Success Becomes Easier When You Use Systems
- Trap Yourself Commit to Plan A only. No backup plan. Make success inevitable by removing escape routes.
Forcing Functions
- Public commitments (social pressure)
- Financial stakes
- Remove access (delete apps, block sites)
- Time-boxing
- Stop Relying on Willpower
Choose one task you’ve been avoiding.
Set three variables to lock it in:
- Time
- Place
- Trigger
Let the system run on autopilot. Simple systems are the hardest to break.
- Build an If-Then Algorithm (Mental System)
We avoid tasks to avoid emotions:
- Frustration
- Doubt
- Discomfort
The brain tries to bargain with “Let’s do it tomorrow.” Use if-then rules to block emotional bargaining.
Examples:
If it’s Friday afternoon, review the week. If it’s Sunday night, plan the next week. Program → execute.
- Outsource Decisions
Use a system of checklists, especially when your cognitive load is high.
The better you get at something, the more structure and systems you need.
Types of Checklists
A. To-Do List → Execution B. To-Want List → Expansion C. To-Be List → Evolution
- Become the System
Years of repetition create resonance.
“Repetition drives motivation; motivation doesn’t drive repetition.”
Train yourself to crave repetition.