Why Motivation Isn't Garbage and Why Skills Aren’t Everything

Let me start by saying this: no dream is too big, no goal is too high. Yet, there’s a saying making rounds that dismisses motivation as “complete garbage,” claiming that success is only about skills. Let’s stop for a moment and think about that. Is it really fair to reduce the energy and passion that fuels ambition to trash? I really don’t think so. It’s not only an incomplete picture; it’s an unkind one. Let’s break this down together and explore why this mantra won’t serve you on your journey.

1. Motivation Builds the Foundation for Action

Motivation is what lights the spark. It’s what gets you out of bed, puts your sneakers on, and gets you moving toward that finish line. Without it, where does the desire to acquire those skills even come from? Imagine an artist sitting in front of a blank canvas. Sure, they’ve spent years perfecting their brush strokes, but what makes them pick up that brush in the first place? That’s the beauty of motivation. It whispers, try. Skills refine the journey, but motivation makes you take the first step.

2. Skills Alone Can’t Push Through Tough Times

There are moments in every journey where everything feels like it’s crumbling—when the weight of setbacks and failures feels unbearable. In those moments, skills alone won’t be enough. They don’t soothe the voice in your head telling you to quit. That’s where motivation becomes your lifeline. It reminds you of your why—your reason for starting in the first place. You may be the most skilled in the room, but without the fire to keep going, even the sharpest tools lose their edge.

3. Motivation and Skills Are Partners, Not Rivals

Pitting motivation against skills is like asking whether the heart or the lungs are more important. They serve different functions, but they are interdependent. Skills grow with consistent practice, but without motivation, that practice doesn’t even begin. And the reverse is also true—motivation without action leads to nowhere. The real magic happens when both walk hand in hand, each elevating the other to new heights.

4. Mindset Grows When Nurtured, Not Criticized

Calling motivation garbage sets a tone of negativity that hinders growth. Mindsets flourish in an environment of encouragement, not judgment. If you’re constantly told that your drive doesn’t matter, you’ll start believing it—and that belief can stifle the momentum needed to achieve greatness. Instead, we should be nurturing a balance where motivation and skills coexist, because that’s where true growth happens.

5. Purpose Powers Both Motivation and Skill Development

Motivation and skills aren’t the endpoint. Purpose is what ties it all together. When you have a purpose, motivation becomes unstoppable, and skills become a vehicle for expressing that purpose. Think about what truly drives you. Is it the joy of learning? The desire to make an impact? When your purpose is clear, motivation isn’t garbage—it’s gold. And when paired with skills, it’s transformative.

I could continue providing further examples, but I believe these are more than enough to understand how dangerous and misguided this type of mindset can be. The approach that diminishes motivation—the spark needed to start acquiring skills and achieving your goals—is what is defined as the foundation for building a solid future. If we rely solely on competitiveness and learning new skills, while it may enhance the ones we've already acquired, we risk losing consistency and steadiness.

Let’s not reduce something as powerful as motivation to a throwaway idea. Life isn’t about choosing between one tool or another; it’s about creating a toolkit that works for you. So, the next time you hear someone dismiss motivation, remind them: it’s not about tearing down one thing to elevate another. Growth comes when we honor every part of our journey.

So, trust in your fire, build your skills, and never stop reaching.