The short version of the advice: build an identity as a disciplined and conscientious person, and use that to motivate you. This is both useful and dangerous.

The short version of the advice: build an identity as a disciplined and conscientious person, and use that to motivate you. This is both useful and dangerous. Useful, because it makes doing work feel like accomplishing goals. Dangerous, because it makes doing work feel like accomplishing goals. If what you care about is being diligent, then any work will fill in. An hour of sending out job applications feels just as "disciplined" if you send out three instead of twenty. Make sure your work is actually accomplishing your real goals, and then put the work in.