Beyond Discipline

How Solar Leaders Can Harness Meaning to Crush 2025 Goals

BY JENZ BUNNELL

Why do some individuals and companies in solar achieve extraordinary growth while others struggle to stay consistent?

The answer isn’t just in strategy or resources—it’s the depth of meaning behind their goals. Many rely on discipline to power through challenges, but willpower alone is fleeting. When it falters, it leaves behind shame and frustration.

What if, instead of forcing your way forward, you could root your goals in purpose and unlock lasting success?

There’s a better way.

Stop fighting impulse with discipline. Begin fighting impulse with meaning. When your goals are rooted in purpose, they are no longer chores to complete but meaningful missions to fulfill.

This shift transforms your work, your mindset, and your results.

Let’s explore how those dedicating their careers to the world of solar can move beyond discipline to create meaningful action that drives both personal and professional breakthroughs.

Jenz with a group of men at his MomentousMan retreat in the mountains of Utah.

The Problem: Fighting Impulse with Discipline

Discipline alone can feel rigid and unsustainable, often leaving solar professionals burned out and detached.

Missed milestones can trigger shame, while success feels hollow without fulfillment. This approach treats impulse as the enemy, yet impulses often reveal deeper needs we should address.

Over time, relying solely on discipline leads to:

  • Inconsistency: The harder you push, the harder it is to sustain.

  • Shame: Every missed milestone becomes a reason to feel inadequate.

  • Lack of Fulfillment: Goals pursued with discipline alone feel hollow, reducing motivation to keep going.

Why Meaning Matters

So should you forget about discipline altogether?

Of course not.

Discipline is vital to success and fulfillment. However, it’s not the end-all-be-all. When actions are tied to meaning, everything changes. Meaning shifts the focus from "What do I have to do?" to "Why does this matter?"

This simple yet profound difference creates:

  • Natural Consistency: Actions aligned with purpose feel like opportunities, not obligations.

  • Resilience Through Challenges: Meaning helps you see setbacks as part of the journey, not reasons to give up. It makes it easier to do the things you know you need to, even when you don’t want to in the moment.

  • Deep Satisfaction: Goals driven by meaning fulfill both external ambitions and internal values.

For solar professionals, this might mean redefining success. Instead of obsessing over metrics, like closing a specific number of deals, focus on your larger mission.

This purpose adds a deeper layer of significance to every call, door, meeting, rejection, canceled deal, and system sold.

Attendee at Jenz's MomentousMan retreat working with horses as part of their transformative experience.

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Step-by-Step: How to Replace Discipline with Meaning

1. Redefine Success Around Impact

Ask yourself: What does success truly look like, and why do I want it? Go beyond numbers to identify the impact your business creates. For solar dealers, this might mean:

  • Helping 50 families save money through solar in 2025.

  • Paying off debts and beginning to invest for your future.

  • Starting your own business in an area that lights a fire inside you.

Once you’ve defined your success, tie your daily actions to this larger purpose. This creates a bridge between small tasks and big-picture impact, making even mundane activities feel meaningful. Living with purpose is like watching grass grow. You might not notice the incremental wins day-to-day, but over time, the progress is undeniable. Establish checkpoints for yourself to reflect on your growth.

2. Turn Impulses Into Data, Not Distractions

Impulses aren’t inherently bad—they’re signals. Instead of suppressing them with discipline, analyze what they’re telling you. For example:

  • Procrastination: This often points to fear or uncertainty. Ask yourself, “What feels unclear or overwhelming about this task?” Break it down into manageable steps or seek clarity from a colleague.

  • Temptation to Skip Tasks: This could signal that the task feels disconnected from your purpose. Ask, “How does this action tie back to my mission?” If it doesn’t, reconsider whether it’s necessary.

  • Addiction: We all have outlets. Some are destructive, others helpful in moderation. Understanding the root of why we do what we do helps us address the cause instead of fighting symptoms.

By turning impulses into opportunities for reflection, you create space for more intentional, meaningful decisions.

3. Build a Narrative of Purpose

Every action you take tells a story. By creating a narrative around your work, you infuse meaning into every step of the process. For example:

  • When reaching out to leads, frame it as: “Each call and approach is an incremental step toward my purpose.”

  • When training your team, position it as: “Building the next generation of elite solar professionals and being a part of something bigger than myself.”

  • When overcoming challenges, remind yourself: “Every hurdle cleared brings me closer to a chapter of achievement and celebration.”

This storytelling approach keeps the larger mission front and center, transforming even routine tasks into meaningful contributions.

4. Design Systems That Reinforce Meaning

Meaning isn’t a one-time realization; it needs to be cultivated. Build systems into your daily routine that keep your purpose top of mind. Here’s how:

  • Track Purposeful Progress: Measure effort alongside outcomes. Focus on the actions you can control rather than fixating solely on results.

  • Purpose-Driven Meetings: Start each team meeting with a member sharing their deeper “why.” What are they trying to accomplish, and how can the team support them?

  • Reflection Rituals: Dedicate 10 minutes at the end of each day to journaling. Write down one action you took that aligned with your mission and how it made an impact.

These systems keep meaning at the forefront, ensuring it drives every decision and action.

The Results of Meaning-Driven Action

When you replace discipline with meaning, you unlock a new level of performance and satisfaction. Solar professionals who adopt this approach see:

  • Increased Consistency: Actions tied to purpose become habits, reducing the need for constant effort.

  • Greater Team Engagement: Employees rally behind a mission, not just quotas.

  • Stronger Customer Connections: Homeowners sense the authenticity and purpose behind your work, making them more likely to trust and refer you.

The solar industry thrives on purpose. When leaders embrace this mindset, they don’t just hit their goals—they redefine success for themselves, their teams, and their communities.

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Conclusion

Your goals are more than milestones; they’re opportunities to make a lasting difference in the world.

The temptation to rely on discipline and willpower alone is strong, but it’s a strategy that rarely leads to lasting success. Fighting impulse with meaning creates depth, clarity, and sustainable motivation.

What impact do you want to create in 2025?

The time to define your purpose and lead with meaning is now. By connecting your goals to a greater purpose, you’ll not only achieve them—you’ll inspire others to join you on the journey.

Attendee at Jenz's MomentousMan retreat shooting guns as part of their transformative experience.

About The Author

Jenz Bunnell

Jenz is a Mental & Emotional Performance consultant and Keynote speaker. Jenz has delivered workshops and keynotes in three countries and numerous states. Jenz empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their “broken” moments so they can overcome and become who they are meant to be.

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