Motivation is Overrated

Mandatory participation.

Put together, these two words might be my least favorite in the English language.

Well, at least they were in school.

But this was life in J-342: Writing and Reporting. Don’t participate, don’t pass the class. As simple as that.

As someone that was, and still can be quite shy, I much preferred to sit back and listen.

Mandatory participation? Seriously?

I dreaded it.

***

I vividly remember the first class.

As time ticked on, the harder it became for me to speak up.

It ended without me uttering a single word.

I know it sounds so silly now, but I just couldn’t muster up the courage to say something I felt would be a meaningful contribution.

But then, knowing what was at stake – and because I really didn’t feel like failing the class – I tried a different approach.

As soon as class started, I’d force myself to say something – literally anything at all.

Without sounding too dramatic, I realized something quite interesting and profound: the more I spoke, the easier it was for me to continue to speak up.

By semester’s end, I was participating in class – not just the mandatory 1-2 times – but quite often.

It wasn’t even much of a thought.

***

This is the basis of momentum.

Don’t move, feel sluggish. Start moving, you feel like moving a little bit more.

Don’t write, feel stuck. Start writing, the ideas begin to flow.

Don’t talk, feel timid. Starting talking and participating in class gets a little bit easier.

Getting started, even in a very small way, naturally produces momentum.

It’s the act. Not the inspiration.

As Shane Parrish put it, “Action creates progress. Progress creates momentum. Momentum creates motivation.”

In other words, action isn’t just the effect of motivation. It’s also the cause of it.

Yes, for everything from working out to speaking up in class, the motivation to do so usually comes after taking action, not before.

***

Jerry Seinfeld schedules time to write every single day.

His technique? It’s quite simple – you don’t have to write, but you can’t do anything else.

Seinfeld, without a doubt one of the most successful comedians, writers and actors of his generation, credits this discipline and consistency to a majority his success.

As part of what’s now known as the Seinfeld Strategy, Seinfeld marks each day he spends writing with a big red X in his calendar.

“After a few days, you’ll have a chain,” Seinfeld said, while explaining his method to others. “Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

You see, for Seinfeld, it’s not about how he feels, how inspired he is or how brilliant his work is that day – it’s simply about “not breaking the chain”.

It’s not about feeling motivated. It’s about getting to work.

That’s how momentum grows.

And why – once you get started, it’s much easier to continue moving forward.

***

I struggle to find motivation to go to the gym. But once I’m there, I figure I might as well work out. I find it’s worth it every time.

Many times, I’d rather stay home than go out with friends. But then I force myself to leave the house and I almost always have a great time.

I’m sure many of you have experienced something similar.

That’s the great power of action – of showing up and doing the work.

You don’t need the motivational video or the inspirational book. You don’t need to wait for motivation to strike. You just need to show up.

You need action.

***

In all honesty – and I promise I’m not just saying this – I didn’t really feel like blogging this week.

This isn’t the first time that’s happened either.

But then I force myself to sit my ass in this chair, fire up the ole Microsoft Word and write something – anything at all.

A few notes. An outline. Eventually, the first sentence.

Little by little, things start to come together – and I find the motivation to write more and more.

Because, though important, this blog isn’t just about publishing high-quality writing or sharing the best ideas – it’s simply about writing.

Every single week.

Jerry Seinfeld calls that not breaking the chain.

This chain? 22 straight weeks.

Not broken yet.