Overcoming Motivation Lapses in Your Pursuit of Success: The 32 Degree Principle

It's a common phenomenon to struggle with motivation when pursuing success. Many of us face challenges akin to moving a stationary object into motion. We put forth considerable effort, only to feel undervalued by tangible results. This is particularly true when we're just starting out or striving to build an audience, brand, or business from scratch.

Consider the analogy of driving a car. The initial effort to get a stationary vehicle moving is immense, requiring substantial force to overcome inertia. Once the vehicle is in motion, shifting to the next gear becomes much easier. It's the same with your goals and efforts. Once the momentum is established, the journey becomes smoother.

For instance, I've been publishing an article daily for the past six months, but I still find myself short of significant recognition. My numbers remain underwhelming, with just 280 followers so far. Friends, peers, and even my family question my efforts, urging me to reconsider and redirect my energy. These doubts arise despite my commitment to daily input, rather than focusing on immediate output.

A Framework for Staying Motivated

Thankfully, I've developed a framework that allows me to keep motivated and committed. Instead of measuring the output, I concentrate on the inputs. However, maintaining this outlook hasn't come instantly; it required time to adjust my mindset.

If you've been pouring your heart and soul into your goals but feel the strain of not seeing noticeable results, you're not alone. Many others face similar challenges. But before you decide to quit, it's important to understand the 32 Degree Principle proposed by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits.

Complaining about not achieving success despite working hard is akin to complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated it from 25 to 31 degrees. All the action happens at 32 degrees.

Here's the key point: All the effort you've invested in building yourself, your blog, or your business is compounding, though it happens gradually. The moment of transition or breakthrough hasn't yet arrived. It's possible that your efforts are already at 31 degrees, and you need just that last 1 degree to break through.

If you quit now, you'll consider yourself a failure. But with a little more effort, you can easily push past that threshold and believe in yourself. Would you have given up if you knew this was the situation? The problem is that humans are generally poor at evaluating slow changes. We often see no change or dramatic changes all at once.

An Illustration of Slow Progress

Take the example of a successful person. Most people perceive successful individuals as overnight successes, but in reality, it's the combination of consistent, even incremental efforts that lead to the final breakthrough. For instance, a writer who gains recognition might spend months or even years refining their craft, publishing blogs, and building a following. The breakthrough often seems sudden because the efforts were too gradual and unnoticeable, making it hard to see the progress along the way.

It's essential to appreciate the slow changes and recognize that every small step counts towards building momentum. Just as a stationary car eventually needs only a little more force to keep rolling, your efforts will eventually lead to significant progress.

Personal Reflections and Empowerment

Can you afford to continue? Absolutely. Your goal should not be to stay numb and stagnant, making no progress. If you can retain your commitment, pivot if necessary, but never stop. Holding on for a little longer could be the key to your long-term success.

Acknowledge the value of persistence, as breaking through that 32-degree mark is often the turning point in your journey to success. No one knows exactly when the transition will happen, but the more you invest in your goals, the closer you get to that critical moment.

Conclusion

In summary, don't let initial disappointments or lack of visible progress deter you from your goals. Keep putting in the effort and believing in yourself. You never know when the tipping point will come. As you continue to make your daily efforts, the transition point will eventually arrive, and the results will follow.

Remember, small, continuous actions lead to significant outcomes. Stay motivated and keep pushing forward. Success may not come in a grand explosion but in a quiet, steady progression.

Kind regards,

- N

Photo by: Wil Stewart