17 Dec 2025 · 0 min
This is a short podcast episode (mini-chapter) in which Brian Johnson advises adopting a 100% non-negotiable commitment to desired habits (or stopping undesired ones). He contrasts 99% commitment—vulnerable to the "one day off" voice—with 100% commitment as the practical solution, and closes with a call-to-action to access his book and newsletter.
You're listening to Optimize with Bryan Johnson. More wisdom in less time. This is a mini chapter from Brian's book, A Philosopher's Notes. You can find it on Amazon.
99% is a bitch, 100% is a breeze. Jack, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Canfield has a great line. He says 99% is a bitch, 100% is a breeze. That's classic. Are you looking to start a new habit? That thing you just know you could be doing that'd totally take your life to the next level if you did it consistently? Might be meditating, exercising, journaling, reading more eating well, or some other empowering habit you could add to your life. Or you might be trying to stop an old habit. Might be no longer yelling at your kids or zoning out in front of the TV aimlessly, surfing the Internet, smoking, drinking, whatever. If you failed to make a habit either stick or go away, I'd be willing to bet you have a 99% at best commitment. But as Sir Can Field tells us, 99% is a bitch. 100%. That's where it's at. Let's say you commit to meditating every day for the rest of your life. One of my commitments that I've been rocking for two plus years at this point now, you're bound to wake up one day with that whiny little voice inside your head that says, you know, we deserve a day off today. I mean, come on, we're tired. What's one day off? Don't be a freak about it. Relax. If you only have a 99% commitment, you might respond with, hmm, you know, you're right. We do deserve a day off. Huh? Well, one day won't hurt. Yeah, let's just take today off and then we'll crush it tomorrow and wham, you're screwed. Habit installation thwarted. Ten days later, you wonder what happened to your meditation practice. The solution? We've gotta identify what's really important in our lives. Then pick one thing we're absolutely 100% committed to. Rockin'. And make our commitment non negotiable. Not 99% or 99.8%. 100%. Then when that little whiny voice pops up, which it will, we just ignore it and go on with creating an awesome life. So what are you gonna make a 100% commitment to?
We hope you enjoyed this mini chapter from Brian's book, A Philosopher's Notes. Want more wisdom in less time delivered in your inbox? Sign up for Brian's free daily newsletter, the Optimizer and get the full ebook and audiobook at brianjohnson ME apn.
