I always wondered why some people achieve great things while others remain where they are. Some people come from nothing and make the most significant names for themselves. At the same time, others can’t climb the ladder of success no matter how much they try.
After reading about the lives of many successful people, I understood why it happened. The primary difference between the two types of people is their ability to get things done.
Successful people are doers. They take action. Unsuccessful people only talk and wonder why things aren’t happening for them.
However, there is a significant misconception that high achievers are naturally motivated, highly motivated, and always full of energy. The truth is that they do not rely on motivation because they understand it does not bring extraordinary results. Instead, they take action, prioritize discipline, and persist in achieving their goals.
In this article, I will reveal the secret behind people who get things done—and why it’s much simpler than you think.
The Motivation Myth
Many people believe they must be highly motivated to achieve great things. Society and culture have led us to believe this. Therefore, many people wait for motivation to do something. This leads to procrastination and no real growth.
Motivation cannot be relied on because it is emotional and inconsistent. External factors like stress and fatigue heavily impact motivation. The major problem is that you cannot control your motivation, even if it seems you can.
High achievers understand this, so they train themselves to act despite their feelings. They focus on discipline rather than motivation. For example, a successful entrepreneur or athlete goes to work despite lacking motivation. They have trained themselves to act regardless of how they feel.
Action Beats Inspiration
In the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck, Mark Manson quotes his high school math teacher, saying,
“If you’re stuck on a problem, don’t sit there and think about it; just start working on it. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, the simple act of working on it will eventually cause the right ideas to show up in your head.”
Mark further explains the Do Something principle. He says:
Action isn’t just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause of it.
We falsely believe that motivation leads to action. But in reality, it’s the other way around. Taking action helps you create the motivation that leads to further action.
Remember: You don’t think your way into acting. You act your way into thinking. Action leads to clarity and momentum, which fuels further progress.
Small actions compound. For example:
- A writer who commits to writing 1000 words daily, regardless of inspiration, completes a novel in 60 days.
- Making one call a day leads to a successful business in a few weeks.
The Power of Systems and Habits
Relying on motivation is stupidity. It can never manifest actual progress.
You need a system. You must focus on discipline without caring about how you feel — for example, writing 500 words at 8 a.m. every morning — no excuses!
Setting goals will not help unless you create systems. Goals give you direction, but systems make progress inevitable. For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose 10kg,” develop a system of eating well and exercising daily.
“Goals are about the end results you want to achieve. Systems are about the process that lead to those results.”
“The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game.”
“Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress.”
— James Clear, Atomic Habits.
Successful people understand that decision fatigue can interfere with their progress. Therefore, they eliminate it by building habits into their routines and designing their environments so that action becomes automatic. For example, Steve Jobs wore jeans and black turtlenecks because it was easier to have a bunch of those hanging in his closet and pull them on by default. He knew what he wore daily, so that was one less decision to fatigue him.
Repetition and Persistence Build Mastery
The best way to build habits is through repetition. Remember, you don’t rise to your potential — you fall to your training.
Consistency builds intensity.
- Doing one push-up a day is better than none.
- Writing one article a week over a year makes you a good writer.
Start small to avoid burnout. The important thing is that you do it.
Athletes, musicians, and even writers become successful by repeatedly practicing their crafts for an extended period of time. They achieve mastery by understanding the power of showing up daily, even though it is challenging and not glamorous.
They also know that persistence matters. Continuing despite obstacles keeps the momentum going. Setbacks are normal, so they expect them. The important thing is to keep going despite the challenges and failures. Remember, it took J.K. Rowling more than ten rejections before she got a publisher to accept Harry Potter.
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius
Be comfortable with not being comfortable. Embrace discomfort because that’s what makes you stronger.
How to Become Action-Driven (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Understanding the above fundamentals about action, motivation, discipline, and persistence is the beginning to achieve more incredible things. When you apply them, you can become the top 1%.
However, you don’t need to be extraordinary and start doing bigger things from the first day. Instead, you need to start small and build the discipline. Understand that it takes time to achieve great things.
Here is how you can begin:
- Start Small: Commit to one tiny action daily. (For example: Writing 200 words, walking for 20 minutes, reading 5 pages, etc.)
- Use the Two-Minute Rule: Begin tasks with a two-minute action to overcome inertia. It leads to more action and progress over time.
- Track Progress: Use a journal or app to visualize consistency. Know where you stand in your journey to becoming your higher self.
- Eliminate Distractions: Create a focused environment — no notifications, phone calls, meetings, social media, emails, etc. Give yourself at least 4 hours daily for deep work.
You can start today without any special tools or resources. You don’t need to have unique traits or abilities to become successful. All you need are knowledge and discipline.
Remember:
- You don’t need to be extraordinary; you need to be consistent.
- You don’t need to do a lot; you need to do something every day.
- You don’t need endless motivation; you need to reduce friction and just start.
- You don’t need to feel ready; you just need to begin.
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