Planning is how we crystalize our intentions and make goals and dreams reality. But it’s also difficult sometimes and exhausting. There may be some days or times in the day that you don’t want to or can’t plan. If that’s the case, you can instead rely upon principles.

“Always let your conscience principles be your guide.”

~ Jiminy Cricket (edited to fit my narrative)

Anyone who has been demoralized understands the importance of keeping a high morale. With high morale, you can experience setbacks and continue to press forward despite them. With low or no morale, you may not take advantage of great opportunities within your reach. The difference is staggering.

Every time you do (or don’t do) something, there’s a reason behind it, a why, a motive. Here are some possible motives for action, with ratings! I will rate each motive out of 10 for…

• Power: how powerful is the motive for driving action?
• Accessibility: if you want to use this motive for action, can you obtain it?
• Ease of use: Once you have access, how easy is it to use it?

The ratings aren’t necessarily better if they’re higher. For example, if a motive for action tends to lead to detrimental actions, then an accessibility rating of 10 is more of a problem than a benefit. Let’s get started!

My life is very much project-based. While most people go to work at the same job year-round, my work is based around writing a book, or making a video course, and so on. Meanwhile, thanks to Mini Habits and Elastic Habits, I’ve gotten much better at doing what needs to be done over what I feel like doing.

If anyone asked me about my career as an author, I would say without hesitation that it’s my dream career. It gives me great freedom, lets me be my own boss, generates passive income, and is about as rewarding as a career can get with the appreciative emails I get. It’s perfect.

But if I could choose any career, I probably wouldn’t choose this one.