Are you on a fitness journey and trying to get into better shape? Are you sick and tired of the monotony of your corporate job and trying to find a pathway out of the rat-race? Are you trying to break out of a habit of self-defeating thoughts and actions? Are you trying to create a life of financial and geographic autonomy?
No matter what your aspirations in life are, you can move much closer to manifesting your visions into reality simply by changing your mindset, and your approach to how you overcome such life challenges.
After hundreds of conversations with people who are trying to better themselves in one way or another, a common theme I hear from people is that they feel they are not disciplined or motivated enough.
They speak of these things as if they are elusive personality traits that a fortunate few possess as if things would be better for them if only they possessed these characteristics as well.
Well, I’m here to completely upend your thinking.
Firstly, I will just flatly say that NO human is that disciplined. We are very imperfect creatures who succumb to laziness, impulses, and the desire for instant gratification.
I repeat… NO human is that disciplined.
In fact, some of the people who you may think are the most disciplined, might be the least disciplined people you know (looking at myself here).
Discipline takes extraordinary amounts of cognitive energy that simply cannot be sustained at all times. There is something else at play, something that enables even the most undisciplined people to do what it takes to achieve difficult things.
The truth is that what LOOKS like a disciplined mind is just an undisciplined mind that has focused extensively on building productive habits in that one particular aspect of their life.
I repeat… all humans lack discipline. However, SOME humans who give off the illusion of being disciplined have actually just selectively and intentionally implemented habits in very specific areas of their lives, and these habits are the result of a different mindset that they hold.
My observation is that most people fall into the camp of being “results-oriented thinkers.” They think of the world in terms of problems and results. If they want to lose weight, their entire approach is motivated by seeing number go down on the scale. If they want to make more money, their approach is motivated by seeing number go up on the paycheck.
This results-oriented approach is a recipe for failure, as it requires motivation, which is both a fleeting quality and an unsuitable foundation for any major endeavor.
On the other hand, the habit builders, the folks who give off the aura of being ultra-disciplined… these people are “systems-thinkers.”
Systems thinkers solve problems within a framework that is in alignment with, but detached from, outcomes or results.
In my experience, systems thinking is the one thing that gets me to consistently maintain single digit body-fat percentage. It’s the one thing that enables me to spend my time mostly however I want. It’s the one thing that has given me a relatively comfortable level of financial and geographic autonomy. It’s the one thing that has helped me take back control of my life and live life on my own terms.
What Is Systems Thinking?
First let’s go over the definition of “system.”
But rather than give you a copy and paste definition, I’ll provide you with my own:
A system is a set of rules, actions, and automations that are combined to optimize a process that is aligned with a desired outcome.
Rules are guidelines by which decisions are made
Actions are rules that are executed to manifest thoughts into physical reality
Automations are actions that are carried out with minimum physical or cognitive effort
Being a systems thinker means that rather than trying to jump directly to favorable outcomes, you instead focus your energy on developing the set of rules, actions, and automations that, when combined, will lead to desired outcomes with minimal sustained effort on your part.
The systems thinker keeps the end goal in mind but does not dwell on it.
The systems thinker understands the desired outcome but is detached from that outcome.
The systems thinker excels at contemplating the perfect combination of rules and actions that makes a particular process easier to sustain in the long run.
While the outcome is kept in mind, the systems thinker is more concerned with consistency and repeatability, and ultimately the efficiency, of the process.
Focus On Building Systems
Life is hard. Most things worth achieving are difficult to attain. The more sought-after the achievement, the more focused one must be to achieve that thing.
The key word here is FOCUS because it is the active ingredient to any level of success in life.
Wherever your attention goes, your energy flows.
Focus is a skill in and of itself, so I could write ten articles on the topic and that would only be the tip of the iceberg but focus by itself is not enough. When focus is disjointed or misdirected, then it could stagnate your efforts or even move you farther away from the direction you want to go.
Results-oriented thinkers are oftentimes also focused, yet the failure rate is still high amongst this group because they tend to myopically focus on the destination rather than focusing on each step that must be taken along the way. Positive outcomes require taking a deliberate series of actions over a period of time to align with that outcome. This series of actions is also known as a journey, and the specific manner that a person chose to traverse their journey is their “process.”
So rather than directing one’s focus towards a specific outcome, it’s better to direct focus towards the PROCESS which is in alignment with that outcome.
At this point, the mind begins to search for solutions to optimize whatever process has been laid out. There is a pathway of least resistance in which minimal input generates maximum output. It’s not abundantly evident what the optimal process looks like, but now at least your FOCUS is in the right place.
You’ve gone from focusing on outcomes, to focusing on the process to achieve those desired outcomes, to focusing on building the SYSTEM which enables the process to be carried out effectively.
Well-Executed Systems Offer The Path of Least Resistance
What you may notice about systems thinking is that it is the base layer of a three-tiered view. The first layer is the vision or the desired outcome. The second layer is the process or pathway that one will take to get to that desired outcome. The base layer is the system which enables a process that requires the lest amount of sustained effort.
Vision - Desired outcome
Process - Path towards the desired outcome
System - Rules, actions, and automations creating a path of least resistance
So imagine someone's vision is to cross a wide river.
A purely results-oriented thinker may just jump in and start swimming. He's focused on the desired result and he's going for it. His process or path to reaching the other side of the river required no investments or strategizing. He's just motivated to get across, he will rely on his willpower to maintain the perfect form and breathing cadence which will carry him all the way to the other side.
By all accounts, he seems to have the recipe for success, but the truth is that reality will set in long before he comes close to reaching the other side. The pain, the desire to give up, the panic sets in, the form begins to break down, and he realizes he's too far from the destination to continue.
And even if he did make it across, the odds of him repeating the effort successfully, if at all are slim. It was a one-time achievement that will not be sustained over a lifetime.
In this scenario there was both a vision and a process for crossing the river. However, this reflects a results-orientation rather than a systems orientation. The systems thinker would have focused less on getting the the other side of the river, and more on finding the optimal pathway across the river.
In short, the systems thinker would have spent zero energy swimming, trying to stay above water, trying to fight the current, trying to manage breathing... instead the systems thinker would have dedicated 100% of his energy towards building a boat... or a bridge.
System-Builders Reign Supreme
I like to use Amazon as a clear example of system’s thinking.
Before Amazon became the behemoth that it is today, the company was unprofitable for a full decade.
During this decade of unprofitability, many results-oriented investors criticized the company for not making any money. They were too focused on the profitability number. They wanted to see number go up.
On the other hand, Amazon and it’s investors focused their energy towards implementing the rules, actions, and automations necessary to optimize the process of ordering and delivering products to customers better, faster, and cheaper than any other competitor in the market.
That decade of detachment from the profitability outcome marked a period of heavy investment into building a system that competitors simply could not replicate.
Today Amazon is one of the largest and most profitable businesses in the world, not because they have the best business model or because their platform offers the best products. It’s because the company has perfected a sustainable and repeatable process that operates more efficiently than similar businesses in the industry.
Like Amazon, many of the most profitable companies are at the top because they have built superior systems that carry out their business processes better than the competition, not necessarily because their products are the best.
Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, etc…
How Does Systems Thinking Apply To Daily Life?
Ok so you may be saying, “I get it, but Amazon is a company. How can this apply to MY life”
In that case, let me give you an example of how I use systems thinking to maintain low body fat year-round.
There are many things that go into staying lean, but food is a huge factor. The fact is that most people struggle to eat the right foods with the right level of consistency because the sheer amount of brainpower needed to always make the right food decisions is insurmountable. It’s exhausting.
The only solution in my opinion is to create a system that optimizes my process for deciding on what to eat, procuring foods, and preparing meals.
Here is what my system looks like, but as you read, think about the rules, actions, and automations that are present within the system:
I literally have 10 core foods that I eat all the time (eggs, bacon, steak, fish, nuts, fruit, cheese, chocolate, peanut butter, spring water). For steak, I only buy filet mignon; you’ll understand why a bit later. Nonetheless, this means that when I buy groceries, there is absolutely no energy wasted on deciding what to buy. The grocery list is already set.
Because my grocery list is set, I put these 10 staples on Instacart recurring order so that every week a new batch is automatically delivered to my door with virtually zero effort. This not only keeps a stock of fresh, whole foods in my kitchen, but also eliminates the presence of junk food. It keeps my options limited.
With limited options, when it’s time to eat I have only these 10 foods to choose from. Sure, I could order delivery or run to the fast-food restaurant around the corner, but that requires work. It requires logging into Uber eats and scrolling through the options, then waiting for the delivery, or it requires jumping in your car, etc…. At this point simply throwing a steak on the skillet, or scrambling up some eggs is the faster, cheaper, and lazier option. It takes 5 mins to cook any of these things. So it represents the path of least resistance.
I eat two meals a day at the most, and a snack in between. The first meal is usually eggs, cheese, bacon, nuts, fruit and chocolate. The only portions of this meal that require cooking are the eggs and bacon which is a 10-minute effort.
The second meal is just steak or salmon seasoned with salt and pepper. That’s it. There’re no complicated recipes here. And because I purchased filet mignon, there is no excessive fat on the meat thus it has no prep time.
The snack is usually sliced apples and peanut butter. Once again, very simple.
That is my system. It’s not complicated. I follow it day in and day out. I rinse and repeat. Occasionally when I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll deviate from the system, but since my system is set up for optimal results through peak laziness, those deviations actually require me to go out of my way.
While people struggle trying to make better food decisions, I’m just coasting, following my system and enjoying the benefits with little recurring effort put forth on my part.
As you can see, I made a handful of food decisions at the beginning. The brain power used to come to this setup was a one-time investment made over a 2-3 year period of knowledge building and experimentation but pays dividends in perpetuity.
I can now maintain a lean physique for the rest of my life with no effort.
You can also set up your own food system if you’re trying to get into better shape. However, your system may be very different than mine because your life is different.
You’ll have to think about the rules, actions, and automations that you can put into place that will perfect your food consumption process, your workout process, your lifestyle process, etc.
You can do it on your own, or if you need help then my body elevation coaching program can provide the coaching you need to set up a system that works for you.
Either way, no matter the goal you have for yourself, fitness, financial, lifestyle, etc., if it is very important to you then you should focus on building the appropriate systems.
Build Systems Where They Are Needed Most
The above example is just one system that I’ve created for myself in one aspect of life. But in all actuality, I have several different systems set up for many areas of my life.
You may be thinking that the notion of building systems for every facet of life is unsustainable and unrealistic, and if that is truly what you believe, then I’ll admit that I agree with you. The systems-thinking approach is not meant to be applied to everything. Rather it is best when reserved for those things in your life that are of greatest importance.
So firstly, it is essential that you understand what is important to you. This sounds like a minor thing, but even that small detail is more difficult than one may think. The gist of it is that much of what we think we want is just a projection of society telling us what we think we want.
This article isn’t meant to discuss methods for figuring out what we want in life, but if that’s something you wish to explore further, feel free to apply to join the Unleashing Savage Premium Mastermind Network where we discuss these topics extensively.
Either way, once you know the 3-5 areas of your life that are of the utmost importance to you, you’re ready to start building systems around those things.
In my experience some common areas of life that people want to improve include health and fitness, careers and entrepreneurship, identity and self-confidence, wealth and financial freedom, family and relationships, habits and addictions, etc.
Perhaps some of these resonate with you, or perhaps there’s some other areas of life that come to mind for you. However, it is up to you to figure out which areas of life you will focus your energy, and once you gain clarity around that, you can begin to build the appropriate systems.
I have by no means perfected the systems-thinking approach. I am on a journey of my own, but taking this approach has helped me to quit my job, move to another country, achieve some level of financial freedom, maintain my mind and body, and quit alcohol all in about 6-months’ time.
If I can do it in spite of my lack of discipline and wavering motivation, you certainly can as well.