Hey there!

Ever been told you just need more discipline?
That success is all about grinding harder and pushing through?

Here’s the truth: discipline is overrated.

If willpower was the answer, you’d already have the habits you want.

The real problem?

Your habits aren’t designed to work with you; they’re relying on motivation that runs out.

This week, we’re ditching the “just be more disciplined” myth and showing you how to make habits too easy to fail.

Because success isn’t about trying harder—it’s about designing smarter.

Let’s dive in…..

“You Just Need More Discipline” – The Big Lie That Keeps You Stuck

Ever heard any of these before?

“You just need more discipline.”

“Winners do what losers won’t.”

“You’d be successful if you were more consistent.”

Sounds tough. Even motivating.

But here’s the truth: Discipline is overrated.

You don’t have a discipline problem—you have a habit design problem.

Why “Just Be More Disciplined” Fails

Discipline relies on willpower, and willpower is like your phone battery:
it drains throughout the day.

🔋 You wake up with 100% charge.

📩 Emails, decisions, and stress drain it.

😩 By 5 PM, your “discipline” is running on fumes.

Then what happens?

→ You skip the gym.
→ You order takeout.
→ You binge Netflix instead of working on your side project.

NOT because you’re lazy.

NOT because you lack self-control.

But because you’re out of mental energy.

Yet hustle culture tells you: “Just push harder.”

That’s like expecting your phone to keep running at 1% battery without charging it.

The Smarter Way: Start Tiny, Let It Grow

The problem isn’t you. The problem is how most habits are designed.

When you rely on discipline, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Instead, redesign your habits so they don’t require willpower.

✅ Shrink the action. Make it so tiny that motivation isn’t required.

→ Instead of “I’ll write 1,000 words,” just write one sentence.

✅ Anchor it to something automatic. Tie it to something you already do.

→ “After I brush my teeth, I’ll do one push-up.”

✅ Celebrate immediately. Emotion wires habits—acknowledge your win.

→ “After I hit send on an email, I fist pump and say ‘Boom!’”

Tiny is Just the Start—Then It Grows

Here’s what most people misunderstand: the habit doesn’t stay tiny.

It starts small because that’s the easiest way to make it stick.
But once it’s on autopilot, it naturally grows.

🦷 James Clear started by flossing just one tooth.
→ Soon he was flossing them all.

💪 BJ Fogg teaches people to start with one push-up.
→ Before they know it, they’re doing a full workout

📖 Want to read more? Start with one paragraph.
→ Soon, you’ll be finishing a chapter in one sitting.

You don’t force growth. You let it happen.

Once a habit feels effortless, your brain wants to do more.

This Week’s Challenge

💡 Pick one habit you keep failing at.

💡 Shrink it until it’s impossible to fail.

💡 Anchor it to something you already do daily.

💡 Try it for one week—no pressure, just an experiment.

Then hit reply and tell me how it went.

No discipline required.

Paul

Live by Design, Not by Default.

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P.S. When you’re ready here’s how I can help

I offer a free 45-minute intro call (a “Tiny Chat”) designed to help you explore how tiny, consistent habits can make a meaningful impact—whether for your own personal growth or your team’s performance.

We can even discuss “how to find your authentic celebration” 🥳

👉 Whether you’re looking to elevate your own habits or empower your team to thrive, this call is the perfect starting point.