But, of course, as is always the case with the hopelessly short-sighted, you left out the most obvious portion of the equation.

You've yet to demonstrate a single reason why any employer should give a damn what motivates you.

This is an employer's market, in case you haven't noticed.  To quote our good friend Mr. Spock, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... or the one."  Now is the time for YOU to show the EMPLOYER what sets you apart from the rest of the unemployed masses, not the other way around.

You are -- AT LEAST -- a couple decades too late to ask EMPLOYERS to prove themselves worthy of YOU.

Anyone can PRETEND to have credentials.  OOH-OOH!!  I used databases to gather, store, sort, and report information; I even wrote (created) databases.  That must mean I'm a Database Administrator ~ right?  Not by today's definition.  Judging by how YOU look at things, though, the mere fact that I saw databases makes me an EXPERT on Database Administration.  Why - I should be marching into companies, DEMANDING those HIGH PAYING jobs BE MINE!

After all, you saw "Excell" -- that IS how you spelled it, correct? -- was on the library's computers, so you then ASS-U-med you could use it, which prompted you to then demand a company hire you for a support position based, in part, on your software prowess.  By the way ~ I'm just curious ~ how would you have opened "Excell" on that company's computer?  I mean, since there IS NO SUCH SOFTWARE by that name (spelling) by Microsoft (they call it Excel).  How would you have demonstrated your prowess with the package, if you weren't able to find it?

In an Employer's Market, the EMPLOYER doesn't have to give a damn how YOU feel about being motivated.  If you aren't motivated by what they have to offer, the next person will be.  If any portion of this part of your attitude shows through in an interview ~ either in person or over the telephone ~ you will, quite simply, NEVER get hired by anyone.  I know, I know -- they're playing right into your hands -- right?

PUT SIMPLY, IT'S NOT THE COMPANY'S JOB TO MOTIVATE YOU -- THAT'S YOUR JOB.

In today's market, you better need them more than they need you, or you WILL become EXPENDABLE.  If you walk around with the attitude that you can either take this job, or leave it, you will soon find yourself out on your ear wondering what the heck just happened.  Motivation ~ for most people ~ is being able to keep a roof over their heads, food on their table, and wheels on the road to get to and from their job.

The problem is you approach life like an ADDICT.  Unfortunately, for you, you're surrounded by ENABLERS.  Your mother is your Biggest ENABLER.

She ALLOWS YOU to live in her home -- RENT FREE, I PRESUME?  She ALLOWS YOU to eat the food she buys -- AT NO CHARGE, I PRESUME?  She ALLOWS YOU to use the resources she pays for, like utilities -- WITHOUT MAKING YOU PAY HALF, I PRESUME?  She ALLOWS YOU to continue to BLEED HER DRY.

Tell me ~ what would happen if that SAFETY NET suddenly VANISHED?  What would happen if your mother suddenly decided, as a grown MAN in your 30's, that it was time you got off the GRAVY TRAIN and she LOCKED YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE?  What would happen to you then?

How long do you think you could sleep on friends' sofas before they kicked you out?  How long do you think you could eat your friends' food before you had to chip in?  How long do you think you people are going to let you wash your clothes at their place -- for free?  This world COSTS to live in. 

What's going to happen to you if MOMMY ever cuts off your FREE RIDE?

Do you think choosing between a HOMELESS SHELTER, or getting a job so you could afford your own place, would be ENOUGH to MOTIVATE you to get a job?  Or, do you think you'd prefer a large cardboard box somewhere underneath a bridge?  I hear you can find some fairly decent if partially-eaten food outside the fast-food restaurants around closing time every night.  If you're lucky, that is.  Tell me -- are you lucky?

MOTIVATION is what you make it.  You want a nice car?  There's MOTIVATION.  You don't want to be homeless?  There's MOTIVATION.  You want to eat tonight?  There's MOTIVATION.  You don't want to be bored on the job?  There's MOTIVATION - for you to go from supervisor to supervisor and department to department and find something to fill your time.  You want a raise?  There's MOTIVATION - to do your job better and faster than the guy before you.  You want to keep your job?

Think about the nice car - Think about being homeless - Think about if you want to eat tonight - Think about if being bored on the job is really worth walking out, when the alternative is BEING HOMELESS.  If you aren't MOTIVATED enough to WANT to hang on to those things ~ if the thought of LOSING EVERYTHING you've worked for won't MOTIVATE you to work ~ then you'll NEVER work hard enough to KEEP YOUR JOB.  And, in that case, you will DESERVE TO LOSE IT.

I said it before and I'll say it again:

PUT SIMPLY, IT'S NOT THE COMPANY'S JOB TO MOTIVATE YOU -- THAT'S YOUR JOB.

If you're still looking OUTSIDE of yourself for MOTIVATION, you're never going to find it.  It's like looking OUTSIDE of yourself for HAPPINESS.  You can't find HAPPINESS by looking OUTSIDE of yourself; HAPPINESS comes from INSIDE.

MOTIVATION comes from INSIDE. 

Either you're happy with the person that you are, and the person you are to become, or you aren't ~ you can't go out and