Book Review
Title: The Motivation Myth
Author: Jeff Haden
Publisher: Portfolio (January 9, 2018)
Jeff Haden’s Motivation Myth reveals the secret of true motivation, the uncomfortable truth that we have to go through the pain of getting started WITHOUT motivation. We have to force ourselves to perform, to do the thing we’ve “always wanted to do.” Only after that, after some small wins, after a measure of accomplishment, then those accomplishments create motivation for us to do more. Discipline first, then motivation + discipline to keep going, to build on achievement to achieve more , which generates progressively more motivation. The motivation “virtuous cycle” upwards begins with nothing but unmotivated force of will. So yes, motivation is good, and helps to keep us going, but we have to earn it first.
Jeff Haden aptly describes it, “We all have a little voice inside that says, ‘I’ve done enough’ or ‘I’m exhausted. I just can’t do more.’ But that little voice lies. We can always do more. Stopping is a choice.”
He bluntly draws the line: “If I haven’t convinced you that being a serial achiever is the best way to live a full, satisfying, and successful professional life and personal life … well, there’s no hope for you.”
Haden reminds us of the worst type of pain, the pain of regret, “Sure, the work is hard. Sure, the work is painful—but it’s significantly less painful than thinking back on what will never be.”