"Make Mine MOXIE."
Ted Williams
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Moxie is ...
Main Entry: mox·ie
Pronunciation: \ˈmäk-sē\
Function: noun
Etymology: from Moxie, a trademark for a soft drink
Date: 1930
1 : energy, pep
2 : courage, determination
3 : know-how
According to Jim Flowers, (that's me) a person who has Moxie "gets things done."
Who wouldn't want energy, pep, courage, determination,and know-how? Who wouldn't want to get things done? Nobody, that's who. Moxie, truth be told, ought to have almost universal appeal.
How then, you ask, might a person come into possession of the aforementioned Moxie? I desire the attributes. How do I obtain the essence?
Well, here, as advertised, is the secret recipe. There are only four principal ingredients: Mind, Muscle, Motive, and Meaning. (Remember, I am committed to key words that begin with M, like Market, Magic, Mentors, and, of course, Moxie.)
The word Mind represents the intellectual component of a good batch of Moxie. Who could argue with the notion that it is valuable to stay sharp, be well-informed on a variety of topics, and keep your wits about you at all times? Many successful entrepreneurs seem to know not only a lot about a little (their field of expertise) but also a little about a lot. The ones I have met tend to be voraciously curious.
The word Muscle represents a healthy body, a common trait of accomplished people. Of course, we have all heard of or met world-class achievers who are not physically robust. Steven Hawking comes to mind in this regard. But for most of us, getting healthy and staying that way is a really good idea. Feeling good makes every task easier. It even helps with the intellectual part. Powerful blood flow to the brain is a good thing.
Everybody needs a Motive, or several. "What's in it for me?" is a valid question. Energy and pep can come from proper diet and exercise. Passion, however, feeds off serious aspiration.
At this point you might be tempted to ask, "Isn't that enough?" Brain power, energy, and a passion for success ought to be enough to "get things done." Hold on. Not so fast. Please read on.
Is there any chance that your Motive is trivial and self-indulgent? Or does it dovetail nicely into your grander vision of the cosmic future? Does it square with whatever set of noble principles to which you give allegiance? Does it have Meaning? Are you simply greedy? Or does your business really matter?
The most long-term-successful enterprises (and there are always exceptions) tend to be ones that clearly honor and in some way advance the well-being of the world in which they operate. The owners do not have to wrestle with ethical misgivings of any sort. Their business profits are not stolen, they are earned. And they observe the admonition of Hippocrates, "primum non nocere," above all, do no harm.
That's it. Mind, Muscle, Motive, and Meaning - together they constitute the essence of Moxie.
Mix thoroughly. Apply internally.
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