Snippets about: Motivation
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What Makes Satisfying Work
“Those three things - autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward - are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.”
Section: 1, Chapter: 5
Book: Outliers
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
The Power of a Public Commitment
An experiment demonstrated how publicly committing to a stance leads to consistent future behavior:
- Researchers went door-to-door, asking people to place a large public service billboard on their front lawn
- Most refused this extreme request. But a subset had previously signed a petition supporting the cause - they were far more likely to comply
- Those who had publicly signed on to the initiative felt compelled to act consistently with that stance, even weeks later
- The more public the initial commitment, the more pressure to be consistently compliant later
Section: 1, Chapter: 3
Book: Influence
Author: Robert Cialdini
Commit In Advance
Since our short-term impulses often undermine our long-term interests, one of the most effective self-control strategies is precommitment - locking in a good decision before temptation arises. Some examples:
- Buying junk food in small packages rather than bulk to avoid overeating
- Using apps to restrict social media use during work hours
- Signing up for workout classes with a cancellation fee
- Investing in a 401(k) that penalizes early withdrawals
- Keeping your credit card at home when going out to avoid overspending
The key is to anticipate the temptations your "doer" will face in the future and take steps now to limit the damage.
Section: 3, Chapter: 12
Book: Misbehaving
Author: Richard Thaler
Mental Contrasting
Psychologist Gabriele Oettingen has discovered a simple but powerful technique for boosting motivation and follow-through on any goal or behavior change. She calls it mental contrasting, and it involves two steps:
- Vividly imagine the positive future you want to achieve - the best-case scenario, the ideal outcome. Let yourself feel the emotions and benefits associated with realizing this vision.
- Confront the obstacles and challenges that stand in the way of that future - the roadblocks, the setbacks, the inner resistance. Be brutally honest about what could derail you or hold you back.
The magic of mental contrasting is that it connects the present to the future in a way that sparks action and persistence. By juxtaposing the desired state with the current reality, it creates a sense of urgency and purpose - a feeling of "I want this, and here's what I need to do to get it."
Section: 3, Chapter: 13
Book: The Culture Code
Author: Daniel Coyle
Iterate Your Way to Success Through Trial and Error
Failure is a part of any successful endeavor. The key is to use failure as a way to learn and improve. Rather than being discouraged by setbacks, analyze them objectively to find ways to do better. Treat failure as an opportunity to iterate, abandoning what doesn't work and focusing on what shows promise. View failures as a natural part of the trial and error process that ultimately leads to success.
When taking on an ambitious, complex goal, avoid becoming overwhelmed by keeping your attention on the process. Break the bigger objective down into manageable steps and focus exclusively on executing them in the moment. Don't get distracted by the size of the challenge or the distant prize. Simply concentrate on the task at hand and trust that by following the process, you will reach the destination. Focus on the Process, Not the Prize.
Section: 2, Chapter: 12
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way
Author: Ryan Holiday
Embrace Uncertainty And Follow The Process
Starting a new project often comes with anxiety about how it will turn out. The end result is ultimately uncertain and out of your control. What helps is trusting the process. If you take each step into the unknown with commitment, applying all you've learned, you will get where you're meant to go. Have faith in experimentation. Test ideas, build on what works, and allow yourself to be wrong. Each attempt brings you closer. Proceed as if the answer is inevitable. It's there waiting to be found, even if not in the form you initially imagined.
Section: 1, Chapter: 22
Book: The Creative Act
Author: Rick Rubin
Dopamine Drives Pursuit Of Unpredictable Rewards
Dopamine has long been misunderstood as the "pleasure chemical." In reality, dopamine release motivates us to pursue rewards, especially when they are unpredictable.
When an outcome is unsure, our dopamine levels spike - causing intense focus, craving and anticipation as we await the result. This happens when waiting to see if we got likes on a post, matches on a dating app, a gambling payout, and so on.
Dopamine evolved to make us "obsessive" about persisting for unpredictable payoffs related to survival. Today, the neurochemical still pushes us to keep checking, scrolling, swiping and pulling the metaphorical slot handle - even when the reward is trivial or counterproductive.
Section: 1, Chapter: 2
Book: Scarcity Brain
Author: Michael Easter
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors in history, had this perspective about failure and persistence. When his attempts didn't work, he didn't see them as failures but as successful discoveries of ineffective approaches. This allowed him to keep inventing and making progress where others may have quit. In math and science, mistakes are inevitable and provide valuable learning opportunities. Embrace them as part of the learning process, and keep a positive attitude even when the going gets tough.
Section: 1, Chapter: 3
Book: A Mind for Numbers
Author: Barbara Oakley
Grant's Relentless Persistence at the Siege of Vicksburg
During the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant refused to give up in his attempt to capture the city of Vicksburg. For over a year, he tried various strategies, from direct assaults to building canals, all without success. But he persisted, trying one approach after another, until he finally succeeded. In the process, he learned that persistence itself was a strategic advantage that could wear down opponents.
Section: 2, Chapter: 11
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way
Author: Ryan Holiday
"Pain Is The Experience Of Life Itself"
"This is the most important realization a person can make about pain: the moment we believe we 'shouldn't' have pain in life is the moment we feel the most pain. This is what is so devastating about the self-help industry. The idea that you can simply self-help away your problems is a philosophical stance that creates more problems because it denies the very existence of problems in the first place. Pain is not a problem. Pain is the experience of life itself."
Section: 2, Chapter: 7
Book: Everything is F*cked
Author: Mark Manson
Channel Your Energy Into Focused Determination
When faced with a frustrating situation outside your control, channel your irritation into motivation. Don't waste energy complaining or wishing things were different. Instead, funnel your emotions into action - let your frustration drive you to find a solution. Stay loose and flexible so you can adapt to changing circumstances. Focus on maintaining forward momentum, even if you have to change course to get there.
Look for opportunities to take proactive steps that put you in control. This could mean:
- Proposing solutions instead of just pointing out problems
- Reframing a weakness as a strength
- Forcing others to respond to you rather than the other way around
- Creating a plan while others are still processing what happened
By seizing the initiative and taking bold action, you can turn an obstacle to your advantage and direct events on your terms. An offensive posture beats a defensive one.
Section: 2, Chapter: 15
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way
Author: Ryan Holiday
Theodore Roosevelt Willed Himself to Greatness
Despite being born sickly and asthmatic, Theodore Roosevelt pushed himself to become strong and resilient through sheer force of will. When his father told him, "You have the mind but you have not the body, and without the help of the body the mind cannot go as far as it should," Roosevelt replied, "I will make my body." He then embarked on a program of physical exercise and exertion to transform himself. This early training in willpower enabled him to endure immense difficulties throughout his life and career.
Section: 3, Chapter: 16
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way
Author: Ryan Holiday
The Importance of Goals and Aspirations
While experienced well-being is an important aspect of overall well-being, it is not the only factor that matters. The goals and aspirations that individuals set for themselves also play a significant role in shaping their life satisfaction and their sense of purpose.
- Studies have shown that individuals who place a high value on financial success are more likely to achieve higher incomes and to be more satisfied with their financial situation. However, beyond a certain level of income, additional wealth does not necessarily lead to greater happiness.
- Similarly, individuals who set ambitious goals for themselves, such as becoming accomplished in a performing art, may experience greater dissatisfaction if they fail to achieve those goals.
Section: 5, Chapter: 38
Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman
Inspiration Is Perishable, So Act On It Immediately
When you're inspired, seize the moment. Inspiration is a renewable but fleeting resource. It comes often but evaporates quickly. When a great idea strikes, act on it while your enthusiasm is hot. If you wait, your motivation will fade and the work will become a chore.
Pounce on inspiration and ride it to completion. You can analyze, refine and edit later. But nothing will happen without an initial burst of inspired energy. So when inspired, clear your plate, lock yourself away, and get as much done as you can while the spirit is with you.
Section: 1, Chapter: 12
Book: Rework
Author: Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
Scratch Your Own Itch
The best way to create something great is to make something you want to use yourself. Then you can:
- Design based on firsthand knowledge, not assumptions
- Directly assess the quality and usefulness of what you make
- Rely on your own enthusiasm for the product to drive you forward
When you solve your own problem, you achieve a level of understanding and passion that's difficult to replicate when making things for others. So start by addressing your own needs and desires. Odds are others will share them too.
Section: 1, Chapter: 2
Book: Rework
Author: Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
Motivation Is A Feeling, Not A Personality Trait
Motivation is often treated like an inborn character strength - you either have it or you don't. In reality, motivation is an emotional state that naturally ebbs and flows. It's a byproduct of action, not a prerequisite for it.
The keys to stoking motivation are:
- Knowing how to cultivate the feeling of drive and energy
- Developing the capacity to take valued action even when motivation is lacking
Motivation tends to arise once you're already engaged in an activity. So if you wait until you feel motivated to do something, you may be waiting forever. The antidote is to "act opposite" to your urges - take a small step in the direction you want to go and let momentum build from there. With repetition, you'll need to rely on motivation less as healthy habits form.
Section: 2, Chapter: 6
Book: Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
Author: Julie Smith
Perseverance Is the Ultimate Skill
"As the Haitian proverb puts it: Behind mountains are more mountains. Elysium is a myth. One does not overcome an obstacle to enter the land of no obstacles. On the contrary, the more you accomplish, the more things will stand in your way. There are always more obstacles, bigger challenges. You're always fighting uphill. Get used to it and train accordingly."
Section: 3, Chapter: 20
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way
Author: Ryan Holiday
