Don't Wait for Motivation
“[Self] Motivation may be the single greatest cause of inactivity & procrastination in society.” - Influence Digest, Sept 2017
Successful people are distinguished from unsuccessful people not by consistent self-motivation, but by sustained self-discipline over time. I love this quote because on the surface it seems so counterintuitive, but consider:
Self motivation
is about feeling.
- Pushes you to work, but only when you feel like it.
- People procrastinate until the next inspiration hits.
- The resulting inconsistent progress destroys motivation.
- It’s a downward spiral.
No matter how motivated you are, every role comes with undesirable tasks, and every person has “bad days” sometimes. Of course, progress is easier (and more fun) when people and teams are motivated, but you cannot rely on motivation alone to get the job done.
Self-discipline is the ability to pursue what you think is right, despite temptations to abandon it.
Self discipline
is about behavior.
- Feelings are made irrelevant to the task at hand.
- Successful people do not always feel motivated, but they stick to their long term plan, day after day, regardless of how they feel.
- For example, successful athletes don’t practice only when they feel like it. They stick to a plan and improve their fitness and skill little by little.
The take-away lesson: Don’t wait for motivation
- make it a point to make (at least a little) progress toward your top priorities each and every day (it adds up!).
Need help making, or sticking to, a plan? Get in touch - CAEDENCE is now accepting applicants for openings in our Leadership Development Coaching program for 2024.
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