💡 CheatCode #159: Build the “Start Line”
Make beginning so easy it’s almost automatic.
The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
— Norman Schwarzkopf
Most goals don’t fail in the middle — they fail at the start. Your brain avoids the “start line” because it feels like friction, uncertainty, or commitment. The fix isn’t motivation. It’s engineering an entry ramp so small you can’t justify skipping it.
This is why special forces planning doctrine emphasizes crossing the threshold early. The most dangerous moment in a raid isn’t the firefight — it’s the first step through the door. Once entry is made, momentum, training, and structure take over.
Hesitation at the threshold is where missions fail.
Related study:
Implementation intentions (Gollwitzer, 1999) show that pre-deciding when/where/how you’ll act increases follow-through.
Why it works (✅):
✅ Shrinks activation energy
✅ Removes decision fatigue at go-time
✅ Turns “someday” into a specific trigger
✅ Builds consistency without willpower
Today’s Challenge:
Write one “start line” for tomorrow: “After I pour coffee, I will open [X] for 2 minutes.”
Final Thought:
”The battle isn’t in the middle. It’s at the door.” -1% CheatCode