The Motivation Myth

1. Motivation is the result of action, not the cause

Motivation is a result. Motivation is the pride you take in work you have already done—which fuels your willingness to do even more.

Motivation follows action. Many people wait for motivation to strike before taking action, but this approach is backward. The key to staying motivated is to start taking small actions towards your goals. As you accomplish these tasks, no matter how minor, you'll experience a sense of pride and satisfaction. This positive feedback loop creates motivation, pushing you to do even more.

Success breeds motivation. Each small victory, whether it's writing 100 words, running for 10 minutes, or making one sales call, generates a dopamine hit in your brain. This chemical reward makes you feel good and encourages you to repeat the behavior. By focusing on completing small, achievable tasks, you create a cycle of success that fuels ongoing motivation.

Practical application:

• Break large goals into smaller, manageable tasks
• Celebrate small wins and milestones
• Use a habit tracker to visualize progress
• Start with just five minutes of work on your goal each day

2. Focus on the process, not the end goal

Incredibly successful people set a goal and then focus all their attention on the process necessary to achieve that goal. They set a goal and then, surprisingly, they forget the goal.

Embrace the journey. While having a clear end goal is important, obsessing over it can be counterproductive. Instead, successful people concentrate on the daily actions and habits that will eventually lead to their desired outcome. By shifting focus from the distant future to the present moment, you reduce anxiety and increase your ability to stay consistent.

Create a sustainable routine. Develop a process that aligns with your goal and commit to following it every day. This could involve setting a specific time for work, establishing a pre-task ritual, or breaking your goal into daily quotas. The key is to make your routine automatic, reducing the need for willpower and decision-making.

Examples of process-focused approaches:

• Writers: Focus on daily word count rather than finishing a book
• Athletes: Concentrate on perfecting form and consistency in training
• Entrepreneurs: Prioritize daily customer interactions over long-term revenue goals
• Students: Emphasize regular study sessions instead of exam scores

3. Set specific, measurable goals and create a detailed plan

The best goals are binary: They're so specific you can't help but know whether you have achieved them or not.

Clarity is crucial. Vague goals like "get in shape" or "make more money" are difficult to act upon and measure progress against. Instead, set specific, measurable objectives such as "run a 5K in under 30 minutes" or "increase monthly income by $1,000." This clarity allows you to create a focused action plan and easily track your progress.

Develop a comprehensive strategy. Once you have a clear goal, break it down into smaller, actionable steps. Create a detailed plan that outlines what you need to do daily, weekly, and monthly to achieve your objective. This roadmap will guide your efforts and help you stay on track, even when motivation wanes.

Elements of an effective goal-setting process:

1. Identify your specific, measurable goal
2. Set a realistic timeframe
3. Break the goal into smaller milestones
4. Create daily and weekly action items
5. Establish a system for tracking progress
6. Schedule regular review and adjustment sessions

4. Embrace the "work your number" approach to achieve goals

The more you enjoy what you do, the easier it is to persevere.

Consistency is key. The "work your number" approach involves identifying a specific, measurable action that you can consistently perform to make progress towards your goal. This could be a daily word count for writers, a certain number of sales calls for entrepreneurs, or a set number of practice hours for musicians. By focusing on hitting this number every day, you create momentum and build habits that lead to success.

Find joy in the process. While working towards a goal often involves challenging tasks, it's essential to find aspects of the process that you enjoy. This could involve experimenting with different approaches, gamifying your efforts, or rewarding yourself for hitting milestones. The more you can associate positive emotions with your daily work, the easier it becomes to maintain consistency.

Examples of "working your number":

• Fitness: Commit to 30 minutes of exercise daily
• Learning: Study a new language for 20 minutes each day
• Business: Make 10 new client contacts every workday
• Creativity: Write 500 words or practice an instrument for 1 hour daily

5. Learn from pros instead of coaches to push your limits

Do what the pros do: Find a person who challenges you. Find a person who lays out a process so seemingly daunting, so seemingly insurmountable, a course wherein the there seems insurmountable but so does the here . . . and who helps you achieve something you never dreamed you could.

Seek out excellence. Instead of working with coaches who may adapt their methods to your current abilities, look for opportunities to learn directly from top performers in your field. These professionals can show you what's truly possible and help you break through self-imposed limitations.

Embrace discomfort. Learning from pros often means pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. Be prepared to face challenges and setbacks as you strive to meet higher standards. This discomfort is a sign of growth and is essential for achieving extraordinary results.

Strategies for learning from pros:

1. Attend workshops or masterclasses led by industry leaders
2. Seek out mentorship opportunities with successful individuals
3. Study the habits and routines of top performers in your field
4. Participate in high-level competitions or challenges
5. Join professional organizations or groups where you can network with experts

6. Eliminate distractions and streamline your life

Choices are the enemy of willpower. So are ease and convenience. Think of decisions that require willpower, and then take willpower totally out of the equation.

Simplify decision-making. The more choices you have to make throughout the day, the more you deplete your willpower and mental energy. By eliminating unnecessary decisions and creating systems for recurring tasks, you free up mental resources for more important work.

Create a supportive environment. Design your physical and digital spaces to minimize distractions and encourage focused work. This might involve decluttering your workspace, using website blockers during work hours, or establishing clear boundaries with friends and family.

Strategies for streamlining your life:

• Establish a consistent daily routine
• Automate recurring tasks and decisions (e.g., meal planning, outfit choices)
• Use the "two-minute rule" to immediately handle quick tasks
• Implement a system for processing emails and messages
• Regularly review and eliminate unnecessary commitments
• Create designated times for checking social media and news

7. Make small, consistent improvements for significant results

The "1 percent advantage" works incredibly well for one simple reason: Small improvements add up to a major overall improvement.

Embrace incremental progress. Instead of seeking dramatic, overnight improvements, focus on making small, consistent gains in various aspects of your work or life. These minor enhancements compound over time, leading to significant overall progress.

Identify areas for improvement. Break down your goal or skill into its component parts and look for opportunities to make slight improvements in each area. This could involve refining your technique, upgrading your tools, or optimizing your work environment.

Examples of 1% improvements:

• Fitness: Increase workout duration by 1 minute each week
• Productivity: Reduce meeting times by 2 minutes
• Learning: Master one new vocabulary word daily
• Creativity: Experiment with one new technique in each project
• Business: Improve one aspect of customer service each month

Last updated: August 20, 2024