The Motivation Manifesto

Those 9 declarations form the nine chapters of section two of the book (after Brendon walks us through his thoughts on freedom and fear and motivation).

We’ll take a look at some of my favorites, but first let’s define motivation.

I love unpacking the etymology of words.

Motivation comes from the root motive which means “a reason for action.”

Motive comes from the Latin word motivus which means “to move.”

So, basically, motivation is WHY WE MOVE. Why we do something.

If we want to sustain our motivation, we need to get clear on the choices we’re making and the underlying process of sparking and sustaining our motivation. Which leads us to the next Idea.

After defining motivation and forcefully articulating the fact that we must take control of our mind and the choices we’re making if we want to sustain motivation, Brendon walks through the key elements of the three phases of motivation:

We need to SPARK our motivation, we need to SUSTAIN our motivation and we need to AMPLIFY our motivation.

In the Spark phase, two things are essential: Ambition + Expectancy.

Our ambition is our desire. We must REALLY want something if we want to be *really* motivated to get it. We can’t have a passive, kinda sorta whatever attitude toward the object of our desire.

Our expectancy is the confidence we have that we can actually attain that which we desire. If you don’t have this confidence then what you have is more wishful hoping than sustainable motivation.

So, Step 1 to SPARKING the process: Know what you want, get fired up about it and expect to get it. (Begs the question: What do YOU want?)

Alright. You’ve Sparked your motivation. Nice. Now let’s Sustain it. Two keys to his phase: Attention + Effort.

We will never Sustain motivation if we forget what we’re excited about. We must bring our attention to our ambitious desires. Know what you want, write it down. Read it. Again and again and again. Sustain attention on it to sustain motivation for it.

And, of course, we must exert effort in pursuit of our goals if we want to sustain motivation. We need to know what we want and take steps toward its actualization every.single.day. Keeping the momentum alive as we keep it on the top of our minds.

This might sound obvious (because it is!), but that’s the whole point. As always, we need to translate common sense into common practice!

Then there’s the Amplify phase. We amplify via two keys: Attitude + Environment.

People who achieve extraordinary things are positive and enthusiastic. They deliberately cultivate this Attitude by choosing the thoughts and behaviors that support them.

They also deliberately create an Environment that supports them. They surround themselves with positive people and a physical environments that inspire.

Spark + Sustain + Amplify.

(Ambition + Expectancy) + (Attention + Effort) + (Attitude + Environment)

—> What do you want?

—> Do you believe you can achieve it?

—> Are you giving it enough attention?

—> Are you putting in enough consistent effort?

—> Are you choosing a positive attitude?

—> And are you creating a supportive environment?

These are important questions to explore.

Where are you strong? Where are you weak? How can you improve?

Here’s to sparking, sustaining and amplifying your motivation!!

P.S. This is very (!) similar to Piers Steel’s formula he distilled from essentially *all* the scientific research on motivation and procrastination.

As you may recall, in The Procrastination Equation (see Notes), he tells us that Motivation = Expectancy (your confidence you can get something) x Value (how much you want something) divided by Impulsiveness (how much you chase immediate pleasure) x Delay (how far out your goal is).

In short, you need to REALLY want something AND you need to think you can get it while you curb your impulses and set a ton of short-term, micro goals.

Yikes. That’s from the second declaration that we will reclaim our agenda. Does it come close to describing your habits?

If so (or if more than you’d like), it’s time be honest. You’re addicted.

Of course, we are ALL addicted to our technology to some degree.

When I notice the little addicted rat-running-thru-a-maze compulsive version of me, I like to notice, smile, and REFUSE to be driven by compulsion. (Except when I don’t. Hah.)

Our ability to sustain attention on what matters is, by far, our most important asset. Anything that threatens that, no matter how stimulating in the moment, needs to be contained. Period.

Let’s make it a game.

Start your day with a solid AM time block dedicated to what truly matters to you—whether that’s family or meditation or exercise or creativity or whatever. The email can wait. Do you really need to roll over and IMMEDIATELY turn on your smartphone to check out the latest? That’s no less an addiction than the smoker lighting up first thing.

Create bright lines throughout your day. Turn off the Internet and shut the door so you can do truly Deep Work (see those Notes).

Turn off all your push notifications and email alerts and recapture a TON of time. (Researchers say you could get a MONTH (!!!) of productivity back by simply turning off the email notices!!)

Turn your phone off when you’re with your family. Practice being present rather than a distracted zombie.

P.S. “All day they are busy accomplishing nothing but responding to everything.” <— Let’s not do that.

It’s time to write our own manifesto.

Bust out a piece of paper and write down a response to those three questions. (Brendon shares a bunch more in the book.)

—> What’s your MISSION?

—> What’s your PLAN?

—> What STEPS will you take?

WRITE IT DOWN!!!

As Brendon tells us: “There is a reason nations write out and follow their declarations, constitutions, and laws. No matter how strong a society, no matter its intent or culture or popular will, without written directives all is lost in the randomness of human behavior. That is why we must write and that is why we must revisit our manifestos and that is why we must act in alignment to the agenda we have set for ourselves.”

The joyous masters.

“They work so hard at something that it soon becomes play.”

<— So good.

Let’s make our lives one big game and have people wonder whether we’re working or playing. :)

Nearly fifteen years ago when I first started coaching people on how to optimize their lives, I’d always start with a eulogy exercise in which my client would imagine their own funeral and what the people in their lives had to say about them—capturing the qualities for which they hoped to be remembered.

What qualities do YOU hope to be remembered for?

Write them down. Now. Reflect on them often. Be the radiant embodiment of those qualities.