It’s not as easy as, you know, “Get out of your damn head and go do it, otherwise you’re lazy.” So be careful with some of the things you hear out there.
This motivation—the YouTube videos, the loud voices—let them motivate you, yes! However, if someone is yelling at you or telling you, “Just do it, just go for it no matter what,” be cautious.
Now, I’m a big fan of “Yes, just do it,” “Live in screw it,” and “Let’s do it.” Like Richard Branson says, “Live an effort!” Justin Sterling says, “Live and find a way. Think: How can I?”
The Three Pillars:
- Doing the Work on Yourself
- Focus
- Action
Doing the work means managing the monkey mind like a leader, thinking like a successful person. It means taking action, doing the work, and managing that voice in your head—the gremlin that says you can’t do this. That little devil in your head says you’re not good enough. That monkey on your back that’s just messing with you—and you’re wiring yourself to death. So, be careful.
Call yourself out when you’re being lazy, but also ask: Am I really being lazy, or do I need to rest? For example: Do I need to do some work first, and then take these actions?
Yes, go get your dreams. Yes, take action. Yes, face your fears—absolutely! But do the work, and focus on what you want. Create your goals and really align yourself with what you want, because when you align with what you want, you find purpose in something.
And that purpose can include a selfish purpose too. It’s important. When you find purpose, it will naturally motivate you—to speak, to get involved, to take action, to start something.
Otherwise, all this motivational stuff can cause self-judgment, lack of worthiness, guilt, and grief. Connect with your “why”—both the selfish “why” and the deeply fulfilling “why.”
Contrary to what people might tell you, it is okay to be selfish. We need to be selfish sometimes. We need to take care of ourselves. We need to be fulfilled. We need to do things just for us, too.
One of my favorite things is travel, adventure, learning, and culture. That’s something I do for me. I try to give back whenever I’m away, and I want to leave a big mark on the planet and make this world a better place than I found it. That’s my bigger, worldly why.
But I do have my personal why too: have fun with friends, enjoy food, learn, and explore cultures. That’s more my selfish why.
And the bigger, worldly why? I want people to win. I want to help amazing people. When leaders win, they become mentors to others—and I want the world to be a better place.
So again, next time you hear one of those videos or audios or someone yelling, “Just do it!” or “Stop being a wimp!”—be really careful. Listen to see if they’re giving you any other advice besides “just do it.”
Telling someone to just get off their ass without context isn’t the solution. You need to create a different reality inside yourself first.
Ask: What is holding me back?
Yelling at yourself, grief, or guilt won’t change anything. Someone else yelling at you won’t either. If it does, it will only change you for a very short time. You’ll fall back.
You need to create a different reality within yourself.
Remember: our conscious mind—what we want—is only 5% of our brain. Our unconscious or subconscious mind controls all our behaviors, actions, learnings, habits, patterns, and reactions. It’s all subconscious.
So we need to look at what might be limiting us or keeping us stuck. Is there any secondary gain in staying stuck?
For example:
- What do you get to avoid by staying in your current place?
- What don’t you have to do by being stuck?
Address that first, before taking action.
This idea of secondary gain—what you’re getting from the pain—is what limits so many people. It’s not always about laziness or lack of motivation.
There’s often a gain to the pain.
Maybe your brain thinks it’s keeping you safe. Maybe staying home and being miserable feels like less risk. Maybe not having success means there’s no failure. Maybe you think people won’t come after your money. Maybe you fear humiliation.
Your brain thinks it’s protecting you—but it’s not. It’s self-sabotage.
So again, the big takeaway is: listen to yourself. Listen to your intuition. Be conscious and think:
- Are these voices—internal or external—toxic?
- Are they saying what I actually need to hear?
- Is it true?
- Do I have to do it this way?
- Or is there a better, deeper way?
Because what’s going on in your external world is often just a reflection of your internal world.
If you don’t like what’s happening on the outside—change the inside.
Learn the tools that the most successful people in the world use. Learn how to manage your mind. That’s what I love teaching.
If you want to know more, check out the other videos on the YouTube channel or visit unleashyourpower.com. You can also email me at james@unleashyourpower.com. I’d love to talk more.
Hope this has been helpful.
Remember: Be careful about listening to toxic advice. Yes, it’s important to take action, but do the inner work first. That’s what will keep you going when hard days come.
See a coach. See a mentor. See a therapist. Do some kind of spiritual work—meditation, journaling, or just writing down what you really want and what’s getting in your way.
And always remember:
- You never fail unless you give up.
- You fail by default if you don’t start.
- Do the inner work.
- Discover what’s really holding you back.
- Change from the inside out.
You’ve got this.
