--- 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\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/john-c-maxwell-113_forget_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_1876756.jpg" --- # The whole idea of motivation is a trap, forget motivation… ![“The whole idea of motivation is a trap, forget motivation, just do it” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/john-c-maxwell-113_forget_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_1876756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/john-c-maxwell-113_forget_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_1876756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/john-c-maxwell-113_forget_the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-f_1876756.jpg) > “The whole idea of motivation is a trap, forget motivation, just do 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 fleeting; consistent action, regardless of feeling, leads to results. **In simple terms:** Motivation fades; act anyway. Key Takeaway Act despite lack of motivation. Themes productivity self‑discipline habit formation goal achievement Mood determined pragmatic focused Type advice practical When to use this quote - daily tasks - exercise routine - learning new skill - overcoming procrastination Key Concepts behavioral activation intrinsic vs extrinsic drive habit loops Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you take now? - How can you build a habit that bypasses motivation? A Different Perspective Relying solely on motivation may cause inactivity when feeling low. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-whole-idea-of-motivation-is-a-trap-forget-motivation-just-do-it-2/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [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/) > [With improvisation, I just do it. It might be a total failure but then you just throw the dice again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-marclay/with-improvisation-i-just-do-it-it-might-be-a-total-failure-but-then/) [Christian Marclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-marclay/) > [When we started the band, it was because we were waiting for a sound that never happened. We got tired of waiting, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shinoda/when-we-started-the-band-it-was-because-we-were-waiting-for-a-sound/) [Mike Shinoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shinoda/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. If you want to be a player for all your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/playing-is-much-much-harder-than-composing-in-my-opinion-becoming-a/) [John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/) ## 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. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. 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Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Forget quotes > [I Never met her,i never talked to her,but in my whole day I am either thinking about her or trying to forget her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhananda/i-never-met-her-i-never-talked-to-her-but-in-my-whole-day-i-am-either/) [Subhananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhananda/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/the-problem-with-people-is-they-forget-that-most-of-the-time-it-s-the/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/remind-a-man-of-what-he-remembers-and-you-will-make-him-forget-it/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“So you try, and try, to move past it and forget about them, but it's like they're stuck in your head -- you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-mcdonald/so-you-try-and-try-to-move-past-it-and-forget-about-them-but-it-s/) [Abby McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-mcdonald/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) Trunxbeats > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) Browse all 11,315 Forget quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole idea of motivation is a trap, forget motivation, just do it", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. 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