The Myth of “I Just Need to Make Myself Do It”
Posted on March 10, 2025 by Todd Greider, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
Making yourself do something feels more like a chore than a strategy for growth. Explore new ways to reframe your thoughts and achieve growth.
We’ve all said it before:
“I already know what I need to do.”
“I’ll build a schedule and make it happen.”
“I just need more discipline.”
And yet—a month later, reality looks very different.
The workout plan? Half-completed.
The networking strategy? Barely started.
The leadership development goal? Still sitting on the to-do list.
Not because we don’t want to grow. Not because we don’t know what to do. But because willpower alone isn’t a strategy.
The Real Reason Consistency Fails
We assume discipline is the missing piece. But in reality, it’s structure and accountability turning good intentions into real progress.
Think about it:
- You don’t force yourself to show up to work—you have a structure that makes it non-negotiable. - You don’t decide to pay your bills each month—you’ve built a system that ensures it happens. - You don’t rely on motivation to care for your family—you do it because it’s ingrained in your identity.Yet when it comes to personal and professional growth, we often rely on sheer willpower instead of intentional systems.
How to Follow Through
1. Change Your Identity, Not Just Your Goals Instead of saying, “I need to be more disciplined,” shift to “I am the kind of person who follows through.” Align your habits with who you want to become.
2. Build a System, Not Just a Schedule Schedules are great—but what happens when life throws you off track? Systems create structure and flexibility. Example: If I miss a morning workout, my backup plan is an evening ride.
3. Create Accountability That Works Not all accountability is equal. Telling yourself you’ll “check in later” isn’t enough. But telling a coach, a mentor, or a peer group? That changes the game.
What’s Your Move?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of setting goals but not following through, it’s not a failure of discipline—it’s a failure of design. Fix the system, and consistency follows.
What’s one area where you’re committing to real change this year?
Until next time—lead with confidence, clarity, and positive impact!
Todd Greider
