The Art of Easy Discipline

Most people assume that if a goal is hard to achieve, getting there has to feel hard too. We tend to believe that extraordinary results require extraordinary suffering.

But my guest says the secret to success isn't gritting your teeth; it's making the path enjoyable. His name is Jia Jiang, and in his new book, Easy Discipline, he argues that consistency comes from designing your work and your life so that doing the right thing becomes something you actually want to do. Today on the show, Jia explains the difference between hard and easy discipline, why "eating bitterness" isn't the best way to go after your ambitions, and how to make your work feel more like play without lowering your standards. Along the way, we discuss Soviet hockey, Japanese tea ceremonies, rejection therapy, one-action goals, and the power of pursuing aims that are an expression of who you are.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• Jia's previous book: Rejection Therapy
• Jia's 100 Days of Rejection Therapy videos, including asking for a "burger refill"
• AoM Article: Motivation Over Discipline
• AoM Podcast #954: The Feel-Good Method of Productivity

Connect With Jia Jiang

• Jia on Substack
• Jia's website
• Jia on LinkedIn

0:00 Introduction to the AOM Podcast

0:41 Introducing Jia Jiang and Easy Discipline

1:36 Welcome Jia Jiang / The Myth of Sisyphus

6:05 Hard Discipline vs. Easy Discipline

9:36 Eating Bitterness

10:44 Soviet Hockey: Tarasov vs. Tikhonov

16:02 The EASY Framework: Enjoyment

31:02 Artistry and Ichi-go Ichi-e

33:54 Systems and One Action Goals

41:22 Repetition with Variation

44:18 Why: Being True to Yourself

52:33 Where to Find Jia Jiang's Work

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