*Republished from the March 2018 issue of The Kayseean
By Fausto Crapiz
Last month, as I spent Saturdays and Sundays grinding out five-hour cycling rides through rain, snow, and bitter cold, I started thinking about the difference between motivation and dedication.
Many people use the words interchangeably, and such an error can be forgiven since both motivation and dedication result in the completion of a task. But, as I thought about why I procrastinate and fall short of goals, I realized that there is a difference between the two words. Motivation is fickle, while dedication is constant.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, motivate means to “stimulate an interest or enthusiasm for doing something.” It’s the feeling created by a moving speech, a song, or excessive winning or defeat. Dedication is a completely different way of achieving goals. Merriam-Webster defines it as being “devoted to a cause, ideal, or a purpose.” Dedication requires a direction and a force, while motivation is based solely upon emotion.
This is not to say that motivation is totally bad. Motivation is one of the greatest aids for those days when dedication fails. It’s a great feeling to be motivated. However, this feeling needs direction. Without a target, motivation burns, fizzles, and dies ultimately.
Dedication is what “gets stuff done.” It gets the assignment done two days before it is due. It completes the work-out. It takes sore muscles to the gym. It’s tire-less and unsmiling. Thus, when considering how to achieve goals, I have to look beyond motivation. Why? Because it is generally non-existent.
It’s dedication and realization of what needs to be done that creates success.
