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"Neuroscience and psychology have identified willpower as essential to success in school and beyond. Like a muscle, it can be developed through exercise and exhausted through overwork.

While overall levels of willpower vary from person to person, there's only so much of it any of us can expend over a given time period; like a battery, willpower gets depleted and needs time to recharge.

The better able you are to resist your own natural impulses, the more effectively you can focus your mental energy on the task at hand, however pleasant or irritating it may be. The net result is getting more things done and doing each thing better." [1]

There is a lot to unpack here for a neurospicy entrepreneur like yourself.

Willpower, motivation, and habits often work together like the three delicious flavors in Neapolitan ice cream—each brings unique strengths to create the optimal dessert of success.

Willpower can get tricky for entrepreneurs.

We love:

• The new - ooh, look at that new ice cream shop!

• The shiny - oh hi, waffle cone!!

• The possibility - well, if I try a sample, I might discover my new favorite!!!

• The opportunity - and if I love it, I can have it again!!!!

Ultimately, our brains give us a rush of dopamine in these moments (and it feels sooooo good), and we don't follow through and focus on any of it. We use cravings as excuses to indulge rather than execute what needs to be done. This happens in our businesses, too.

And we don't feel good about that...well, until the next scoop.

Willpower can use support from realistic goals, monitoring progress to celebrate your successes along the way, and reaching for accountability support. And remember, it's not an infinite resource. We can identify when we tend to have more of it and what it takes to recharge and honor that.

Giving up is easy. Sticking to what you want is hard.

When willpower alone is not enough, we may reach for an accountability partner. Science has shown this significantly increases our ability to accomplish a goal. Newer research indicates that the person you choose matters; you must also care and value the opinion of the person you choose. [2]

Where do I buy and "auto-fill" motivation when cravings strike?

Your brain needs evidence to continue doing anything. And is often influenced by the reward centers of our brain. Your nucleus accumbens (-ə-ˈkəm-bənz), in both the right and left hemispheres of your brain, are involved in pleasure and motivation. It's lit up by the dopamine your brain releases. [3] [4]

Brains are good at what they do frequently.

Which is often taking shortcuts because we're wired to reserve our energy.

This phenomenon can manifest in the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves, even when those stories hold us back. For example, you might say: 'I'm so tired of people telling me to focus on my habits and goal-setting.' However, this fixed mindset can be comforting because it avoids the discomfort of change.

In other words, It's uncomfortable hearing it because it requires you to do the work you're not motivated to do.

You are not alone.

Consider rewriting the story you tell yourself to sound more like this: "I find goal-setting and habits challenging, but I'm going to try breaking down a task into smaller steps to see if that works for my brain." Or "I'm going to ask for support."

By practicing a growth mindset, you become more open to making mistakes, better at correcting and learning from them, and more receptive to feedback.

Having someone to support you, not just in reaching the goal but throughout the process, matters.

The brain needs evidence to go on.

It's comforting to your brain to believe some external force keeps you from success.

But there isn't.

Habits are where we've fallen into the subconscious movement of every day. You can rewire these deep-seated neural pathways to change a habit or start a new one. Be prepared; the deeper the pathway, the more challenging it will be. However, it's not impossible.

Well, unless you tell yourself it is.

Ultimately, success requires more than just thinking you'll be happier sans ice cream; you must take consistent action toward that life you crave. Fortunately, you have the power of choice and decision to reinforce and rewire your desired identity as a successful person.

However, it takes more than telling yourself you're successful - you must start making tangible moves that align with that identity. This process won't happen overnight, but with persistence and the right support system, you can create lasting change in your life's trajectory.

And if you're ready for willpower support to finally conquer that "ice cream" habit or shiny objects that are getting in the way of your business success, I can help.

Do you have any favorite routines or go-to strategies that help you scoop up that extra motivation throughout your entrepreneurial journey?

Reply and share with me!

The answers you need for your business are already within you. If you’d like support in identifying them and building a business you are proud of, I’m here to help.

Are you a like-hearted entrepreneur ready for support? Let's connect.

Book a free consultation.

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Jamie’s Second Brain Corner:

[1] Neuroscience and psychology have identified willpower as essential to success in school and beyond. Like a muscle, it can be developed through exercise and exhausted through overwork.

[2] When goals are known

[3] Nucleus Accumbens - The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a subcortical brain structure known primarily for its roles in pleasure, reward, and addiction. Despite less focus on the NAc in pain research, it also plays a large role in the mediation of pain and is effective as a source of analgesia

[4] The Neuroscience of Motivation

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