149: Momentum Beats Motivation

Lately I’ve been paying closer attention to what gives me energy and what drains it. The biggest thief? My phone. In this episode, I break down how scrolling kills momentum, what I’ve been doing to snap out of it, and a simple trick to get back on track fast.

We use the term ‘Prioritize and Execute’ at the shop all the time. It’s from Jocko’s Laws of Combat. Find the priority and execute. Once complete, there’s a new priority. Then you handle that. This is the antidote for overwhelm. It’s easy to get bogged down with the big picture of getting everything done. You can't do it all at once. Take a step back to detach. That'll help you find the next step you need to take. This can be applied to all aspects of life. When you're feeling overwhelmed, detach, identify the priority, and run the play. Before you know it, you'll be moving forward. Forward movement generates momentum. Now you're off to the races.

I was thinking about some concepts that are seemingly at odds with each other, but they aren’t. We’re only alive today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow hasn’t happened. Living in the present is all there is, but does that mean you can’t learn from the past or plan for the future? No. Let’s break it down. How do you use today to make your life better? If you have regrets from the past, you can use today to reflect on them, learn, adjust, and grow from those things. For the future, how do you live in the present and plan for the future? Isn’t that going against living in the moment? I don’t think so. We can use today to visualize our ideal future. It sets a target for where we want to go. Once you have that vision, you can then identify what you need to do daily to move towards it. What does today look like? We’ve decided what we’ve done in the past that we don’t like, identified things we want to change, and now we can do things differently. We’ve created a vision for what we want in our future. That should give us some general ideas on what we need to do daily to move towards it. We don’t need all the answers, we just need to move forward with that target in mind. Write down a list of five things that’ll move you forward. Those things can be action steps to get you closer to your future, could be habits to correct past behavior to become the person you want to be, or habits that your future self needs to get you where you want to go. Knock out a list of 5 things that move you forward every day. You’re living only today while working towards the future and adjusting based on lessons from the past. Is it easy? Hell no. But it’s worth it.

Most people think personality traits—like confidence, patience, or staying calm under pressure—are things you’re either born with or not. But the truth is, you don’t have to stay the way you are if you don’t want to. First, you think about the kind of person you want to be. Then you start doing the things that person would do. And eventually, you become them. It doesn’t happen by accident. You train it. And the repetition is what turns it from effort… into identity. You can change into the person you want to be. And it might be simpler than you think.

Being able to build and keep momentum has been huge for me. We all go through phases—on track, off track, fired up, burnt out. That’s life. The hard part is getting back on track when you’re off. That’s where building momentum comes in. Forget waiting for motivation or inspiration. Just start, even if it’s small, and don’t sweat the outcome. Consistency beats perfection. The flywheel effect is real. When you keep pushing, momentum starts working for you. And if you fall off? No problem. Just repeat the process. It’s all about building momentum over and over.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about energy management—specifically, what feeds our energy and what drains it. How many times have you had a bad interaction with someone, only to stew over it for hours, days, or even longer? Social media makes this even worse. One negative post can trigger a response, leading to a back-and-forth spiral that eats up time and energy. But here’s the question: How much energy is being wasted in those moments? And more importantly—how could that energy be used to build something better? If this resonates, take a hard look at the people, habits, and environments in your life. What’s fueling you? What’s draining you? Then ask yourself: What could I create if I redirected that energy? This podcast is available on all your favorite audio platforms and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk

I read the quote ‘What’s it going to take?’ in the book Market Outrageously. It was talking about actually looking deep at a goal and trying to get to the bottom of what it would take to accomplish. Even seemingly impossible goals are worth trying to break down. In my life and business, I have goals that are overwhelming to think about. When I read this part of the book, I was inspired to actually dig into it much further. Things start seeming much more achievable once you start breaking it down into smaller chunks. Ask yourself this question about a goal you have, then sit down and try to figure out what steps you need to take to make it happen. There is a lot of clarity that can be achieved with this.

I heard Alex Hormozi say this, and it stuck with me. When things get hard, most people give up. The idea of consistently getting better in all areas of life is not the norm in society. And in some ways, that’s fine—if you’re happy with where you’re at. But the way I see it, most people aren’t happy with staying the same. We want something more for our lives, but pushing ourselves into discomfort is hard. The truth is, doing the hard things is what’s required to make our lives better. Where in your life do you feel like quitting—but know you need to keep pushing?

We all have those small tasks we avoid—paperwork piling up, a cluttered office, or something simple that feels like a hassle. For me, those things build up in my mind and start to weigh on me. But when I finally take care of them, there’s always a sense of relief. Research shows that unfinished tasks, or "open loops," take up mental space and increase stress. The more we avoid them, the more they quietly drain our energy. Tackling them right away frees up that mental clutter and makes life feel lighter. Stop waiting. Do it now. It’s worth it.

In this episode, we explore the Craftsman Mindset from Cal Newport's So Good They Can't Ignore You. This idea flips the script on "following your passion" and emphasizes mastering skills as the key to meaningful work. I share a powerful dream that confirmed my dedication to my path, reflect on the challenges of entrepreneurship, and discuss how honing skills—like marketing and leadership—has brought meaning to my work. We also touch on examples like Steve Jobs and finding fulfillment in any job through mastery. If you’re questioning your path or looking for more purpose in your work, this episode is for you.