What’s your framework of motivation?
We’ve all been there: you have a goal that you really want to achieve, yet you can’t quite get the engine started. Or maybe you start strong, but by the third week, the momentum has fizzled out.
As a productivity partner, one of the first things I look at with my clients isn’t their calendar—it’s their framework of motivation. Usually, when we’re stuck, it’s because we’re looking at the goal through the wrong lens.
There are two primary ways to look at a goal: Abstract and Concrete.
The “Why” vs. The “What”
- Abstract Motivation (The Why): This is the “big picture.” It’s an idea, an aspiration, or an identity. It’s about who you want to be. It’s often just out of reach, but it’s what gives the goal its meaning.
- Concrete Motivation (The What): This is specific and tactile. You can hold it, understand it, and check it off a list. It’s about what you need to do.
Neither is “better” than the other, but understanding which one drives you is the key to moving forward.
The Marathon vs. The Marathoner
Take my experience running a marathon. When I decided to do it, I simply wanted to see if I could run 26.2 miles all at once. For me, the goal was concrete. I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve, and that clarity helped me break down the training.
Contrast that with a friend of mine. She recently registered for a half-marathon because she longs to call herself a “Marathoner.” For her, the act of running is the necessary path, but the identity is the goal.
It’s the same outcome, but two completely different ways of thinking about it.
The Power of the “Check-Off”
I’m currently in the middle of a pushup challenge. Last year, my daughter did a sit-up for every day of the year (ending with 365 on December 31st). This year, I joined her for pushups.
On January 20th, she asked me, “Well, quitting day is coming up… are you still doing your pushups?” My answer was an immediate “Of course!” because I realized three things were keeping me motivated:
- Identity (Abstract): I want to be someone who can complete a “stupid” number of pushups (I’m at 61 today!).
- Capability (Abstract): I’ve struggled my whole life to do a pushup; now, I’m someone who can.
- The List (Concrete): Each day, I either do it or I don’t. I love the tactile satisfaction of checking it off.
In her book Success; How we can reach our goals, Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson provides a great breakdown of how we shift between these two perspectives:
| The Action | Concrete Lens (The What) | Abstract Lens (The Why) |
| Cleaning the house | Vacuuming the floor | Showing one’s cleanliness |
| Locking a door | Putting a key in the lock | Securing the house |
| Greeting someone | Saying hello | Showing friendliness |
The “Writer” Problem: When Abstract is Too Big
Sometimes, a goal remains unaccomplished because it’s too abstract.
For a long time (since third grade), I’ve wanted to be a Writer. But that goal felt (feels) so big and airy that I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. I see names on my Kindle—Stephen King, Annie Dillard, Madeline Miller—but I couldn’t conceptualize what they actually do all day. How do they live? How do they practice? What do they think about? Who do they see when the go to work (do they go to work)?
Because I couldn’t visualize the “Writer” identity, I didn’t know how to start.
To fix this, I had to zoom in and shift from Abstract to Concrete.
- The Abstract: “I want to be a writer.” (Overwhelming and vague).he
- The Concrete: “I will string words together today. I will write one paragraph.”
Stephen King is a “Writer” because he writes every single day (he tells us that in his book, On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft). When I shifted my goal from becoming a writer to writing every day, I could finally set up a calendar and build a habit. Before I knew it, I was doing the thing I had only ever dreamed about. (And, although I’m no published, I’m slowly beginning to think of myself as a writer).
How Do You Move?
When you work with a productivity partner, this is the magic we uncover together.
- Do you need to lean into your Why to stay inspired when things get tough?
- Or do you need a Concrete step-by-step plan so you can just put your head down and work?
If you have a big goal that’s been eluding you, try shifting the framework. If the “Why” is feeling too heavy or out of reach, focus on the “What.” Zoom in until the goal is small enough to touch.
Are you driven by the identity of who you’re becoming, or the satisfaction of the checklist?
Ready to turn your “Why” into a “What”?
If you’re a high-achieving woman ready to turn your side-business dream into a reality, I can help you find the framework that actually works for you.
[Click here to schedule a discovery call] or download my [Goal-Shifter Worksheet] to help you break down your biggest goal today.