Discipline > Motivation

Part 3 of my self-proclaimed ongoing, the “>” series.

Part 1: Trajectory > Positioning

Part 2: Hardwork > Talent

Discipline and Motivation

So, Discipline and motivation.

These two words that we use sparingly and is interchanged often in conversation and text.

People do think these words mean the same, or at least, are similar.

They are similar sure, but they do NOT mean the same.

Here’s a quote to explain the difference:

Motivation is what gets you started, but Discipline is what keeps you growing.

The top athletes, entrepreneurs, businessmen, or any field—the top 1% are all disciplined, not motivated.

Don’t get me wrong, they may be equally important.

Discipline is required to keep doing what’s imperative, but without motivation, we might not have pursued it in the first place.

The key is to find a balance, at least that’s what Google says.

But I disagree.

Discipline >>>

We all have motivation.

The motivation to do something once we see that inspiring reel on Instagram during one of our mindless scroll sessions.

The impulsive decision to buy a mic just because you seem to sing well in the shower.

The first step you took by joining a gym ‘cause all your friends are going.

This is great don’t get me wrong—finding something you’re passionate about, making a hobby out of it, it’s nice.

But it’s not gonna last.

Especially if it’s something you want to do long-term, motivation alone isn’t gonna cut it.

You gotta have discipline.

You have to.

Discipline is where you keep doing the thing that you know is gonna make you better, but is so boring and monotonous and tiring, but you do it anyway.

Because it needs to be done.

For you to achieve your goals.

That’s what discipline is.

Doing the stuff you don’t like, because it NEEDS to be done.

That’s what separates the wheat from the chuff.

The 1%.

Doing the same mundane tasks every single day, knowing you won’t get results soon, but you do it anyway cause you know it pays dividends in the long run.

Delayed gratification, ladies and gentlemen.

You read a page a day, eventually, you’ll finish a book - linear growth.

You start with a page a day, increasing one page each day, and you’ll finish the same book in less than half the time. - exponential growth.

Motivation - Why it fails to pull through

First of all, motivation is majorly based on external factors.

The most common form of motivation we fall for is when someone else does things we want to. So, we try to replicate their processes and systems and hope to do what are doing.

But we fail to realize it’s not an overnight thing, and we realize it only when we have started the endeavor and are knees deep in it.

Most gym goers stop after 3 weeks to a month after joining. They stop going consistently because they now realize that the jacked dude they saw at school put in the work.

They realize that people have to do work; real work, to get what they want.

Crazy I know right !?

The fact that your results are based on how much you work and not how much you wish for it to happen?

Mad bro. What a revelation.

Stop wishing for things. Stop praying for things to happen.

Go out there and get. shit. done.

If you want something, you go get it.

You don’t wait until the stars align until it falls into your lap, cause it never will.

Work for it.

We all see the ‘overnight successes’ people become with their breakthroughs in science, tech, business, etc.

But what we don’t see is the decades of work in the making.

Work in silence. Move in silence.

Be consistent, consistently.

Motivation is just what takes you to 100 mph, discipline makes sure you STAY at 100 mph.

It would help if you had the motivation to finally sit down and do that podcast you’ve wanted to.

You need discipline to film 200 podcasts.

The Shortcut to Life

The only shortcut to life is to never miss a day.

Because sometimes, you get lucky.

And you’ll never miss a lucky day,

cause you never stopped trying.

You don’t need to flex your achievements, they’ll do it for you themselves.

Just keep moving with your head down.

One day, people will look at you FOR motivation.

And that’s how you win.

Without ever saying a single word.

Dream so big that other people call it a delusion.

Win so big that other people would call it a dream.

I hope you have a wonderful week. 🧿