In his words, "Announcing your plans to others satisfies your self-identity just enough that you're less motivated to do the hard work needed."
Maybe announcing goals works for some people, but for me it definitely has the opposite effect. When I keep my goals private, I work to achieve them for my own sake. But when I announce my goals I feel like I'm working toward them to maintain the accolades from friends... accolades they gave me six months back when I merely announced that I'd be running that Marathon.
Similarly, Bob Shaw (science-fiction writer) says he likes to discuss story ideas with people - but he discovered that if he has a good story idea, and he tells it to someone, it satisfies some of the story-telling energy, and he has less motivation to actually write it. I'm not sure if that has the same root as ego satisfaction (is "story-energy" having something great that you thought of? maybe); but it contributes to the same result.
There was a flurry of reporting (e.g. PhysOrg et al.) a few years ago on the same observation being made by researchers. Speculation was/is that the declaration/statement creates in the speaker enough sense of accomplishment that internal drive to complete the task is lessened. In other words, it already feels at least partially done -- as I remember the description -- and drive is reduced.
Whatever the explanation, I agree with you as to the effect in my own experience. Talking about something not yet done, especially as a goal, seems to be counterproductive -- I'll even use the word "jinx".
Edit: Hmm, on the other hand, having a hard and fast deadline -- especially an imminent one -- can be quite compelling and motivating. I continue to debate with myself to what extend I want to / should put myself into such positions (e.g. purposefully loading up the schedule). However, doing so is NOT the same in my mind as making a big public statement. MY knowing the deadline can be motivating. Talking with others about it can be dissipating.
In Asian communities at least, announcing one's goal or declaring an identity to the public means that we will be held to that standard or promise by everyone else, or we lose face and -- how do you say -- bring shame to ourselves and our families. Face is very, very important amongst the Asians in general. I find #2 to be the best motivator in fact. The worst feeling is to feel like a fraud, to be discredited.
Some might even be harmful, for example I remember a study saying public commitment actually reduces probability of finishing. (It wasn't called public commitment in that study, but basically talking about what you want to do before doing it. Just talking about it seems to already satisfy some goals).
Can we stop calling things hacks? You're either motivated or you aren't, and if there isn't enough motivation day after day, perhaps it's a sign that you're in the wrong place.
Well, what does "place" mean? Sure, if we are talking about work, you might be better off another place. But if you are looking to quit smoking but find it hard, would you argue that they should simply surrender and stick with smoking?
I think you are touching on an important issue here; there are tens of post like the OP, but few people actually think about taking time to reevaluate your goals. People often have trouble realising what they really want and struggle with 'motivation' whereas they just should try something different. It is also worth pointing out that no matter how cool 'hacks' you use you can't work all the time and just need to take a longer break to regain will to work.
[Disclaimer: I know I am a bit offtopic, but if someone told me what I wrote a year ago, I would be much more happy with my life. I've read tens of motivation/productiveness/get-stuff-done articles whereas what I needed was taking a proper holiday and rethinking my goals]
Perhaps "hack" isn't the right word but there are techniques or tricks that will result in higher productivity.
One technique I use is to think about how I would tackle a task if I were to do it. So you start to break it down, think about the first step, and what would follow. Pretty soon what was an really objectionable undertaking seems achievable and I launch into it.
>> >> but there are techniques or tricks that will result in higher productivity.
Yes, there are, but what nhangen is saying is very important - what if someone is in a totally wrong place (for himself), but tricked himself to be motivated to work on something which ultimately doesn't bring him happiness or fulfillment?
If you have to "#11: Reward yourself. Often.", isn't it an indicator that the intrinsic reward is lacking in the activity? Then why trick oneself to spend time on it?
Yeah, I take the point. I wouldn't like to lead a work life where my only motivation comes from artificial rewards or motivational hacks. If there is no intrinsic motivation in the work then something fundamental has gone wrong, like career choice.
However, we are human, and the most suitable work for an individual is still work, parts will be more painful than others. It's these parts where there can be, let's call them "disciplines" that will help.
I agree with you on the usage of the word "hack." These are basic techniques. No one would say:
"Top 20 C Hacks:
1. Use a variable to store a value.
2. Use named functions to organize your code.
...."
I also agree with you that you have to work with the motivation that's already there. These techniques don't create motivation; they multiply it. On the other hand, intelligence and effort can be applied to anything, so lists like these are helpful for people who want to improve their edge.
A human behaviour I observed, that could be hacked:
You know how you tend to do all the things that you don't want to do (like dishwashing, cleaning your apt, laundry etc.) if you have to learn for an really really boring but difficult exam at university. At the point you have to do something that appears more worse you tend to say things like: "okay, I have to study, but I have to XY first - because it's important", but you would not do them if you didn't have to study..
Hack would be to use this system an always have some really pain-in-the-butt thing on your to-do list, then you're really glad to check off all the others first.
"I track my time, set daily and weekly objectives, and succeed on them roughly 70% of the time. If I start getting into a groove where I’m succeeding at 100%, I up the difficulty until I’m back around 70%."
I'm inclined to listen to Sebastian because he seems smarter and more energetic, but it'd be nice if each one bragged about their achievements more so I could make a more informed decision.
On the other hand , if you read sebastian's page, you get the impression of a guy that talks a lot("I’ve been working and training to be the most skilled strategist of our era."), and travels , but with out difficult achievements in his past.
Do you really need someone to tell you who to listen to? These are blogs, not dogmas. Leo Babuta is popular because he has managed to transform his life significantly, while still dealing with something like six kids (I loose count). He has a lot of really thoughtful posts on his site. I'm not familiar with the other person you refer to, but it isn't in any way a competition. Take what works and leave what doesn't.
Why down vote the commenter? Seems like a valid question.
I've known a lot of people who have great opinions and ideas and are very talented at communicating but who otherwise haven't accomplished very much. Or, as I've recently heard a career strategy, "If you're not good at doing, then teach, and if you're not good at teaching, then consult."
There is only only one motivation, ever. Actual desire.
In short, these articles exist because people are trying to rationalise their way past the cognitive dissonance of wanting to want things, without being willing to actually change themselves.
Decision making is fundamentally a process of "I want, there is no greater want, I can, so I will". If you're not getting to do what you want, it's simply that you have a greater want. Sometimes that's just a want to not actually exert effort.
tl;dr - you will not change what you do without changing what you are.
Commitment equals action. If you are not doing something then you are not committed to it. If you want to do something, but you aren't doing it, find out what is blocking your commitment to it.
I find it interesting how he contrasts being disciplined with keeping up motivation and focus. I think the truth is actually the polar opposite of this; maintaining motivation and focus is most of what constitutes "discipline." In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if most "disciplined" people you know use at least a couple of these techniques.
Perhaps the key to this is that the techniques trick people into being disciplined without realizing it, because otherwise it feels like a chore.
Nice validating read. All of the points quoted in this are discussed in detail in Richard Wiseman's "59 Seconds" book. He references scientific studies associated with all of these points.
According to that book #5 is a big no no. Wiseman claims (and shows with references) that conducted studies suggest that visualisation actually has adverse affects on a person's ability to actually achieve a goal.
I have played about with different ideas around motivation for a long time. I also tried to develop my own web apps to remind me of where I wanted to go. When I have time I keep adding to this http://www.mapourlives.com. A freebie sign up for anyone.
Derek Silvers explains how this technique can backfire at http://sivers.org/zipit and in his TED Talk at http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/947
In his words, "Announcing your plans to others satisfies your self-identity just enough that you're less motivated to do the hard work needed."
Maybe announcing goals works for some people, but for me it definitely has the opposite effect. When I keep my goals private, I work to achieve them for my own sake. But when I announce my goals I feel like I'm working toward them to maintain the accolades from friends... accolades they gave me six months back when I merely announced that I'd be running that Marathon.