1-2-1: Motivation is the last lever

Every high performer in last month's workshop could name a habit they'd been trying to build for months, but none of them had a system to protect it.

Most of the leaders I coach are running at about 70% work, 20% relationships, 10% health. They know the ratio is off, but the habits that would rebalance things just aren't happening.

1 Principle

Goals tell you where to go. Systems tell you what to do today.

The leaders who hold alignment longest are the ones who've protected their own capacity first.

When a habit isn't working, most people try to want it more. That's backwards.

There's a formula from behaviour science: Behaviour = Motivation × Ability × Prompt. If any of those hits zero, nothing happens.

Fix the prompt first: did you get reminded at the right moment? Then fix ability: was it easy enough to do on your worst day? Only then look at motivation.

The order matters because prompts and ability are design problems. Motivation is unreliable. You can't willpower your way past a missing system.

2 Things Top of Mind

#1 The stool is tipping

I use a simple model with clients: health, wealth, relationships. Three legs of a stool. It's normal for the balance to shift. But when one leg gets too short for too long, the stool tips. Most ambitious leaders I work with have let health or relationships shrink to a sliver while work expanded to fill every gap. They don't need more motivation. They need a system that protects the neglected leg before it breaks.

This week: Identify the neglected leg. Set one alarm for tomorrow with a 5-minute action attached. One trigger, one action, one day.

#2 Your human MVP

You wouldn't ship a product feature that takes six months to build and requires perfect conditions to work. You'd start with an MVP: the smallest version that delivers value and generates learning. The same logic applies to habits. A "Minimum Viable Habit" is 2-5 minutes. One press-up. One page. One text to someone you've been meaning to reach. Small enough that you can do it on your worst day. The goal isn't to be impressive. The goal is to not miss.

This week: Take a habit that isn't sticking and shrink it to its MVP. What's the smallest version that still counts? Do that version every day this week, even when you have time for more.

1 Question

What's the neglected leg of your stool, and what would a 5-minute system look like to protect it?

If you've built a system that actually works for protecting health or relationships while leading at pace, I'd like to hear what it is. Hit reply.

Until next time,
Liam Darmody