Power Up Your Mind: Learn faster, work smarter

away or stay and fight. In fact, the ideal state seems to be a combi-

nation of curiosity, relaxation, and alertness, which you can read

more about when exploring creativity in Chapter 9.

Your brain needs challenge and stimulation. Challenge makes

your neurons connect, encouraging them to grow more dendrites

until every avenue of a problem has been explored. You need chal-

lenge, but not too much of it. In terms of your motivation, it is

important, therefore, that your goals are challenging but still attain-

able. If there is too much challenge or, worse still, too much stress,

more primitive instinctive responses cut in, denying you access to

key parts of your brain, especially the more complex areas in your

limbic system and neocortex.

The impact of stress and challenge on your motivation is as

follows:

You are most likely to be motivated if you are in a high-challenge,

low-threat environment. Ideally, this also contains many opportu-

nities for you to receive and give feedback on your progress. It is

true that it is perfectly possible to learn in each of the other three

quadrants. Indeed, under high stress extraordinary results have

been produced. But, it may have a cost to you as an individual.

And, unless your goals are set and owned by you, it is unlikely that

your motivation to learn will be sustainable.

How challenged you feel will, of course, depend on how com-

petent you are. A high-performing chief executive might show signs

of great stress if you asked them to sing an operatic aria on stage!

Switching On Your Mind 65

High threat Low threat

High

challenge

Low

challenge

Feel

controlled and

compelled

Feel

bored

Feel

controlled and

demotivated

Feel

engaged