Your Willpower Isn't Broken. Your Formula Is Wrong
You have a new goal. You're fired up. You announce to yourself, "This time, I'm going to exercise every day."
For the first week, you're a freakin’ machine. Pure willpower fuels you. The second week is a little harder. By week three, you miss a day. Then two. Soon, the only thing you're exercising is your talent for making excuses.
What happened? Did your willpower just run out?
We’re told that consistency is a matter of "grit" or "discipline." We treat it like a moral virtue. So when we fail, we assume we are morally deficient—we're just not "gritty" enough.
This is nonsense.
Consistency is not a virtue; it's the result of a sound equation.
When your efforts fail, it's not because you're broken. It's because your formula is wrong.
In my book, NO APP REQUIRED, I introduce a framework I call The Consistency Formula. It looks like this: Consistency Score = (C × B × S)^½
Let's break that down.
C = Commitment: This isn't just "wanting it." This is a score from 1-10 on how deeply this goal is tied to your identity. Is "exercising daily" something you do, or is it part of who you are? A score of 1 is a fleeting idea; a 10 is a sacred vow.
B = Benefit: This is the immediate, tangible, and *personal* reward you get from the action. Note the word *immediate*. A vague, future benefit like "I'll be healthier in five years" has a low score. A powerful, immediate benefit like "I'll have the mental clarity to dominate my workday" scores much higher.
S = Stakes: This is the secret ingredient, the one most self-help plans ignore completely. What are the immediate, visible consequences of not doing the thing? If the only consequence is your own private guilt, your Stakes score is near zero. If you'd have to tell a respected mentor or a group of peers that you failed, your score skyrockets.
Why the Math Matters (It's Simpler Than You Think)
Notice that the formula uses multiplication, not addition. This is key.
If you have a massive Commitment (10/10) and a huge Benefit (10/10), but zero Stakes (0/10), what's your score?
(10 × 10 × 0) = 0.
Your entire motivational structure collapses.
This is why the "lone wolf" approach to self-improvement so often fails. You can have all the desire in the world, but without meaningful stakes—without skin in the game—your equation is doomed to equal zero the moment your initial enthusiasm fades.
Try It Right Now
Think of a habit you're trying to build. Give it an honest score from 1-10 on Commitment, Benefit, and Stakes.
Is one of your variables a 1 or a 2? If so, you haven't found a willpower problem; you've found the weak point in your formula. You now know exactly what to fix. You don't need more "grit"—you need to engineer better Stakes or connect the action to a more immediate Benefit.
This is a new way to think about change.
It's not about forcing yourself. It's about designing a better engine.
If this idea resonates with you, here is how you can go deeper:
Get the Full Toolkit (Free): The Consistency Formula is just one of many frameworks in the book. Download the complete PDF of NO APP REQUIRED for free. Learn about the 7-Point Test, the Three-Question Method, and how to build Sacred Commitments.
Own the Physical Copy: Prefer the feel of a book in your hands or the sound of a professionally narrated story? You can buy the paperback or audiobook version (coming soon).
Become an Architect (Paid Subscription): Want help applying these formulas to your own life? Our paid subscription is a masterclass in implementation. We do deep-dive case studies and provide expert AI prompts that turn these concepts into your personal coach.
Stop blaming your willpower. Start fixing your formula.