Codie Sanchez

It's the closest thing the field has to a unified theory.

And almost nobody outside of academic psychology has heard of it.

So here it is.

Your motivation to do a task equals the expectancy times value divided by impulsiveness times delay.

I know this is a lot, but take a second to look at this and take it in.

So the translation to this is basically, if you're like me and not a psychologist,

You don't start when you don't believe you'll succeed.

That's expectancy is low.

The task doesn't feel meaningful.

That means the value is low.

Your environment is full of dopamine cheaper alternatives.

Impulsiveness is high or the payoff is months or years away.

The delay is too high.

So most ambitious people have all four problems running at once, and they don't realize it.

So what does this actually look like?

You want to build a coaching business, but you don't really believe you'll get clients.

Low expectation.

Asking for money still feels weird.

Low value.

Your phone is six inches away from your hand and face at all times, so the risk of impulsiveness is high.