Show up even when you don’t feel like it—that’s the secret sauce. It’s in those exact moments, the ones you want to skip, where you build the resilience and consistency that actually gets results. This isn’t about motivation; it’s about building a system that works when motivation fails.
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Meaning
The core idea is that real, tangible progress isn’t born from fleeting motivation, but from the disciplined decision to act even—and especially—when you’re not in the mood.
Explanation
Look, we all wait for that perfect day when we’re fired up and ready to conquer the world. But here’s the truth I’ve learned: that day is a myth. The magic, the real compounding gains, happen in the grind. It’s the decision to lace up your shoes when you’re tired, to open the laptop when you’re uninspired. That’s where you separate yourself. Because motivation is a fickle friend, but discipline? Discipline is the bedrock. It’s the thing that builds empires, physiques, and successful careers out of a thousand small, unsexy decisions.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | discipline (252), effort (77), progress (50) |
| Literary Style | motivational (245) |
| Emotion / Mood | determined (116) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (179) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes directly from Marc Perry’s 2011 fitness book, “Built Lean,” published in the United States. It’s a cornerstone of his philosophy, and while the sentiment is universal, it’s correctly attributed to him and his work in the health and fitness space.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Marc Perry (57) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Built Lean: The Bodybuilding Guide for Men and Women Who Want to Lose Fat and Build Muscle (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Marc D. Perry studies how hip hop and performance shape Black identity, citizenship, and everyday life in the Caribbean and the Americas. An associate professor and author of Negro Soy Yo: Hip Hop and Raced Citizenship in Neoliberal Cuba, he engages anthropology and African American studies to analyze culture, politics, and belonging. The Marc Perry book list emphasizes ethnography and critical theory, and his teaching, writing, and public talks translate complex scholarship into accessible insights about race and culture.
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Show up even when you don’t feel like it—that’s where progress lives |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2019; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781097511885; Last edition: 2019; Number of pages: 240 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 2: Building Sustainable Habits, page 32 / 240 |