--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole idea of motivation is a trap…" description: "\"The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/john-c-maxwell-113_blood_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_3167328.jpg" --- # The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation… ![“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/john-c-maxwell-113_blood_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_3167328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/john-c-maxwell-113_blood_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_3167328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/john-c-maxwell-113_blood_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_3167328.jpg) > “The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation is unreliable; action creates its own momentum, turning effort into habit and later motivation. **In simple terms:** Action precedes motivation. Key Takeaway Act first, motivation follows. Themes self-discipline habit formation productivity Mood determined pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - starting a workout - diet changes - health monitoring - learning a skill Key Concepts psychology of motivation behavioral activation Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you start today? - How does completing a task change your desire to continue? A Different Perspective Motivation may still be needed for long‑term consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [The whole idea of motivation is a trap, forget motivation, just do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-forget-motivation-just-do-it/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [It happens that once we learn a thing, the motivation to keep it up grows and expands further as well. If you're going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/it-happens-that-once-we-learn-a-thing-the-motivation-to-keep-it-up/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The most important thing about motivation is goal setting. You should always have a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francie-larrieu-smith/the-most-important-thing-about-motivation-is-goal-setting-you-should/) Francie Larrieu Smith > [The motivation for me is just the game itself, just playing the game the right way and trying to win, compete every time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/the-motivation-for-me-is-just-the-game-itself-just-playing-the-game/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had - everyday I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/my-biggest-motivation-just-to-keep-challenging-myself-i-see-life/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I like to be a little more difficult to nail down that that just inside myself, but when someone's motivations, even if they wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-like-to-be-a-little-more-difficult-to-nail-down-that-that-just/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I've never had problems about passionate motivation to just keep climbing and keep training and pushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/i-ve-never-had-problems-about-passionate-motivation-to-just-keep/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [When I need motivation, I just think I can do everything if I maintain a strong sense of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/when-i-need-motivation-i-just-think-i-can-do-everything-if-i-maintain/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/my-biggest-motivation-just-to-keep-challenging-myself/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I get a lot of satisfaction from being a part of a team and trying to chase something collectively and that focus, that motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/i-get-a-lot-of-satisfaction-from-being-a-part-of-a-team-and-trying-to/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Motivation is just this potion to create stuff, a compulsion to express the truth of my own experiences in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/motivation-is-just-this-potion-to-create-stuff-a-compulsion-to/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [Now that I have a little Deebo that has been like my number one motivation just to wake up everyday and just know I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/now-that-i-have-a-little-deebo-that-has-been-like-my-number-one/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [If you're like me, and self-motivation just doesn't get the job done, maybe a little fitness-app competition is just what you need to ignite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/if-you-re-like-me-and-self-motivation-just-doesn-t-get-the-job-done/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [“Motivation is not just part of business—it’s everything in business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehab-atalla/motivation-is-not-just-part-of-business-it-s-everything-in-business/) [Ehab Atalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehab-atalla/) > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. 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Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Blood quotes > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. 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But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [A day without blood is like a day without sunshine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/a-day-without-blood-is-like-a-day-without-sunshine/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“...I wore his blood for clothing, on my legs and thighs and hands: a dry, stiff, brown garment with no warmth in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-wore-his-blood-for-clothing-on-my-legs-and-thighs-and-hands-a-dry/) [Ursula K. 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