Your motivation is lacking because of these 6 things

Your motivation is lacking because invisible barriers—laziness, anger, fear, ego, jealousy, and doubt—have let you down.

Follow these 5 steps to invert these pitfalls and unlock unshakeable confidence, inner peace, exponential growth, vivid dreams, profound wisdom, and unyielding ambition.

Today, we're dissecting a concept that I've been grappling with, not only personally but throughout my career—how insidious little barriers, you know the ones: laziness, anger, fear, ego, jealousy, and doubt, infiltrate our lives, undermining our potential. But today's newsletter won't be your average motivational pep talk. Instead, we'll flip these barriers on their heads, and yes, you'll want to read it backwards by the end. Promise.

Let's get cracking!

?? Laziness Kills Ambition

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Laziness is the thief of ambition. Many times, I hear young managers lamenting about not having enough time or feeling too drained. Consider this: is it genuinely the lack of time, or is it laziness in disguise? I'm reminded of when I was at the precipice of a career-defining moment at SocietyOne. Each meeting felt like a mountain. But then, I reframed how I viewed these tasks.

• Break Big Tasks into Manageable Chunks: Ambition thrives on taking small steps consistently. Use 'micro-tasks' to tackle daunting projects. My ex-boss used to ask me, "Jc, how do you eat and elephant? Answer: One bite at a time!"
• Leverage Routine as a Tool: Establish routines not as shackles, but as launch pads; a predictable rhythm can free your mind to innovate.

"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." — Arnold H. Glasow

Key Takeaway:

Self-discipline is fuel for your ambition. By reducing tasks to micro-actions, you mitigate the illusion of overwhelming effort and maintain momentum—one small win at a time.

?? Anger Kills Wisdom

The Wisdom in Embracing Calm

Ah, anger. We've all been there—some heated exchange in a boardroom, a miscommunication that spirals. Yet, wisdom is often born in moments of calm consideration, when we might just be on the heels of boiling frustration.

• Develop the Pause and Reflect Reflex: Before reacting, pause. This helps strip emotional bias from decisions.
• Channel Anger Toward Impetus: Use it as a catalyst for strategic thinking, not as an explosive detour.

One close call with anger had me almost jeopardising a pivotal partnership during my tech consulting climax. I learned, rather harshly, the value of pausing, absorbing, and redirecting.

"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Key Takeaway:

Mastering patience enhances wisdom. Convert the raw energy of anger into a driving force for thoughtful, strategic actions rather than allowing it to cloud your judgment.

?? Fear Kills Dreams

Daring to Dream

Fear is, quintessentially, a paralyser. I've seen it—that deer-in-headlights look in the eyes of junior managers contemplating a risky, albeit game-changing idea.

• Embrace Risks as Opportunities: If managed wisely, risks can be magnificent growth levers. Evaluate the worst-case scenario; then realise it's often not as catastrophic as envisioned.
• Visualisation as a Tool: Envision successful outcomes to counteract the paralysing grip of fear.

While launching the Digital and Technology Enablement Centre at BCG, innumerable concerns came flooding: budget constraints, adoption rates, scalability. Yet, transcending those fears into actionable strategies rewarded us handsomely.

"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." — George Addair

Key Takeaway:

Convert fear from a barrier into a bridge that propels you towards your dreams. Risk navigation, backed by robust strategies, not only mitigates fear but transforms it into fuel.

?? Ego Kills Growth

The Power of Humility

I've often found that ego, that sneaky bloke, lurks behind the curtains of success, waiting for curtain calls. It impedes learning and stifles relations—important points for growth-minded managers.

• Embrace a Beginner's Mindset: Never consider yourself a finished product. With every new challenge, you have the chance to learn.
• Seek Diverse Perspectives: Surround yourself with team members who challenge and dissent. Contrast provides clarity and novel insights.

I vividly recall a post-promotion period teetering on self-complacency. A few humbling moments with insightful mentors (a shout out to the invaluable sounding boards they've been!) nudged me towards necessary growth.

"Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real." — Thomas Merton

Key Takeaway:

Prioritise humility over hubris. It's not simply about knowing your strengths but understanding there's always room for improvement.

?? Jealousy Kills Peace

Cultivating an Abundant Mindset

Jealousy has a knack for creeping up on us, whether we're conscious of it or not. So how do we foster genuine camaraderie and rid ourselves of this destructive emotion?

• Celebrate Others' Success: Liberate yourself from the comparative rat race. A rising tide indeed lifts all boats.
• Foster Gratitude and Contentment: Appreciate your journey's unique path. Keep a gratitude journal, a simple practice brimming with benefits.

During the fast-paced phase of leading MoneyMe, envy over peers' rapid progress gnawed at me. Only time and introspection taught me, the others' progress was never my setback.

"Comparison is the thief of joy." — Theodore Roosevelt

Key Takeaway:

True peace arises from contentment with your journey and circumstances. Appreciating rather than comparing is a powerful catalyst for ongoing personal contentment and professional harmony. See my post on the topic here.

?? Doubt Kills Confidence

Building Unshakeable Self-belief

Here's the kicker—doubt. It has snuffed out more potential than any external factor. I've seen many junior managers question their abilities while tackling game-changing projects.

• Document Your Achievements: Track and review accomplishments to counter self-doubt. A written record of success can be a robust source of validation.
• Adopt a Growth Mindset: View mistakes as stepping stones, not as stumbling blocks. Continuous learning infuses confidence.

In steering Westpac's personal loans division, some daring decisions sprouted insecurity. Repeatedly revisiting past wins and putting a growth lens on failures fortified my resolve.

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt

Key Takeaway:

Transform doubt into confidence through consistent reflection and an open mindset. By anchoring self-belief in past successes, your confidence becomes resilient against the tides of doubt.

Insights: Inverting the Pitfalls

Reflecting upon these barriers offers a peculiar comfort, akin to deciphering a complex puzzle only to be met with, "Ah, so that's how it fits together."

Read backwards, our failures transform into newfound ambitions, eternal wisdom, real dreams, genuine growth, unyielding peace, and robust confidence.

Consider these steps as a strategic toolkit for discernment and growth. The real world of management will test you, yet it's these choices—choices to foster ambition, embrace calm, embrace fears as challenges, nurture humility, celebrate others, and root self-belief—that define you.

Now, with this wisdom in mind, go forth and set your motivation alight. Let's build not just managers, but leaders.

Until next time.

Yours in growth,

Jc