James Clear, the well-known author of Atomic Habits (which is arguably the best book ever written on habit building), said, “We do not rise to the level of our ambitions, we fall to the quality of our systems.” If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. 

When I talk about systems, I mean your routine, habits, and daily activities.

These are like guardrails that keep you from going off track and help you keep moving forward. Without them, it’s almost impossible—especially for someone with ADHD—to live a productive life.

Our systems give us a sense of safety and help us focus better on the bigger picture we want to achieve in our lives.

Think of it like building a house. If you don’t lay down a strong foundation, the house will probably fall apart before you try to rapidly slap it together. 

When it comes to self-improvement and success, good habits and a healthy routine are just the starting point.

Without the clarity and stability that comes from having a healthy routine, your brain won’t be in the right place for the kind of high-level thinking that leads to real success. 

The type of thinking that helps you build wealth, strong relationships, and a legacy through others.

It all starts—and keeps going—based on the quality of the systems you put in place.

If you look at yourself as a pattern of inputs and outputs, like a machine, it helps you detach from the emotions that drive habit-building.

Bad inputs always lead to bad outputs—every time, no matter how good something feels in the moment

Short-term pleasure is a damn good salesman but rarely delivers on its promises.

On the flip side, good inputs always lead to good outputs.

If you exercise, eat well, sleep enough, handle stress, and build good relationships, your perspective—of yourself and the world around you—will start to shift for the better.

The more effort you put into building your systems and sticking to them, the less likely you’ll be to throw it all away for short-term temptations and the less likely they’ll slip away when dealing with ADHD at it’s most severe.

The discipline you build from good habits will help you manage your ADHD symptoms.

You’ll be able to weaponize hyper focus, and lazer into what really matters to you.

By default your self-esteem will improve, and your mind won’t feel as chaotic because its outlook is more forward focused and optimistic. 

You’ll also have the clarity to tap into the creativity that ADHD gives so many of us.

You can turn your weaknesses into strengths. You can build a solid foundation that keeps you steady, no matter how hard the waves of ADHD hit you.

Eventually, you’ll look back and wonder why the hell you didn’t start sooner. 

But when you start doesn’t matter. 

It’s never too late, and there’s no perfect time to begin.

Waiting for the “perfect time” is just a pretty way to package up procrastination.

You’re probably thinking to yourself that all of this sounds really intimidating.

That you’re going to have to revolutionize your life in a short time to make effective change.

But that’s not true.

It’s actually going to be simpler and easier to get started than you ever imagined. 

In the next few emails, I’m going to give you a crash course on how to build habits that stick.

I’ll share the principles that have worked best for me and my clients—principles you can use for the rest of your life.

With these tools, you’ll have more power to change your life for the better.

And fewer excuses not to.

See you tomorrow.