Driven Anchors: The Small Daily Actions That Keep You From Drifting

“The simple things that lead to success are all easy to do. But they’re just as easy not to do. The difference is consistency.”
 — Jeff Olson

The decision to go from drifting to driven is exciting. You feel a spark. You make a bold declaration. You tell your friends this year will be different. You build a list of new habits, download the podcasts, read the articles — momentum feels unstoppable.

And then, somehow, it stops.

Why?
 Because clarity shows you the destination, but consistency carries you through the fog that always returns.

Clarity without action is just drifting with nicer language.
 Consistency is what turns clarity into change.

I learned this the day I sent a direct message to someone on Twitter and asked what journal they used. I didn’t expect a reply, but they responded — and I ordered the journal that same day. That simple choice became the first habit I ever practiced with true consistency. Every day I wrote, I felt more confident that I was becoming someone who journals. It became my anchor habit, the one deliberate action that kept me aligned with who I wanted to be, especially when life got chaotic.

That habit taught me something powerful:

To move from drifting to driven, you need more than motivation — you need a Driven Anchor.


What Is a Driven Anchor?

A Driven Anchor is a simple, repeatable action that keeps you connected to your purpose — no matter how you feel and no matter what the day throws at you.

It’s not a routine.
 It’s not a task.
 It’s not just another habit.

A Driven Anchor is a non-negotiable rhythm that protects your clarity, strengthens your consistency, and raises your consciousness. It’s the action that stabilizes your identity — not the biggest thing you do, not the hardest, but the most centering.

It keeps you from drifting so you can keep driving forward.


3 Qualities of a Driven Anchor

Your Driven Anchor should be:

1. Simple enough to do daily

If it’s complicated, it won’t steady you — it will overwhelm you. A Driven Anchor must fit into every season of your life.

2. Meaningful enough to shift your mindset

It should reconnect you to who you are and who you’re becoming. The action doesn’t have to be big, but it has to matter.

3. Strong enough to stop drift

On the days you’re tired, stressed, or unmotivated, your Driven Anchor should pull you back to center. It’s the reset button that keeps your identity from slipping.


Examples of Driven Anchors

These are small, repeatable actions that can shape your identity over time:

You’ll notice these aren’t heroic. They’re not meant to impress anyone. They are meant to center you.

One thing I purposely didn’t include on this list is asking yourself, “Did I live driven today?”
 That question is so foundational that it stands alone — something you protect no matter what.

If you’re unsure what to choose, use this simple definition:

A Driven Anchor is a daily action that keeps you aligned with who you want to be, especially on the days you don’t feel like being that person.

For clarity: brushing your teeth or drinking your morning coffee doesn’t count. Those are routines. They don’t anchor your identity. But if you journal gratitude while drinking your coffee? That counts. The meaning is in the action, not the beverage.


Why Driven Anchors Matter

Most people try to build consistency through willpower — and then burn out. But Driven Anchors give you a practice you can always return to. They create a reliable entry point into the driven life.

Here’s the progression:

Driven Anchors create the starting point.
 Consistency turns that starting point into momentum.
 Momentum shapes identity.
 Identity creates the driven life.

This is the heart of Mid-Shift Mentality.


Focus for the Week

Choose your first Driven Anchor.

Don’t obsess over picking the perfect one. Pick something small and meaningful, do it daily, and let it center you. You can adjust later — growth always begins with a single, steady action.

The anchor steadies you.
 Consistency carries you forward.
 Together, they prevent drift and build a steady, driven rhythm — day after day, week after week.