Mojo and Satisfaction

Marshall Goldsmith is a professor, management consultant and executive coach. He is the author of acclaimed management-related literature. His new book, MOJO: How to Get It, How to Keep It, and How to Get It Back When You Lose It, focuses on one attribute that all successful people share. He calls it Mojo.

His operational definition of Mojo is: that positive spirit toward what we are doing now that starts on the inside and radiates to the outside. The use of the word ‘now’ in the definition is interesting. It denotes that people with a positive Mojo love what they are doing when they are doing it. They are finding happiness and meaning in the present. He uses the word ‘Nojo’ to describe the opposite of Mojo.

While performing any activity we have two forms of associated Mojo; Professional Mojo and Personal Mojo.

Professional Mojo is a measure of the qualities that we need to bring to an activity in order to do it well and includes (1) motivation, (2) knowledge, (3) ability, (4) confidence and (5) authenticity. Personal Mojo is a measure of the benefits we may receive from a particular activity and includes (1) happiness, (2) reward, (3) meaning, (4) learning and (5) gratitude. The terms are individually delineated and the author’s guide is available here.

Marshall Goldsmith suggests rating your different important activities on each of the ten aspects on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. Using the Mojo Scorecard for a few days will allow observation of patterns. One will be able to identify areas of strong Mojo and areas of weakness. In fact, exploring the qualities in the scorecard for any endeavor makes the performance of the activity better and makes it appear more meaningful.

Seventh Key: Live for Enlightenment

Author Deepak Chopra says that the desire for happiness is only the beginning of a journey that reaches for higher fulfillment. The description has mystical components. The deeper desire is to achieve the original energy state of ecstasy and to experience the freedom that comes with complete awakening.

Enlightenment is the most aware state of existence; one that of complete awakening. It has to be considered a natural state of being. A glimpse into this state may be experienced during peak moments like while immersed in nature or an art form. These moments provide an experience of profound peace, love and joy.

We experience the world through our consciousness. Ordinary waking consciousness has components of fear and isolation. Progressive expansion of soul consciousness is recommended, which is safe, warm and welcoming.

How can you tell when you are making progress? By referring to the following indicators:

1. Your life flows with effortless spontaneity.
2. Love is becoming the motivating factor in your life.
3. You are discovering hidden sources of creativity and imagination.
4. You are accepting higher guidance.
5. Your choices benefit you and all those around you.

When you are on the right path, your ego begins to dissolve. You will then progress to cosmic consciousness, which means you are fully aware even when you are physically sleeping. Then one arrives at divine consciousness, when everything in the world is perceived as light. At the final stage one arrives at unity consciousness, where one ceases to see divisions and separations, as every moment and experience is a part of the ever-folding cosmos.