🎈(#12) The Reason You're Still Stuck

Read Time: 5 Minutes

Message from the author:

The last two issues have been a lot of fun for me. I like to challenge myself and a seek opportunities to grow.

Issue # 10 about the Mamba Mentality was different to anything I had done before. The research involved took some time and then working out how to provide real life key take aways in the style of a mini-case study all within a 5-minute read was the hardest part… challenge accepted and delivered.

In Issue # 11 - Our collab edition with Khan, I wanted to avoid a standard Q&A type scenario. The goal was to have him speaking directly to you. Due to both of us being fairly busy, this involved a few conversations and working out a system that I thought would extract the information in order to deliver his message to you in the MAKER way…another challenge accepted and delivered.

This one is similar to our normal MAKER issues with a bit of a twist at the end. My focus here is to give you a simplified system that you can follow to become UNSTUCK or refocus and move towards your goals.

Hope you enjoy.

MAKER Fam - if you have been finding these issues helpful in anyway, please support me continue to grow our community by sharing the homepage link with someone you feel will also benefit from these.

Have you ever said this statement before?

“I just need to get motivated again”.

Yup, that one…

The one with the magical “M” word in it…

M O T I V A T I O N.

Whilst motivation serves a purpose, relying on it is where we can trap ourselves.

Why?

Because motivation fades.

There is no denying that motivation gives us the boost we need at times.

But it only lasts for a moment.

Here are five problems that we face relying solely on motivation:

1. Dependency

   Constantly seeking motivation may have you relying on external factors to receive that dopamine hit.

2. Vulnerable to setbacks

   When motivation dips or disappears you become exposed to the reality of finding excuses.

3. Procrastination

   Waiting for motivation to kick in, you start losing control of the controllables and potentially miss out on opportunities to move the needle.

4. Short-term thinking

   Motivation in most situation has short-term gratification attached to it over long-term success.

5. Lack of discipline

   It can result in a lack of discipline, which then leads to inconsistency and you will find it hard to build a consistent work ethic over time.

3,2,1…Action

I am a firm believer in action over motivation.

I like to think of myself as my own action hero to this movie we call life.

Action means you take control of your fate. Eighty percent of success is just showing up.

Even when motivation has failed you, showing up and doing that thing you committed to, will move the needle…guaranteed.

The days when you are not feeling it, down in a slump, tired, sore - keeping the consistency and maintaining the habit as a priority should be the focus.

Action, action, action.

To summarize the benefits, here are a few things that focusing on action will do for you:

• Action leads to tangible results

• Taking action builds momentum, momentum moves you closer towards your goals.

• Action helps you overcome procrastination.

• Action leads to habits and consistency, this in turn leads to sustainable behaviors long-term.

• Action will automatically drive you out of your comfort zone, you just have to commit to it.

• Tracking progress of the action holds you accountable.

• Last but not least - focusing on action inspires motivation. You create your own cycle of motivation internally as you start to feel good about progress and gaining small wins.

Don’t believe me? Maybe some facts will help…

Proof is in the pudding

An analysis published in the “Journal of Research in Personality” (2017) found that individuals who rely solely on motivation were less likely to achieve their long-term goals compared to those who focused on habits and discipline as their strategy.

Another study conducted by a fancy university in the field of motivation & psychology suggests that individuals driven by motivation may struggle to adapt or pivot when plans change and don’t work out.

Sound familiar?

In all honesty - you could research and find studies for any angle or point you are wanting to make that support what you believe or want to hear.

For me, the studies I have read actually make sense and align to my own personal experiences when I reflect back on my life of trial and error in this space.

I have been the motivational guy in the past, needing that fix to inspire me, to get off my butt and do the things I already knew I should be doing.

Now…

I just do it. I keep track of it and get on with my day.

Simple.

Feel free to use this system

If I was stuck right now, this is what I would do.

This is actually similar to what I did back in April 2023 (12kgs and close to 190 “habit building” days ago).

If you are up for it, let’s commit to completing a 28-day challenge.

Yes? No? … It’s really up to you and how much you want change right now.

If you accept the challenge, use this simple process to become UNSTUCK.

In just 28 days of building consistency, you will start to feel the difference mentally and physically.

Self-Reflection:

You only need to do this once.

This will give deeper purpose to support your actions. This should only take 30 minutes max.

Grab a pen and paper or type it in your phone and answer these seven questions below:

• Why do you want to become UNSTUCK? (This “WHY” is your drive to show up when it is tough. Find that thing you are fed up with right now)

• What is your goal by the end of the 28 days? (An achievable milestone for you to celebrate)

• What does that “future you” look and feel like in 28 days? (Remember a lot can happen in this time if you just stay consistent)

• What do you think you need to do in the next seven days that will move you towards that person by the end of the month? (Break it down into bit size chunks)

• How are you going to commit to this goal? (Think about the mentality required to move the needle)

• What are some potential obstacles that may get in your way? (Think about negative habits you may have or challenges you’ve faced previously that set you back etc.)

• What can you do to prepare yourself to overcome these obstacles? (Having your plan ready to go means you can activate it - if or when the time comes)

Ugly Execution:

This is where you turn the above into action. We now get into the dirt.

The mindset for the next 28 days is UGLY EXECUTION. It doesn’t need to look pretty; it just needs to get done.

Follow the below and aim for consistency.

• Routine Building. Now that you know your goals and what the future you looks and feels like. Build a morning and/or night routine that you can complete daily (minimum 5 days a week). The actions within the routine should align to what you are wanting to achieve.

• Carve Time. At the start, keep the routines to 30-40min. This means you only are needing to show up for less than an hour each day. One hour of focused work on yourself, just carve out the time and commit to that.

• Track. Now track each day, use a digital tracker or physical calendar. Me personally, I like to use a physical calendar and fill out each day for the week. If I complete the action, I cross it out. If I miss the action, I circle it. Physically updating it, keeps me accountable and by the end of the week I aim to have more crosses than circles. This is what keeps me motivated to do the thing.

• Reflect. At the end of each week (Sundays)… Reflect and ask yourself the below:

  • What worked well this week?

  • What didn’t work so well?

  • What did I learn?

• Repeat. Now take this into the following week, adapt, tweak and repeat for 28 days - 4 weeks towards a new you.

Not much to it really. The aim here is to simplify and create yourself a no excuse plan to get it done.

You will have days where you won’t want to show up, keep your system simple so you can remove the excuses for yourself.

Remember… action over motivation.

Hoping this mindset shift will help you move forward or re-connect with your goals.

If you are looking to try the system of Self-Reflection & Ugly Execution out - shoot me a DM on Instagram, would love to hear from you.

It would be awesome to check in on day 28 and see what has changed for you.

Ignite the spark within you and go after it fam!

Have a great week.

JC