Music, money and motivation

You ever have one of those days? Where you force yourself out of bed, struggle just to put your shoes on, and drag yourself to the gym? Of course you do. I’ve been having months of them. So what gets you going?

I go because it’s what I do. It’s a part of who I am and what I value. I understand and appreciate the cumulative value of even mediocre training sessions over time and don’t need a scoop of pre-workout or anything outside of myself to get it done. But that’s just one small area of my life. There are lots of times when I do need a kick in the ass to get something done.

We know that external motivators don’t last. They are brief interludes in our pursuit of internalizing the process. That doesn’t, however, mean that they don’t help to move us along. Think about the gym. Nothin wrong with throwin Juicy on in the headphones and doin work.

Money can also help us short term. The short term goal of a bonus or the idea of a trip or new outfit can drive us to push. And many times that short term money push may be tied to something much deeper that we truly value. Travel or great food or family security are values and that little short term goal can actually lead to long term, sustainable results.

So don’t be afraid of external motivators. Don’t be afraid to use something outside of yourself to drive you forward. Just don’t expect it to last.

So what are your favorite external motivators? Certain songs or deals you make with yourself to get shit done? Hit reply and let me know!