Clarity, Motivation, and Success - with Jeff Haden

Guest Introduction:

Jeff Haden is a ghostwriter, speaker, LinkedIn influencer, and Inc. Magazine contributing editor. In 2017, his online articles for Inc. attracted more than 20 million readers. He is the author of several books, including “The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win.”

Interview Summary:

In this interview, Jeff starts by discussing his background and how he transitioned into a career in writing. He explains what originally drove and motivated him on his first career path in manufacturing, and then what made him feel disconnected and pushed him to make a change. Jeff describes how he started making life choices with more awareness. He also emphasizes the importance of finding meaning by taking action and not passively waiting for something to happen.

Next, Jeff talks about some of his first writing gigs. He reveals what people often do wrong when wanting to start a side hustle, and offers advice on building credibility. Chris also shares his story of how he started coaching. Jeff discusses what he’s learned about success from meeting and interviewing successful people. He then goes more in depth on the first press release that he wrote, including his research and refinement processes.

Jeff explains how being self-critical helped him get through his initial writing gigs. He discusses the advantages that he gained from his prior career. He also talks about removing self-indulgence and perfectionism and focusing on hitting the expectations of a project. Jeff then goes into how his wife has encouraged and supported him, and how choosing her as his partner has affected his life’s path. He explains how they collaborate on decisions. He then offers his insights on finding a great life partner and focusing on the qualities that really matter.

We ask Jeff what commonalities he’s noticed among highly successful people. He talks about the importance of focusing on the process instead of the end goal. He then describes what motivation is, where it comes from, and how affects the way we think, feel, and act. Finally, Jeff provides some practical motivation strategies, and explains why saying “I don’t” instead of “I can’t” is much more effective for dieting or quitting bad habits. He also offers some last tips for people trying to figure out their own life path and find clarity.