The Motivation Myth by Jeff Haden: An excellent reminder that motivation comes once you start doing something, not before.

I think about this book often. I finished it a year ago, my phone reminds me.

And the messages in the book have definitely stayed with me.

Lines like this are brilliant:

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.

If you want to feel motivated to go running, go running.

If you want to feel motivated to read, read.

If you want to feel motivated to write, write.

𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹.

So if the goal is to be a published author, enjoy the time you sit down at your computer each day to do your writing. Focus on the process. Follow the routine. And then the goal will get closer.

Jeff Haden talks a lot of sense.