"Don't expect to be motivated everyday to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don't count on motivation. Count on Discipline." If you're like most people, you've probably been told at some point in your life that all you need to be successful is motivation. Yet, motivation is fickle. It's like that fair-weather friend who shows up when times are good but is nowhere to be found when you're struggling. Motivation vs. Discipline Motivation is a powerful force that can kickstart a new project, get us through a difficult period, or help us meet a deadline. However, relying solely on motivation can set us up for failure. It's a fleeting emotion, driven by external factors and even our internal mood swings. You might feel motivated after listening to a riveting TED talk or reading an inspirational book, but what happens when that initial thrill fades? The Consistency of Discipline Discipline, on the other hand, is all about consistency and long-term focus. It’s the commitment to doing the work, day in and day out, whether you feel like it or not. Discipline doesn't care about your mood, the weather, or even if you’re overwhelmed with other commitments. It keeps you on track, ensuring that you meet your goals and continue to make progress. Practical Steps for Building Discipline Start Small You don't need to make drastic changes overnight. Instead, start with small, achievable tasks that align with your larger goals. Maybe it's setting aside 30 minutes every day to work on a project, or waking up 15 minutes earlier to plan your day. Create a Routine Routine is discipline’s best friend. Once something becomes part of your daily routine, it’s far less likely that you’ll skip it. That's why setting up a structured day can be so effective in building discipline. Allocate specific times for specific tasks, and stick to it. Hold Yourself Accountable Whether it's a buddy system, a coach, or even an app, find a way to hold yourself accountable. Check in regularly, and evaluate your progress. Make adjustments as needed, but remain committed to your routine. Embrace the Bumps You’re going to hit bumps on the road to discipline. Illness, family emergencies, or even a bad day can throw you off your routine. The key is not to get discouraged. Acknowledge the bump, and get right back on track. The Real World Benefits of Discipline Imagine being a software developer knee-deep in a complex project. Motivation may have gotten you excited about coding, but it's discipline that will see you through those debugging nightmares and endless lines of code. Conclusion Motivation can light the fire, but it's discipline that keeps it burning. Whether you're pursuing a career goal, learning a new skill, or simply striving to be better each day, it's discipline that will carry you across the finish line. Illustrated by: GoLimitless #productivity #motivation #work #growth #programmers
Not agree at all, you cannot pit motivation against discipline, you need both, and sync both all along the process to get the best results AND great human, life and work experience. Discipline lights also the fire of motivation, you cannot be enthusiastic if you don’t have good routine of opening your mind, sharing with others and learning. And you can also be enthusiastic to debug your code to get a great result or just to have the most beautiful or efficient code or both and more, depending of what waking you up in the morning.
Good image to show the effect of discipline. Motivation sometimes can be the spark, but discipline is the gasoline 🚀
I remember when I was training martial arts at night. Definitely not every day I felt like going, but what helped me a lot was having a goal. It didn’t matter how I felt, both physically or mentally, but I knew that in order to get to that goal I needed to keep doing the work. Also, just showing up was a major part of accomplishing what was needed for the day. I did that 3 times a week, every week, for 5 years. I would say, it took me the first two years to build that habit.
I think that the two - motivation and discipline - are not separated. It's hard to have discipline if you do not have the motivation.
First I agree, nice post. But I'd separate motivation and discipline, because it can become a slippery rope. Motivation is awesome, but you can't rely on it and expect it to stay. Human nature.. Discipline / Consistency is key in all of our lives. Now, focusing on the goal when doing hard work you don't like is really a bad idea. What happens if you reach it? A brief moment of accomplishment and joy, followed by a “what now?" depression curve. Your brain will just raise the bar higher to feel that moment again, and you now you'll have to struggle harder. IMHO the key is indeed discipline/consistency, BUT only if you enjoy doing it. You can even trick your mind if it feels too hard. Lie to him first, pretending you have fun. Weird enough, this works. Enjoy the ride, not the vague idea everything will be better when whatever your goal will be reached.
I completely agree with this post. Motivation is crucial to get started, but discipline is what keeps you going when the initial excitement fades. Building discipline starts with small, achievable tasks and creating a routine. Holding yourself accountable and embracing the inevitable bumps along the way are also important. In the real world, discipline is what helps professionals overcome challenges and achieve success. Motivation may ignite the fire, but it's the discipline that keeps it burning until the very end.
While discipline can get us further than just motivation, it is essential to re-evaluate from time to time if the destination is still worth it. The more time we spend chasing a goal, the more committed we become, and in a fast-changing world, sometimes that end goal does not benefit us as we initially thought. As our time and capacity are finite, we also need the courage to quit any endeavors that no longer provide an acceptable value/effort ratio.
Addy, I totally get the importance of discipline and routine, especially in our field. But sometimes, there's a charm in having a free day, letting things unfold, and just going with the flow. While discipline is the backbone of progress, a little spontaneity can spark creativity. How do you balance between structured discipline and those 'let's see where the day takes me' moments? Curious to know!
I help junior software engineers learn how to design systems end to end in the first year of their career
9moThe greatest accomplishments have been achieved by consistent effort, not by dramatic sparks of inspiration. The latter makes a good story, but the former is how our world works. Completely agree.