Lately I’ve been thinking about getting things done.

There are some things I obsess over, am consistent with, hyper-focus on, and get loads of work done.

On the flipside there are things I struggle to do consistently, get distracted from, and do the minimum viable work for.

The things I am obsessed with I don’t even consider myself discipline with. I just do it, it’s easy.

However I’ve noticed something interesting. On the work I obsess over, it’s easy to stay disciplined for the parts of the work I don’t want to do. I maintain my focus and work ethic during these parts and speed through the task at hand.

I wanted to know why this is and if I can consciously mimic this.

That’s why I’ve been thinking about getting things done lately.

I’ve been considering the differences between when I am disciplined and when I am not.

I found there are three things I have when I possess superhuman discipline, that I lack when I struggle to complete tasks.

1. A why

2. Second nature

3. The discipline muscle

A why:

Why are you doing this?

Having a strong why is the most powerful of the three. It will drive you to do push through anything.

It must be your ‘why’.

It must be of intrinsic value to you.

If you want a famous example of what a strong ‘why’ can do, look to David Goggins.

Making it second nature:

How hard is it to start the given task?

How hard is it to continue working after starting?

Ideally the friction to start and continue the given task is as little as possible.

This step is about creating an environment that makes it easier to be disciplined. Your environment should also encourage you and make you feel good for being disciplined.

This includes both your physical environments, your mental environment, and the people around you.

Working out the discipline muscle:

How strong is your discipline?

Setting the two above principles into action will get you where you want to be 96% of the time. However there will be times when you’ll have to rely solely on the strength of your discipline.

Luckily, discipline isn’t some mystical trait you’re born with, it’s a skill you can develop.

Discipline is hard because it’s the conscious act of fighting our natural desires.

You’ve also never been taught to understand it fully. It’s seen as a brute force action. Something you, “just have to do.”

See discipline is like a muscle (you’ve probably heard this).

When people make this analogy they go on to say that you need to start slow and build it up. This is true, but they ignore half of the equation.

Your discipline fatigues…just like a muscle.

If you wanted to stop reading right now, you would have a competitive advantage over 80% of other people.

Continuing…

This means you need to rest your discipline muscle.

It also means if you put yourself into scenarios where you can achieve tasks while using as little discipline as possible, it’s ready and rested for when you must use it…

This is what I experience when I am obsessed with something. Even the tasks I don’t want to do are easy to stay focused and consistent with.

With this in mind, what makes the most sense to optimize?

Having a ‘why’ is what puts you in scenarios where you get work done while flexing the discipline muscle as little as possible, saving you energy for when it’s most needed.

Having a ‘why’ also helps with Number 2: Second Nature.

As you’re working on the given task, it’s becoming a habit within the brain. Considering the focus and consistency a strong ‘why’ brings, it expedites the habit formation process.

Okay so with this in mind how do you find your ‘why’ and how do you leverage it for superhuman discipline?

Firstly, understand the ‘why’ I am talking about doesn’t have to be your life’s purpose (it can be). The ‘why’ I’m talking about is your reason for doing any random thing.

To find your ‘why’ find your goals. It must be your goal and your reasons must be personal.

It can’t be someone else’s goal or reasons, because it will lack intrinsic value. It won’t work, it won’t keep you motivated, especially when times get hard.

To get practical:

First, you will learn how to find your ‘why’.

Secondly, you will learn what to do with you ‘why’.

Finding your ‘Why’

Let’s get right into it:

To find your 'why', clarify your goals:

• Grab a pen and paper.

• Set a timer for 15 minutes.

• Write out your biggest goals.

• Edit the list, keeping the ones that pop out.

At a given time you only have a few goals that truly excited you. Choose your top 3, if you already have a top 1 perfect.

Next:

Title separate pages with your chosen goals, then below each page answer these questions and statement:

• Why is this your goal (what are the reasons)?

• How would achieving this make you feel?

• What would you be able to do as a result of achieving said goal?

• Compare your current feelings to how you think you’ll feel.

If you had your top 1 before, ignore this next step.

Choose the one that sticks out most:

And again it could stick out for any reason.

Ranging from vanity to being a better partner to thinking you have a good chance at achieving it.

It will likely stick out for multiple reasons.

Take the page titled with the goal you chose and keep it somewhere you’ll see every time you begin working on your goal.

Which brings us to the second part:

What to do with Your ‘Why’

First, identifying your ‘why’ is a big part of using your ‘why’. The feeling you receive as a result of the clarity is a superpower.

All other ways of using your ‘why’ come down to amplifying or reminding yourself of this feeling.

Here’s different ways to do that:

Reading it during the planning phase of your day and specific tasks to elicit the emotion of inspiration.

Consult your sheet before starting your day and before going to bed.

Thinking about your goal and reasons.

Creating a short list off the top of your head of all you’ll gain from achieving it and reading it over can do wonders.

Read your page before you start working on your goal each day.

When times get hard re-read your page to remind yourself why you are doing what you’re doing.

Use it for reflection.

• Think about where you WERE, where you are NOW, and the gap between where you WANT to BE (your why).

• This gives you something to run from (where you were), something to chase (your goal), and something to be proud of (how far you’ve come).

In summary: remind yourself of your ‘why’ often.

Bonus

Before wrapping up I wanted to give a bonus practice you can do to develop your discipline muscle.

It’s such a simple practice it would feel wrong to leave it.

Here’s the easy 3 step formula:

1. Identify a basic daily task, that isn’t necessary, but makes your life better, that you aren’t doing (consistently). (ex. making your bed).

2. Schedule that task for a certain time and amount of time, everyday.

3. Do it everyday, in the allotted time, for the allotted time.

That’s it.

If you want to make it easier to stick with, you can give yourself some extra motivation by making a planner that has a checkbox, that you get to mark off each day after you complete the task.

This also makes your consistency visible to reflect on.

Thank you for taking the time to read!

I hope this letter brought you value, if it did please share it with those you think will benefit from it, so they can receive the same value!

Until next time…

-Xan

P.S. I am coming out with a discipline course. It lays the ground works, and sets you up to become disciplined in any endeavor you decide to work towards. I can’t give away too much right. Stay tuned.

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