Bay of Fundy - photo: Flickr

In the year 2000 a guy by the name of Bernard Weber started a movement to update the original “wonders of the world’ as was originally compiled  by the Greek historian Herodotus (484 – ca. 425 BCE).

When Weber’s project got started it caused quite a stir. It had, after all, been over 2,000 years since the original list had had an update. By the time he was done  his vote tally, which was seen by many as purely unscientific, had garnered a total of 100 million votes cast mostly online from every corner of the world. Herodotus couldn’t hold a clay tablet to that puppy.

The new seven wonders project got it’s start in 2000 at the beginning of the new millennium and when the voting ended the final tally was announced at a huge and glitzy gala presentation in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007.

With that first one under his belt Mr. Weber is on another quest. He wants to keep the ball rolling , (along with his notoriety of course) by doing it all over again for another huge vote on the 7 wonders of the natural world.

This one’s got my interest.

Interesting thing about all this is that every one of the new or the original wonders is a physical man-made thing. Surprising to me really because I think that the last frontier is not that which we see outside but that which we can see inside.

I’m not alone in this either.

Intrinsic (or internal) motivation is gaining more notice in the press. Dan Pink’s book “Drive” talks about it extensively and Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Blink” alludes to some mysterious inner-knowing that humans have but can’t fully comprehend.

At least most can’t … yet.

In the development of the theory of mindset immunity I deal with this “mystery” head on. But the star of the show isn’t at all sexy. In fact it doesn’t even sound very polite when you say its name.

But here goes anyway. Hang on to your lunch.

The greatest root core of all intrinsic motivation has to be the good old gut feeling. But not just the IDEA of a gut feeling will do. Nooo, to be a wonder one must see it to believe it.

That’s why I created the H.E.R.O. eMachine, the world’s only reverse search tool for personal success. It seeks out the final proof (both visually and through feel) that success has its root in one ugly mass of squirming nerve cells located in a most unlikely place – the human gut. Ugh! See I told you it was ugly.

Nevertheless it’s a true natural wonder. But, since the short list of finalists for the New 7 Wonders of the Natural World are already decided on, I guess I’ll have to propose a whole new category.

The gut feeling should be listed as the 1st  wonder of the internal world. Yep, I think I’m on to something here. It’s maybe an odd connection but every item on the first list of the 7 wonders of the world, of which the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only survivor, was completely composed of structures that were themselves monuments to mankind’s persistence and determination over difficulty.

Nothing more – nothing less.

How else do you suppose they ever got built?

Put that in your pipe and smoke it Mr. Weber.

More power to you my friends.

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I like to listen to books. That’s right I said listen.

You see, I have a subscription to Audible.com and every month I’ve got my choice of some of the best new books available all recorded by their original authors or professional speakers.

Today, I’m going to review the book I’ve currently got loaded in my ipod: “Drive- The surprising truth about what motivates us” By Dan Pink.

When I first heard of this book I was excited to get it right away because I’m a student of all things about motivation and mindset. I’m also very keen on interesting in-depth research and excellent articulated writing.

For me this book is a great fit.

Human motivation I think is a fascinating topic and Pink’s exhaustive research and great story telling nails it. His main thesis is stated beautifully and simply early on so you can carry it’s meaning with you through the book’s journey. It’s easy to remember because it sounds like good thinking wrapped up in sterling brevity.

Here it is: When it comes to motivation there is a huge gap between what science knows and what business (and schools) do.

Pink builds his case carefully during this 4 hour audio. He gives examples and refers to some great research projects completed by many experts in the fields of social and behavioral sciences. Says one researcher “mastery is a mindset”.

Pink even adds in his own inventiveness into the mix by extending the typical and familiar personality Type A and Type B with his own “Type I” and “Type X” personalities.

This book is so well written and brainy that I have enjoyed listening to it numerous times over so far and I’m not done yet. I intend to refer to it for a while longer – it’s that good.

The take-away with “DRIVE” is learning that businesses and the educational institutions in our midst seem to not fully understand the motivational needs of those they are engaged with.  According to Pink they do not come close to understanding the world of the “third” drive either.

Here we are in the 21 century and they, the leaders of businesses and schools, still seem to lag behind clinging on to the old system of carrots and sticks developed within the 19th century culture which used the model of the factory floor.

“Drive” is a brilliantly delivered work. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

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