Motivation Is That Which Is Scarce

Tyler Cowen has taught us that context is that which is scarce. I also think motivation is that which is scarce - at least for me.

I have different moods/modes and I find that I lose a lot of marginal productivity by not riding the wave and doing the thing that I'm in the right mood/mode to do at the time.

Sometimes I’m high energy and mildly ADD but very productive - progressing on one or more projects rapidly and with high creativity. I started this essay in this mode.

Sometimes I’m lower energy and more contemplative. I’m planning to edit and publish the essay when I'm in this mood.

Sometimes I’ve procrastinated something too long and I’m resigned to pushing a dreaded ball uphill and I resignedly slog through something that is usually not nearly as hard as I feared. At the very worst, I get through the next step in the dreaded effort.

Sometimes I’m not at all interested in being productive and relax or procrastinate.

Sometimes I’m not really capable of productive work because I’m too fried and then I do low value work, like email nonsense, or I stop working and relax.

I’m sure I also have other moods/modes.

One of my very top opportunities now for my career is to better allocate my work to my current mode/mood and to better influence my mode/mood. Also, I should run into the storm more when I am in dreaded procrastination mode.

Copyright 2025 Parker Caldwell