By: O.L./Sway Buckley
I've read more self-help books than I could count. Some have been better than others, and half a dozen I'd consider significant. When I first transitioned from my 9-to-5, I immersed myself in the world of "motivation and mindset."
Motivation and mindset content is good and can serve us well, but only incrementally.
It takes something deeper and more soul-transforming than just motivation and mindset. Sure, many best practices help move the needle forward in business. However, they are not to be viewed as insights that, without intentionality, can change character.
Motivation and mindset can be a treadmill approach as you two work together.
Motivation ain't magic, bruh.
What I'm getting at is it's easy to get swept up in the "topical treatments" of personal growth and still not make the flag-planting decision to become the men we need to be.
I used to confuse behavior modification with value transformation. Change must be a decision based on values to be the person we need to be in both business and family.
Again, there's a place for motivation and mindset upliftment. But unless we're willing to make the complex and seismic changes to become a person of discipline-everything else can only stand on mood and emotions.
Mood and flashes of inspiration (in and of themselves) don't build great businesses, nurture families and strengthen marriages. I'm all good with podcasts, audiobooks, and workshops; however, at some point, we have to make big-picture decisions. Daily.
Personal growth happens in the gymnasium of character development. As a man who married much later than most in his crew, I had to learn another level of discipline.
This journey of being a married entrepreneur has paid me in fulfillment and clarity as we serve our clients with the highest value possible. All it cost me is pride and some residue of slothfulness from my younger days.
I know enough about myself to know that I need accountability, structure, and, yes, motivation.
I learned not to confuse taking in information daily with actually applying that information to my daily life.
I learned that motivation ain't magic.
Motivation is important. But if we're honest, it comes and goes like a mood. If you're seeking systems that show you how to build the business profitably and do it with accountability as the two of you build together (powerfully)-, schedule a free success mapping call with us here.
Here's to living purposefully, powerfully, and profitably in sync,
O.L. & Sway
O.L. is a former banker turned real estate consultant and entrepreneur. Sway is a former CEO of a staffing firm she started on her dorm room floor to pay for college. Together they co-own Marriedpreneur Life Consultancy, equipping married entrepreneur couples with high-level systems to scale without strain. They're the co-hosts of The Marriedprenuer Life Podcast, which was praised as one of Wedding Wire's top relationship podcasts. Learn more at MarriedpreneurLife.com.