A Wall Street Journal bestselling author,Craig Ballantyne, and Daniel Woodrum, a business coach, have a controversial and contrarian take on the popularity of discipline challenges, ice baths, and even the popular habit of reading a book a week.
“Too many entrepreneurs let good things get in the way of doing great things,” Ballantyne says. “If your to-do list is a mile long, you’re never making time to work on what truly matters in your business—or in your personal life. And that’s where discipline has a dark side.”
Hot trends among entrepreneurs and those who aspire to become one have swayed to extremes in recent years. Tagged as habits of the successful, these extreme tasks vary from cold plunges before dawn to daily double workouts. Determined to follow in the footsteps of successful entrepreneurs, people fill their days with rigid routines.
Instead of achieving their goals, many people following these “extreme habits for success” find themselves exhausted instead of sitting on the pinnacle of success. Desperate, they embark on even more radical schedules, striving for the perfect balance to help them finally accomplish their dreams.
Extreme discipline is deceptive and a distraction.
The Discipline Deception
Many people, especially entrepreneurs, believe that the harder they apply themselves, the more likely they are to succeed. Suffering, whether physical or mental, is regarded as progress. Pain is viewed as necessary. Harsh routines yield better results.
These beliefs create a pattern of self-abuse, and often, when these habits don’t produce the expected outcomes, people buckle down.
Ballantyne fell into the same trap, so he knows from experience how damaging these “extreme habits” can be. Like many entrepreneurs, he was convinced that the harder he pressed himself, the more successful he would be. Instead, he suffered crippling anxiety attacks as he became increasingly overwhelmed in his endeavors.
As an introvert, Ballantyne did not have the systems to deal with stress and didn’t have the proper outlets to let off steam. He turned to self-medicating with alcohol and was soon binge drinking to deal with stress.
Recognizing he could not continue on the path he was on, he created the tools he needed to beat anxiety. As a result, he was less stressed and became more productive.
He realized pushing himself to extremes was not the key to success. There was a better, more productive way to achieve his dreams and empower him to live a life with financial security and the time to enjoy his family, friends, and life.
The Real Problem
Ballantyne and Woodrum regard the trending extreme habits for success as forms of procrastination. They believe they leech away the time and energy that could be used to achieve goals. Entrepreneurs become so consumed with chasing success as defined by others and following their guidelines that they lose sight of themselves and their lives.
Ballantyne’s success attracted the attention of other entrepreneurs, and some nicknamed him “the world’s most disciplined man” because of his productivity. Other entrepreneurs questioned how he got so much done, especially after growing multiple businesses using the tools he had devised.
Ballantyne started coaching other business owners in their personal and professional lives. He taught them to be more disciplined and assisted them in growing their businesses, allowing the entrepreneurs to achieve financial success while having more time for their families and health.
Woodrum agrees with Ballantyne’s viewpoint. With 14 years of entrepreneurial experience, Woodrum has started multiple businesses and coached others on how to reach their goals. Together, the two men poured their knowledge into their book, The Dark Side of Discipline: Stop Chasing. Suffer Less. Achieve More.
Rethink Success: Balance Over Burnout
Success shouldn’t come at the cost of well-being. Extreme habits may seem like a pathway to achievement, but they often serve as derailments rather than catalysts for real progress. Ballantyne and Woodrum’s insights highlight an important truth: sustainable success isn’t about suffering rigid routines—it’s about focusing on what truly has an impact.
As Ballantyne and Woodrum say: “The true definition of discipline is simple: It’s putting a Level 10 effort into a Level 10 problem. Anything else is a perverse form of procrastination.”
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