Breaking Bad Habits: The Key to Goal Success

In Breaking Bad, we see Walter White break more than just bad habits—he completely transforms his life, turning from a high school chemistry teacher into something unrecognizable. This transformation didn’t happen overnight, and he wasn’t simply relying on willpower. He made changes to his beliefs, his priorities, and most importantly, his habits.

Similarly, when it comes to our own goals, a bad habit is often a constraint that needs to be overcome before real progress can be made. Habits, both good and bad, operate in loops—like a car spinning its wheels and going nowhere until it catches traction. The good news? Breaking a habit isn’t about forcing willpower. It's about understanding and changing the logic behind the habit loop.

Understanding the Habit Loop

A habit loop contains a circular process with three parts:

1. Cue: A trigger that initiates the habit.
2. Routine: The behavior itself.
3. Reward: The dopamine rush that reinforces the behavior.

That little shot of dopamine, even for a negative habit, keeps us coming back for more, often against our best interests. It’s a chemical reward that overrides logic. But here’s the thing—when we approach habit-breaking with logic, not just willpower, we stand a much better chance of success.

The Power of Logic over Willpower

Willpower might help you resist a bad habit once or twice, but true change comes from reprogramming the logic of the habit loop. When we look at habits logically, we can design new behaviors that make success an inevitable outcome.

For example, I used this principle when developing the Throughput Improvement Process (TIP) at GM. Rather than rely on willpower or the force of authority, we redesigned the habit itself. By establishing new, positive routines and making them more attractive to employees, we increased profits by over $3 billion. Why? Because the plants that implemented TIP became “addicted” to it—they used it regularly because the process made goal achievement a tangible, repeatable success.

Breaking Bad Habits with Holistic Thinking

Habits can be powerful allies or formidable foes on the path to reaching your goals. That’s where Holistic Thinking comes in. By understanding and reprogramming habits, you can remove the constraints that hold you back. My approach helps individuals and organizations become “addicted” to success by redesigning habit loops, aligning routines with goals, and providing the insight needed for lasting change.

If you’re ready to break the habits that no longer serve you, reach out and Book an Appointment or set up a meeting at www.calendly.com/kevinkohls. Let’s set up a half-hour conversation to see how these methods can help you move toward your goals.

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Dream big and think smart!