Train Your Brain to Follow Through: The Desire + Identity Strategy for Executives

Hi friends, Shayla King here—your favorite executive coach for leaders who want to increase performance, pay, and happiness.

Fall and school activities are in full swing here in Austin, TX, and it got me thinking about motivation, discipline, and how we actually get things done—even when we don’t feel like it

In this post, I’m breaking down a concept that’s life-changing for corporate leaders: discipline vs desire, and how your identity drives follow-through.

The Discipline Myth

Most people beat themselves up thinking, “I just need more discipline.” But here’s the truth: it’s rarely discipline that’s missing.

What’s missing is identity. Your brain craves congruency—it wants your actions to match what you believe about yourself. If you see yourself as someone who flakes or ghosts goals, your brain will make sure you prove it right.

I used to have a “high-performing hot mess mom” identity. Chaos was my default. Cleaning? Only when people were coming over.

Now, I operate as a “cool, calm executive.” My home is clean, uncluttered, and peaceful—not because I forced habits, but because my identity drives my behavior.

Identity: The Real Driver of Follow-Through

Changing your habits without updating your identity is like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—painful and unsustainable.

Here’s how to start:

Decide who you want to be.

Ask: What does that person do effortlessly?

Act as if you already are that version.

For example, my next identity upgrade? Perfectly organized drawers and cabinets. It’s not about perfection—it’s about how it makes me feel: calm, unrushed, prepared. My brain automatically nudges me toward actions that match that identity.

Your thoughts create feelings, feelings drive actions, and actions create results. Identity is the foundation. Discipline alone is the floor.

Desire: Your Accelerator

Even when identity is solid, energy dips happen. This is where desire comes in. You can actually change your energy and motivation on purpose.

Your brain loves comfort and familiarity. When it whispers, “I’m too tired” or “Tomorrow’s better,” it’s protecting you—but it’s not aligned with your goals.

Here’s a simple method to activate desire on demand:

-Name the action you’re resisting. Whether it’s a workout, a project, or even cleaning that one drawer—write it down.

-Identify the thought block. What’s your survival brain saying? “I’m too tired”? “It won’t matter”?

-Talk back and reconnect to desire. Say: “Thanks for trying to protect me, but I’m good. It’s safe to spend the energy. Let’s go.”

-Then, ask yourself: Why did I want this in the first place? What outcome do I want? How will it feel to follow through? Pick a mantra, move your body, and take one small action.

Mantras That Change Your Brain

Words matter. Here are a few mantras I use to reinforce identity and desire:

It’s who I am. It’s what I do.

I don’t feel like it, but I always do it anyway.

This isn’t a phase. This is me now.

Of course I do this. I’ve already decided who I am.

These mantras aren’t fluff—they train your brain to want what your future self wants.

Make It Work for You

If you’re a corporate leader—or a woman executive trying to balance career and life—this approach can revolutionize your follow-through.

Stop forcing habits with willpower alone. Start building your identity. Activate your desire. Let your brain work for you, not against you.

When you act from identity and desire, your results aren’t just possible—they become inevitable.

About Shayla King:

Shayla King is an executive coach based in Austin, TX, helping corporate leaders, especially women, increase performance, pay, and happiness without burnout. Formerly a C-Suite executive, Shayla uses her firsthand corporate experience and neuroscience-backed coaching strategies to help leaders upgrade their identity, build executive presence, and create systems that make follow-through effortless.

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