The lie of motivational videos
Epic music, a luxury car, someone training at 5 a.m. and a voice saying “while you sleep, others are working”. You feel ready to take on the world… and ten minutes later you’re still in bed with your phone. That’s no accident.
Why they make you feel good
Watching someone achieve things gives you the feeling of progress without any progress. Your brain gets a bit of the reward of “doing something for your future” without doing anything. And since the feeling doesn’t last, you go back for another video. It’s just another kind of scroll, with a better conscience.
What they don’t show you
Survivorship biasYou see the one who made it. You don’t see the thousands who did the same and failed.
Shop-window livesRented cars, Airbnb houses, sales screenshots without costs. A lot of it is set dressing to sell something.
You are the productMany of these videos end with “join my group” or “buy my course”. The motivation is the bait.
Made-up quotesMany “Einstein” quotes or quotes from famous businesspeople were never said. Sounding good doesn’t make them true.
The underlying problem
- Motivation is a feeling, and feelings come and go. If you only act when you’re motivated, you’ll act very little.
- They compare you with your worst self: “if you don’t do this you’re a failure”. That doesn’t give you strength, it gives you anxiety.
- They sell shortcuts: “get rich in 30 days”. Things worth having take years.
1-minute test: after watching a motivational video, what did you do in the next 10 minutes?
If the answer is “watch another one”, it wasn’t motivating you: it was entertaining you.
If the answer is “watch another one”, it wasn’t motivating you: it was entertaining you.
You don’t have to never watch anything inspiring. But treat it like dessert, not the meal: do your part of the day first, and then, if you want, watch it.