Why Motivation Is Garbage?

UPDATED: February 6, 2024
PUBLISHED: February 2, 2017
take action

Motivation is never there when you need it. Former criminal defense attorney turned CNN contributor and best-selling author Mel Robbins believes that if you want to build the life of your dreams, you have to force yourself to take action.

In this episode of Impact Theory, Mel and I take a deeper dive into the well-researched insights she presented in her TED Talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over”—one of the top 20 TED Talks in the world—and her brand new book titled The 5 Second Rule.

Mel says that at some point we all bought into the lie that we have to feel ready in order to change, but our brains are not designed to do things that are uncomfortable, scary or difficult. The key is to learn how to take control of micro-moments and make reality-shifting decisions within a matter of seconds.

Related: 4 Steps to Make Decisions With Confidence

“You can truly trace every problem or complaint in your life to silence and hesitation,” she says. “You get trapped in what I call the knowledge-action gap. You know what to do, but you can’t seem to make yourself do it.”

Chock-full of actionable takeaways, this episode of Impact Theory covers:

  • The power of making a five-second decision that changes everything
  • How metacognition, habit loops and the basal ganglia affect decision-making
  • Why it is critical to develop the skill of quickly leaning into wisdom and intention

“Your life comes down to your decisions,” Mel says. “And if you change your decisions you will change everything.”

Related: Mel Robbins on Changing Your Life in 5 Seconds

Subscribe to Impact Theory for more empowering ideas and actionable business techniques from the world’s highest achievers.

Tom Bilyeu is the co-founder of 2014 Inc. 500 company Quest Nutrition—a unicorn startup valued at over $1 billion—and the co-founder and host of Impact Theory. Tom’s mission is the creation of empowering media-based IP and the acceleration of mission-based businesses. Personally driven to help people develop the skills they will need to improve themselves and the world, Tom is intent to use commerce to address the dual pandemics of physical and mental malnourishment.

Tom regularly inspires audiences of entrepreneurs, change makers and thought leaders at some of the most prestigious conferences and seminars around the world, including Abundance 360, A-fest and Freedom Fast Lane. Tom has also been a guest on The Tony Robbins podcast and The School of Greatness podcast and has been featured in Forbes, Inc., SUCCESS and The Huffington Post. Tom is currently on the Innovation Board of the XPRIZE Foundation.

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