Client: Well, I didn’t exercise as many times as I told you I would.
Me: Why?
Client: When I get home, instead of putting on my running shoes, I just plop down on the couch and start watching TV.
Me: Why?
Client: I”m lazy.
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had this conversation, I could retire now. As soon as the client in the above scenario labels themselves as lazy, it’s over. They might as well start waving the white flag because when you slap a loser label on yourself, any attempt at rationally approaching the situation to resolve the issue is unnecessary. You’re just lazy, and that’s that.
The conversation usually continues like this:
Me: Really? Just lazy? That’s your explanation?
Client: Yes. It must be. I’m just lazy.
Me: Let me ask you something. If I hired someone to follow you around all day, and this person had a gun, and they were going to shoot you in the knee cap (I’ve heard that is painful) if you didn’t exercise after work, do you think you still plop down and watch TV?
Client: No. I’d exercise!
Me: Right. What happened to being lazy?
Client: Well, that’s a pretty good source of motivation.
Me: Ahhhhhh, Bach! <– That’s a M*A*S*H* reference I threw in solely for my brother if he reads this. What I really say is “Ahhhh, so it’s all about motivation?
Client: Yeah, I guess so.
I’m a sneaky little shit, aren’t I? I lead them right into it and then make them say it. It’s not about being lazy, it’s about not having the right source of motivation – or maybe just not remembering what your motivation is when you need it.
Write goals. Include the reasons why these goals are important. Read these goals every day, at least once. Set up your environment to remind you of these goals and their reasons (motivation). Repeat. Succeed.