The Key To Motivation Is Something We All Resist

🎤 + BABE RUTH = IT IS VERY HARD TO BEAT SOMEONE WHO WON’T GIVE UP

THE KEY TO MOTIVATION IS SOMETHING WE ALL RESIST

And no, It is not social media worthy.

In fact, it is the opposite of that.

HERE’S WHY IT MATTERS:

I have used this quotation a hundred times before and i will use it a hundred times after this. Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan said this in their book The Three Laws of Performance: “A motivational speech pumps up a crowd for an hour, then dissipates as life gets back to normal. Motivation makes people feel good about themselves, maybe even inspired. But those feelings don’t replace the default future that they’re living into.”

Yes, I am picking on my own profession, but this matters.

Motivation is a feeling.

Feelings come and go.

A task, skill, habit, project, idea is REALLY exciting at the start of it (especially for those of us with ADHD and an Enneagram 7 thinking center).

After the start, it gets…much more challenging.

So, let’s talk about the key ingredient to staying motivated.

Like I said, it isn’t social media worthy.

🎤 Mic Check: Discipline > Motivation

In my Three Ts of Confidence For Leaders, I define confidence as the courage to step into a big vision, the ability to embrace the unknown, and the commitment to see it through to the end.

I talk about how the first two are VERY appealing.

But commitment?

That’s hard.

And boring.

And not always possible.

So, for this week’s Mic Check, here are the three questions to consider when you are struggling with a commitment:

1. WHAT’S IN THE WAY?

Sometimes something is in the way of keeping committed to our goals. Sometimes that something is really minor. For example, you don’t feel like it. But sometimes it is more than just minor. Maybe you are struggling with your health, physical or mental. Maybe something else needs your immediate attention. Life happens all the time and sometimes we need to renegotiate how and when we will keep to our commitments. Give yourself grace when you don’t have the bandwidth to do what you need to do for that day.

2. DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

Randy Pauch said in his famous Last Lecture talk and book that brick walls are there for a reason. They are there to show us how badly we want something. If a minor setback is going to get in the way of your goals, then that might mean that you don’t really want whatever it is that you are looking for.

3. DO I HAVE A WAY TO TRACK IT?

If you have not read Atomic Habits at this point, you need to stop wasting your time reading my newsletter and get into that. The book is incredibly inspiring (dare I say motivating!) and practical and gives you tangible tools to stay motivated and disciplined. One of the strategies he outlines is the ability to track your progress. Seeing your wins and your accomplishments is a great way to see the bigger picture taking shape.

Keep speaking up your story,

ENCORE: MORE TO EXPLORE

THE KEY TO LASTING MOTIVATION

Discovering the secret to enduring motivation goes beyond fleeting inspiration. This video unravels the pivotal elements that fuel drive and commitment. Dive into the strategies by clicking the button below!

THEN THERE WAS THE TIME I FAKED IT TO BECOME IT…

Then there was the time I faked it until I made it…I mean, BECAME it. Confidence was not about trying to be someone I was not, although it felt like that most days. Confidence was about accepting myself for who I was.  Click on the button below to learn more!