We Lack Clarity, Not Motivation

Sometimes in life we lose the motivation to follow through with our projects. Paralysis sets in. We question if we are on the right path and ponder on the pointlessness of it all.

And our thoughts begin to race:

Why am I not motivated? Shouldn't I feel passionate about this? Is the thing that I set out to do maybe not the right path after all?

And frankly, sometimes these are valid questions (and great material for a future essay). But what I found out over time is that more often than not our motivation is a pretty bad indicator whether we are on the right path.

Most people think they lack motivation when they really lack clarity.

Because when we start digging under the surface of why we don't "feel motivated", we often find that even the most basic questions give us a headache:

What are the specific next actionable steps that I can take?

• Hint: "Do research" and "Brainstorm possible solutions" are not specific and actionable!
• Why am I doing what I am doing? Why did I start this project in the first place?
• How does the project / task at hand fit into the bigger picture?

If we can't answer such essential questions, it's no wonder that we feel lost and lack motivation. And no reason to feel bad about it, it’s inevitable. Sometimes we are so entangled and focused on a task or project that we lose track of left and right.

"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction."

- Kenichi Ohmae

But we when we raise our chins and look around where we are, we gain perspective and context for whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. When we know the why, what and how, usually motivation follows.

However, clarity is fleeting (and entropy relentless). In my experience maintaining clarity is a continuous process. We must ask ourselves these questions on a monthly, weekly and sometimes daily basis in order to stay on track. And if you are managing a team, it's also your duty as a leader to make sure that clarity is maintained throughout the organization.

So the next time you wonder why you or a member of your team is not motivated (anymore), a lack of context, perspective and clarity might be a possible answer.