My answers to your questions on motivation & procrastination

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Reader,

Yesterday, I asked you to send me your questions on productivity and motivation.

I got hundreds of them.

I'll answer some of the common questions I've received...

QUESTION #1: “How do I maintain motivation?”

Notice anything in common with these questions?

They all ask “how to find motivation” — but it’s not that simple.

Insight #1: If you’re asking about motivation, you’ve already lost. Motivation is fleeting and undependable. It’s almost like asking, “How do I find inspiration to start a new business?” And yet our entire media uses the word “motivation,” as if you can walk outside, look upwards, and let it rain down on you.

Insight #2: Forget about finding motivation. Build systems instead. I guarantee, if you ask any of those people above, “So you want to do X? What are your next steps?” they would have no idea. Instead of doing the hard work to decide (1) what they want and (2) what it takes to get it, they’re actually taking the lazy way out by waiting for motivation to strike. This infuriates me because it’s all we’ve been taught — and waiting around for motivation gives them an excuse to do nothing. A better approach is to write down the answers to the 2 questions above — even if you’re wrong! — then systematically work down the list.

BAD EXAMPLE: “I want to get fit.” How many millions of Americans say this, then beat themselves up for doing nothing?

GOOD EXAMPLE: IWT readers do it differently: “I want to lose 10lbs.” Better yet, I want you to be specific: “I want to eat 3 healthy meals per week and go on a walk 2x/week for 30 minutes.” (Notice how I’m focusing on the process at first, and starting off conservative: Anyone can eat just 3 healthy meals in a week. And anyone can go for a walk for 30 minutes. Set yourself up to win, you weirdos.)

Now make it systematic: On your calendar, set 1 hour on Sundays to buy 3 healthy meals and leave them in your fridge, packed and ready to eat. Also set 3 half-hour slots for walking.

QUESTION #2: “How do I stop procrastinating?”

I can relate. When I wrote my book, my publisher gave me 9 months. It took me 8 months just to get the table of contents done. A couple months ago, I was supposed to have a sales page done at 5pm...but at 8am that day, I looked at what I had written, realized it was a piece of shit, and discarded it and started re-writing at the very last minute.

God, I hate procrastinating. I “know” what I should be doing...yet even if I have time on my calendar, sometimes I still don’t do what I need to do.

Good news. A while ago, I recorded a video on procrastination with my detailed thoughts.

Check out the video here:

Watch the video and leave a comment. What was your biggest turning point in conquering procrastination?

Talk soon,

P.S. Do you want a job you LOVE? My team and I would love to know your biggest frustrations about finding your “dream job.” Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey.