Build Systems, Not Habits

There is a quote I think about often, one that honestly I cannot remember where I heard it. There are a few different variations, but it boils down to “Build systems, not habits.” There is another popular version of the quote that says, “You do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.”

I think the latter comes from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. A great book that I actually have never read myself.

It was unlucky timing with Atomic Habits, as that book was released after I had just spent over a year binging all the self-help style books, and frankly I was totally over the style of books, so I never read it. More on my thoughts on the self-help style books later!

I love the idea of systems over goals. Focusing on inputs over outputs. Perhaps it is the behaviorist in me, but the idea of focusing solely on what I can control over the environment’s reaction to something is attractive. Especially in the marketing world, there is no way to guarantee that a certain behavior will have a specific result. However, we can say that over the long run, repeated instances of behaviors will increase the probability of a result occurring.

Essentially, repeated inputs mean we have a higher chance of getting the outcome we want.

So, if that is the case, then arranging your world so that the inputs happen consistently is a crucial variable in success. That is what this post will be about. What is my current (V1) system to increase the probability of a writing practice sticking, and what other systems should I build to guarantee success in other areas.

The Writing System (v1)

To create a good system, I think the first thing to do is analyze the barriers that the system has to overcome. For example, if a system for exercise does not address the objection of “I don’t have enough time to go to the gym,” then it will never work. The point of a system over a goal is that a system proactively solves objections, while a goal relies on motivation to push through objections and typically is unsustainable.

Barriers to My Writing Habit

• Time – This is the largest barrier and the one that will be the most challenging to overcome. My day-to-day schedule is full, from dawn to dusk…
• Distractions – Another large barrier, but not as challenging to overcome, I suspect. Notifications, emails, and digital noise often pull me away from focus.
• Ideas/Motivation – This likely boils down to having content I want to share, not just content I feel obligated to produce.

The System

So now that my barriers are clearly laid out, here is the system that I am going to use to create this habit. The goal of this system is to clearly address the three barriers above while also being robust enough to not require constant changes.

• Time: Wake up at 5:30 am with coffee already made if I did not work at night, or write at night if I am working late.
• Distractions: Write on Hemingway and post on Typeshare to avoid content consumption during writing. Use AI-powered email and task sorting to stay focused.
• Ideas: Always have an idea prepared the day before. A rough outline is optional but may help reduce friction.

Daily System (v1)

1. Wake up at 5:30 if I did not work the night before; if I did, write at night and schedule the post.
2. Close all tabs and shut off notifications using Focus Mode on Apple devices.
3. Write/post for 45–60 minutes using Hemingway + Typeshare; log everything in Apple Notes.
4. Check LinkedIn the following day to respond to comments.
5. Eventually build automation or tracker for easier data collection.

Next Post

How I got bored always selling on LinkedIn and what inspired this shift.

Writing Stats

• Current Post
  • Post Number: 2
  • Words: 1209
  • Writing Time: 33 minutes
  • Editing Time: 18 minutes
• Overall
  • Words: 2,103
  • Writing Time: 78 minutes
  • Editing Time: 48 minutes