Excerpt from a podcast conversation (Mel Robbins and Simon Sinek) arguing that motivation is not reliable but a skill; Robbins analyzes Nike's "Just do it" tagline, highlighting the word "just" as psychologically effective because it reduces pressure and acknowledges hesitation.
I think motivation is complete garbage. It's never there when you need it. It's not a matter of will, it's a matter of skill. And it is a skill in life to be able to feel what you feel and then do what you need to do. You know one of the most famous taglines in the world is Nike. Just do it.
Sure.
What's the most powerful word of those three words?
The do?
No.
The just.
Yes. If their tagline had been do it.
Oh, yeah. You would have hated that.
Yeah, of course. Because pressure.
It'S aggressive.
Well, it's not only that, it's aggressive. If you look at basic brain wiring, that type of pressure doesn't motivate. It actually creates resistance to change because it is an assault on your fundamental need to control yourself. But the tagline Just do it appeals to your humanity. It's acknowledging something we all struggle with, which is that moment of hesitation, that moment of self doubt, that moment where you're standing on the sideline aching to jump in the game, but you are holding yourself back.
