Motivation Only Gets You So Far

Adrian S. Potter
3 min readMay 14, 2023

Create new habits instead (The Secondhand Inspiration Project).

Photo by Jonas Svidras: https://www.pexels.com/photo/space-gray-iphone-6-displaying-at-22-38-552961/

The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.

“First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.”

-Octavia Butler

Many people believe their motivation and willpower are enough to reach their goals.

In the short term, they may be right. Sometimes an all-nighter cramming for an exam, clocking overtime to meet a work deadline, or a hardcore weekend of DIY repairs to mend a house is necessary to get over the proverbial hump.

But life (hopefully) is a long-term endeavor.

Over long periods, motivation alone doesn’t work. Your motivation will wax and wane like the lunar cycle, but the habits you develop will keep you chugging forward and making progress.

My biggest tip? Set mindful, incremental benchmarks along the way to stay encouraged.

Consistency is key. Building positive behaviors slowly but surely is vital to your success.

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Adrian S. Potter

Antisocial Extrovert · Writer and Poet, Engineer, Consultant, Public Speaker · Writing about self-improvement, gratitude, and creativity · www.adrianspotter.com