Most people believe that if a goal is difficult to achieve, then getting there also feels difficult. We believe that extraordinary results require extraordinary suffering.

But my guest says the secret to success isn’t gnashing of teeth; It is making the journey enjoyable. Her name is Jia Jiang, and in her new book, easy disciplineHe argues that consistency comes from designing your work and your life so that doing the right thing becomes something you really want to do. Today on the show, Gia explains the difference between hard and easy discipline, why “eating the bitterness” isn’t the best way to fulfill your ambitions, and how to make your work feel like play without lowering your standards. Along the way, we discuss Soviet hockey, the Japanese tea ceremony, rejection therapy, one-task goals, and the power of pursuing goals that are an expression of who you are.

Podcast related resources

Connect with Jia Jiang

Listen to the podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)

Listen to the episode on a separate page.

Download this episode.

Subscribe to the podcast in your media player of choice.

transcript coming soon