I'm no quitter

I read that last Friday was “quitters” day. No, not handing in notice that you’re leaving a role/organization, the most common day that New Year’s resolutions die! Reflecting on the words of the inspirational @Nedd Brockmann, you need more than motivation – you need discipline. He told LinkedIn News Australia last year that to run nearly 4000kms in 46 days took discipline “Motivation isn’t going to stay with you every day”. I’m sure there are many nuggets of inspiration in the book “Showing Up” published a few months ago.

Like “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” makes it seem strategy is unimportant, Discipline without motivation is directionless. Putting first things first, making a change requires an awareness of a dissatisfaction. The status quo is not enough. This is where the motivation comes from – the why.

‘I wasn’t satisfied with how things went in 2023. I want to do better in 2024. That’s where the New Years resolutions come from! I put on a few kilos, I want to lose weight, so I’ll join a gym/ride to work/start exercising’.

Years ago, Cadbury had eight Leadership Imperatives. All professional staff were measured each year on What they had achieved, and through the Leadership Imperatives How they had achieved their results. The most debated Leadership Imperative was “Aggressive”. It was clarified, and re-explained many times, but it wasn’t the one that I had an issue with. “Motivating” was the one I struggled with the most. Whilst leading by example; having high standards; and being a teacher, coach and cheerleader might be inspiring…motivating someone else is not possible. Motivation is intrinsic, not extrinsic.

So, that means its self-motivation. Similarly, it’s self-discipline. If you really want a different/better 2024, start with why. Then commit – to the How and the What.

Showing up every day is the What. This is the self-discipline required to make the change you’re hoping for. In a landscape of increasing unemployment (we’re expecting to see ABS figures for December this week), and perhaps an easing of inflation, the only things you can actually control is your own actions. I read a great post on this very topic a couple of weeks back – check in the comments box later when I chase it down.