Motivation Isn't Enough: Building the Conditions to Keep Showing Up

I swam with 2 humpback whales on Monday.

Well…to be precise, I was swimming in the ocean and there were two humpbacks in the distance about 1km away, but still, we were in the same body of water, and it was an amazing way to start the week. 

I have been swimming (or, more accurately, dipping) in the ocean weekly since last winter.  Some days it has taken a monumental effort.  Dragging myself out of a warm bed so early in the morning is by far the hardest part.  Jumping into the cold water (albeit only for the briefest of moments over winter!) has, at times, seemed ludicrous.
 
I have often wondered why I so willingly show up and what is really motivating me to go every week.   Apart from this morning, there is no major external reward to write home about, and most people would never know if I turned up or not.  However, I do feel an internal pull.  This one activity sets up my week.  It clears my head.  I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and doing something I have committed to, week after week.

There are certain external things that help me show up consistently too.  I have just the right amount of accountability as I always dip with a good friend and almost as importantly, I have to have a cup of tea waiting on the shore afterwards.  Also, I wouldn’t make it if I didn’t have my swim bag laid out the night before so I can just get up and go.  I now know not to give myself even a second to procrastinate as I would never make it out from under the covers.

It took me a while to realize that I had built clear conditions for myself, to ensure that I kept showing up and that without them, there would be much less chance I would do so consistently.

My work has focused on motivation and its impact on performance for many years, but this experience has given me a new perspective on its role in self-leadership.  Knowing what motivates us is crucial.  However, so too is building the conditions for success and knowing what we need to work at our best and to keep showing up consistently.  For me, it seems I need to have the right resources, a good level of accountability, reduce as much friction as possible and, once the decision is made, not give myself any time to renegotiate with myself. 

I think part of leading ourselves well is about making it easier to do hard things once we've decided that they really matter to us.