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Motivation and Momentum – The Compound Effect

Decision Making· Goals & Priorities· Habits & Routines

24 Jun

You know, former procrastinators, even experts in their fields don’t agree.  Stephen Guise encourages such small goals that performing them takes very little effort – so little that it’s actually easy to exercise will power and do them.  (Read two pages in a book, do one push up.) In The Compound Effect Darren Hardy says, no, will power won’t carry you through.  You have to have motivation.  Hardy’s not talking about mini goals but “regular” size ones.  Still, we have two folks who both offer us great help, and they disagree.

I’ve concluded that it takes both – will power and motivation.  I’m not copping out.  Sometimes will power carries me through and sometimes motivation does.  We need both and we’re blessed to be able to take advantage of both.  God has designed us so that will power and motivation serve us.

See Motivation and Willpower March 18, 2019.

Hardy asks,  What will keep you going when enthusiasm for your newly chosen habit wanes? (It will wane.) Hardy says it’s your why power.  The wisest and most motivating choices are aligned with your purpose and highest values. When your actions don’t line up with your values, you’re frustrated and unhappy.  (Amen.) Guise agrees.

What reason in your values makes you want to make the necessary change?  What fuels your persistence?

The motivation behind the change may not necessarily be noble, Hardy says, but it moves you to action. Exercising to maintain the temple God has given me would be wise.  For now, I’m exercising to be strong for an upcoming trip.  Find your why power to help you persevere.

As we persevere, we meet someone Hardy calls a great friend, Momentum.  Remember pushing friends on a merry- go- round at the park?  It’s reeaally hard to get that thing to move.  You have to dig in and puuush.  But once it’s going, it’s easy to keep going.  It even picks up speed.  Making a change is hard from scratch but easy to maintain.  That’s why Hardy says routine is critical.  If we walk away from that merry -go- round and break the routine, Mo walks away too and things come to a halt.

Hardy also illustrates with a well pump.  It takes a long time of pumping to create the vacuum that draws the water up. (Priming the pump.) When only a little dribbles out, some people will walk away; wise ones keep pumping until there’s a steady stream.  To keep the flow steady, just pump the lever consistently.  The compound effect.

One more. You and Hardy each fly a plane from LA to Manhattan.  You fly 500 miles per hour stopping in each state in between.  He flies 200 miles per hour with no stops.  He will beat you by a big margin. It’s easier and requires less energy to take off once and maintain a regular (even slower) speed along the way.

What’s your why power for change?  How can you keep pumping so momentum shows up?

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
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“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

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2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

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Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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