Motivation is Overvalued...
Capital Thinking • Issue #137 • View online
“We are quick to blame our environment when things go poorly. If you lose a job, it’s because the economy sucks. If you lose a game, it’s because the officiating was bad. If you’re late to work, it’s because traffic was insane.
When we win, however, we ignore the environment completely.
If you land a job, it’s because you were talented and likable. If you win a game, it’s because you played better. If you’re early for a meeting, it’s because you are organized and prompt.
It is important to remember that the environment drives our good behaviors as well as our bad ones.”
“It can be tempting to blame failure on a lack of willpower or a scarcity of talent, and to attribute success to hard work, effort, and grit.
To be sure, those things matter. What is interesting, however, is that if you examine how human behavior has been shaped over time, you discover that motivation (and even talent) is often overvalued.
In many cases, the environment matters more.”
The Invisible Hand
“Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior. We tend to believe our habits are a product of our motivation, talent, and effort.
Certainly, these qualities matter.
But the surprising thing is, especially over a long time period, your personal characteristics tend to get overpowered by your environment.”
Read more from James Clear ==> The Power of Environment.
*Featured Photo by Ryan Tang on Unsplash