Motivation and discipline are both important for high performance, but finding internal drive and passion is crucial.
Understanding individuals' drivers and goals can help motivate and engage them, but they must have internal drive as a baseline.
Challenging imaginary rules and reframing beliefs can expand our potential and lead to greater success.
Deep dives
The Power of Motivation and Discpline
Motivation is seen as a pull factor, an internal drive that fuels and drives high performers. On the other hand, discipline is seen as requiring a lot of push and often feels like a slog. While discipline can be useful in certain situations, relying solely on discipline can lead to burnout. Successful individuals are driven, obsessed, and deeply engaged in what they do. They are not simply slogging through but are motivated and passionate. It is important to find that internal drive and tap into it to achieve peak performance.
The Role of Drive in Achieving Success
Internal drive is crucial for high performance and cannot be taught. Individuals need to have that hunger and internal motivation to truly excel. While motivation cannot be taught, it can be tapped into. Understanding the drivers and goals of individuals can help motivate and engage them. Knowing what truly inspires someone and tying work and opportunities to those drivers can enhance engagement and performance. However, it is essential for individuals to have that internal drive as a baseline.
Overcoming Imaginary Rules and Challenging the Status Quo
Imaginary rules are unspoken beliefs and assumptions that shape the way we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. These rules can limit our potential and keep us small. By challenging and reframing these imaginary rules, we can expand our horizons and achieve more. It is important to rewrite the narrative we tell ourselves and focus on what we are truly capable of. Surrounding ourselves with a supportive social circle and setting intentional boundaries can help us break free from these imaginary rules and reach new levels of success.
Building a Foundation for Success
Creating stability and foundations in various aspects of life is crucial for success. This includes areas such as relationships, health, personal well-being, and personal growth. Taking care of these foundational elements frees up mental and physical energy required for peak performance. It is important to prioritize sleep, nutrition, relationships, and physical well-being as these aspects impact overall performance and satisfaction. By establishing stability in multiple areas of life, individuals can better focus and excel in their work and personal endeavors.
Risk-Taking and Confidence
Taking risks is an essential part of achieving success. Individuals who are outliers and high performers tend to be quirky, confident, and willing to take big bets. They have the ability to swing for the fences and believe in their ability to figure things out, even in the face of uncertainty. Building confidence comes from taking risks in low-stakes situations and experiencing wins. As confidence grows, individuals become more willing to take bigger risks and embrace challenges. Confidence also comes from how we talk to ourselves and how we think about ourselves and our capabilities.
Focusing on Personal Growth and Avoiding External Validation
Personal growth comes from focusing on internal progress and setting goals for self-improvement. Seeking external validation can hinder progress and lead to compromised motivation. Sharing goals and achievements publicly can dilute motivation and diminish the internal drive to succeed. It is important to focus on progress, build confidence, and pursue goals quietly without external distractions or validation. Emphasizing personal growth and avoiding external validation allows individuals to stay true to their path and maintain a strong sense of purpose.
On the first of two special episodes, acclaimed executive performance coach and doctor of psychology Dr. Julie Gurner goes in-depth on a variety of strategies and actionable advice that will help you perform up to your potential. During this portion of her interview, Dr. Gurner discusses discipline, motivation, the imaginary rules we learned as children that hold us back today, setting boundaries, the advantages of caring deeply and challenging directly, and much more. Dr. Gurner has spent the past 14 years working with top percentile executives, talent, and teams operating in fast-paced, competitive environments. She specializes in improving personal productivity, focus, and decision-making strategies, as well as developing high performance cultures, teams, and executives emphasizing ownership and leadership. Check out Dr. Gurner's lecture on Mental Health for Kids in the Time of Coronovirus for The Kids Are In Charge, and you can sign up Dr. Gurner's Substack here.
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