97 The secret to doing what you hate (and winning big)

No. 97 – 24 Nov 2024

Welcome to the 97th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on cultivating inner control and resilience for high performance.

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Insights

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The things you resist the most are often the ones that lead to the greatest growth. Whether it’s networking, public speaking, or waking up early, pushing through discomfort separates the best from the rest.

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Willpower is overrated; systems win every time. Habits built on purposeful routines—not fleeting motivation—are the foundation for long-term success.

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"First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”

— John Dryden

Challenge

The habit system challenge.

Step 1: Choose one dreaded task that you know will help you grow (e.g., cold calling, early workouts, or writing). Write down why it’s important to you (your purpose).

Step 2: Design cues to make the task unavoidable. For example, set reminders, prepare materials in advance, or commit to a small step (e.g., five minutes of the task).

Step 3: Perform the action (response) every day for the next seven days. Reward yourself with something simple but meaningful after each success, like a quiet coffee break or time outdoors.

Why it works: Neuroscience shows that consistent cues and rewards create new neural pathways. By repeating the task, you’re embedding it into your subconscious, making it easier and less painful over time. Missing even one day resets your progress, so don’t let the streak break.

Systems

Stress-proof your to-do lists with 'do' dates.

Here’s the thing: not every task on your to-do list is “active,” yet most people lump everything into one chaotic list.

The result? Overwhelm, procrastination, and that sinking feeling of “I’ll never catch up.”

Here’s how to fix it:

1/ Categorize your tasks by status.

Think of it as organizing your closet—active tasks go in one list, future tasks in another. A Kanban board is great for this.

2/ Assign ‘do’ dates to active tasks.

A ‘do’ date is the specific day you’re committing to work on that task. No ‘do’ date = no action.

3/ Time-slot those tasks in your calendar.

If it’s not scheduled, it’s not happening. A ‘do’ date solves the “endless list” problem by making you decide when you’ll tackle each task.

It’s simple. It works. And it beats the feeling of drowning in a million unchecked boxes. Give it a try.

Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef