All Just ‘G.’” Journal of Organizational Behavior, Vol. 21, Iss. 2, pp. 203-220.

24) Grafton, S., (2020). Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Mind and Body Guide Each Other Through Life. New York: Pantheon Books.

25) Goleman, D., (2005). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ. New York: Bantam Books.

26) Hacker, S. K. & Washington, M., (2017). “Spiritual Intelligence: Going Beyond IQ and EQ to Develop Resilient Leaders. Global Business & Organizational Excellence, Vol. e, Iss. 3, pp. 21-28.

27) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

28) Fromm, E., (2006). The Art of Loving. New York: Harper Perennial.

29) Hayes, L. A., & Caldwell, C. (2016). “Self-Efficacy and Self-Awareness: Moral Insights to Increased Leader Effectiveness.” Journal of Management Development, Vol. 35, Iss. 9, pp. 1163-1173

30) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

31) Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009), op. cit.

32) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

33) Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009), op. cit.

34) Cleland, C., Kearns, A., Tannahill, C. & Ellaway, A., (2016). “The Impact of Life Events on Adult Physical and Mental Health and Well-being: Longitudinal Analysis Using the GoWell Health and Well-being Survey.” BMC Research Notes, October 18, 2016 and found online on March 19, 2929 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5070029/.

35) Caldwell, C., (2020), op. cit.

36) Ibid.

37) Burke, P. J. & Stets, J. E., (2009), op. cit.

38) This fundamental principle was taught as the “mastermind concept” in Hill, N., (2016). Think and Grow Rich. Meriden, CT: The Ralston Society.

39) Ibid.

40) Stevens, D. D. & Cooper, J. E. (2009). Journal Keeping: How to Use Reflective Writing for Learning, Teaching, Professional Insight, and Positive Change. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

41) Shapiro E. & Shapiro, D., (2019). The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness and Meditation. Istanbul, Turkey: Isis Press.

42) Covey, S. R., (2013). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Positive Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Simon & Schuster.

43) Ibid.

44) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

45) Ibid.

46) Ibid.

47) Fromm, E., (2006), op. cit.

48) Maslow, A. H., (2015). Motivation & Personality. Delhi, India: Prabhat Books.

49) Caldwell, C., Dixon, R. D., Atkins, R., and Dowdell, S. M., (2011). “Repentance and Continuous Improvement: Ethical Implications for the Modern Leader.” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol 102, Iss. 3, pp. 473-487.

50) Caldwell, C. and Anderson, V., (Eds.) (2019). Leading with Love. Hauppage, New York: NOVA Publishing.

51) Fromm, E., (2006), op. cit.

52) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

53) Ibid.

54) Ibid.

55) Caldwell, C., Dixon, R. D., Floyd, L., Chaudoin, J., Post., J., and Cheokas, G. (2012). “Transformative Leadership: Achieving Unparalleled Excellence.” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol 109, Iss. 2, pp. 175-187.

56) Covey, S. R., (2004), op. cit.

57) Ibid.

58) This powerful insight is found at “Transcendence Quotes.” Goodreads. Found online on March 19, 2020 at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/transcendence.

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