The Motivation Myth summary

You might think that talking about your goal with your friends or family will keep you on track. But research shows that people who discuss their aspirations are less likely to follow through on them.

For example, if you tell your friends that you’re going to walk the Appalachian Trail, they’ll admire you for your bravery. But by already experiencing the reward that comes from being admired, you’ll be less determined to actually go on the hike.

When the author was 12 years old, his grandfather bought a racehorse. Over the next year, he entered it in small local races with little success.

Then one day, he convinced a talented jockey to ride the horse during the Goochland Races. The horse placed second, and for the next few hours, the author’s grandfather carried himself with a new sense of pride.

Whether or not you have a clear goal, succeeding at one thing makes you more likely to succeed in other areas of your life. So why not have multiple things that you’re successful at?

After all, you don't have to be perfect at everything you set out to achieve. Even if you get 90 percent there, you’ll reap the benefits of feeling successful and fulfilled in your pursuit.

One day, the author heard two company cofounders complaining about developing their client base. It turned out that landing one client required them to make contact with ten potential clients first.

To the author, this was a great opportunity. Simply put, to land five new clients each month, all the cofounders had to do was set up a system to call 50 potential clients. They could also revise and improve their sales pitch to improve their ability to close more deals.

Many people who want to achieve a goal hire a motivational coach. But while they’ll show you a process that’s fun and uplifting, they also tend to go easy on you as their client and suggest only minor changes to improve your life. 

Unfortunately, that’s not how life works. Remember: there are no shortcuts on the path to success.

Still have no idea how you’ll achieve your goal? Why don’t you start this week by taking an extreme productivity day, or EPD.

An EPD is an eleven- or twelve-hour workday that you reserve for completing one major task. It’s a chance to break away from your routine, get significant work done, and start reaping the motivating benefits that come from success.