Professionals Don’t Need Motivation

Amateurs love motivation, that spark of enthusiasm and excitement that moves them to take on a difficult but worthwhile task. They love it so much that they quickly become addicted to it, searching for it constantly in books, videos, speeches; they plaster motivational quotes anywhere in their field of vision, always striving to keep their tank topped up with fresh reasons to work hard and chase their goals.

There’s nothing wrong with a little motivational boost now and then—except that sometimes, despite their best efforts, the motivation is just not there. What do they do then?

Professionals also like motivation, but they treat it as the fickle friend it is, who is welcome when it shows up, but who’s not going to interfere with their plans if it does not.

Professionals show up even when they’re not motivated. Professionals get started when they’re not motivated. Professionals do the work and stick with it even when they don’t quite feel like it. Professionals know that you don’t always need to be motivated to get started—sometimes it works in reverse. You get started on a challenging and worthwhile task, and the motivation kicks in as you immerse yourself in it.

Professionals don’t need the little blue pill of motivation to get them started, because they have more reliable companions, who can always be counted on to be there when they need them. These reliable companions don’t depend on their state of mind at the moment; they’re ingrained into the professional’s character and value system.

These companions are professional identity, purpose, and habit.

As I’ve written before, one of the most powerful influences on behavior is identity: the desire to live up to an ideal vision of who you are. A clear purpose, in which you know you are contributing to something meaningful, can fuel your determination to continue when things get tough. Finally, developing healthy habits can make even difficult things automatic.

You can get motivated quickly by watching a 17-minute TED talk or hanging a poster on your wall, but the rush usually lasts about as long as it took to acquire. Identity, purpose and habits take much longer to acquire, but they can last a lifetime—and they always show up when you need them most.