Powerful Motivation from a Toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth two minutes twice a day. Your teeth are 26% cleaner if you brush the recommended time instead of the average 45 seconds.

My rechargeable toothbrush smiles at me. If I miss the mark a little, I get half a smile.  By a lot, I’m persecuted with a frown. When I feel rebellious, I brush for 30 seconds to irritate the dang thing. I’m brushing my teeth better because my toothbrush smiles at me when I do a good job.

Motivation from a toothbrush. Image of rechargeable toothbrush.

I asked my wife if she is brushing better. She said, “Yes,” And laughed because she knew what I was getting at. “Weird isn’t it.” I think we’re both zombies of the state manipulated by smiling toothbrushes.

Motivation by a smile:

Stop frowning so much. You look displeased when you frown. It makes people worry.

I met a guy at the gym who smiles. I liked him before I introduced myself. I don’t know if he’s a jerk. Maybe he’s a mass murderer, but he has a delightful countenance. When I reached out to shake his hand, he lit up. I hope he wasn’t testing me for tenderness.

Results are the cake. Relationships building heats the oven. Image of a bunt cake.

A smile says:

  1. “I like you.” Do you like the people on your team? If you don’t, find a way to like them. If you can’t, find a new team. Life is too short to be surrounded by people you don’t like.
  2. “You’re doing a good job.” Maybe people aren’t doing a good job, so you frown at them. My toothbrush experience suggests frowning is negative motivation.
  3. “I have confidence in you.” Ask yourself who loves working for you. Someone who thinks you have confidence in them. Or someone who believes you don’t like them.

If toothbrushes provide motivation, you can.

What does motivation look like for you today?

Still curious:

5 Secrets to Working Relationships

7 Relationship Building Rules for Results-Driven Leaders

The Implications of Smiling at Work

Category : Leading