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The Dark Side of Discipline: Stop Chasing. Suffer Less. Achieve More.

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Everything You Know About Discipline Is Wrong.

Discipline is not cold-plunging, joining the 5 AM Club, exercising twice per day, reading one book every week, or living with a Navy SEAL. True discipline requires you to put a Level 10 effort into your Level 10 problem and say "No!" to everything else.

Authors and business coaches Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum share simple yet powerful strategies for doing what you should do, when you should do it, no matter how you feel about doing it.

Inside, you will to leverage Effortless Discipline Systems and Higher Standards to achieve your big goals and dreamsThe one “North Star” decision required for achieving results faster and getting back on track whenever extreme obstacles get in your wayHow to quickly and easily shift your identity—a key element of high performance—so you can replace bad habits practically overnightA formula for creating your own personal standards of excellence that deliver your dream life without extreme sacrifices or suffering
The Dark Side of Discipline shows you how to figure out what matters—and what doesn't—to effortlessly and painlessly achieve your goals. Stop spending hundreds of hours chasing the wrong path to success. Are you ready to apply a Level 10 effort to your Level 10 problems automatically?

Start Achieving More—Today!

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2025

57 people are currently reading
112 people want to read

About the author

Craig Ballantyne

29 books32 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Carlos Perea.
178 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2025
Just incredible

Reading this book reminded me that reading can be a healing, self-empowering exercise of growth. In my opinion, this book is more a guide that helps people find and challenge themselves and invites them to make changes, eventhough if they are small, are the first step to attracting and doing extraordinary things. The narrative and structure of the book are part of the success of this read, the narrative is easy and the structure makes the reading exercise an incredible journey. Another aspect that caught my attention is the way the chapters are organized; they are short and this is great because the message is more forceful. If you are looking to organize your life and achieve important changes, this book is a great recommendation.
Profile Image for Jody Dyer.
Author 10 books23 followers
June 23, 2025
Smart. Concise. Game-changing.

This book helps you finally understand the difference between routines, habits, discipline, and standards. No more checklist overwhelm allowed! Instead of chasing someone else’s system, you learn how to set your own internal standards—and stick to them so that you work less, earn more, and have "freedom through [the right kinds of] discipline."

These guys get the entrepreneur’s brain and weekly chaos like no one else. —Jody Dyer, Author and CEO of Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,822 followers
March 30, 2025
‘How to deliver you dream life without extreme sacrifices or suffering’ – A must read!

Authors Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum are business coaches and in this valuable boo0k they present how to re-think discipline from a negative to a positive - ‘doing what you should do, when you should do it, no matter how you feel about doing it.’ As stated in the early pages, after a fine description of the negative aspects of rigid discipline, ‘Discipline can set you free in the short term, but only through the setting of high personal standards can you remain free for life.’ The authors’ three phases for evolvement – build effortless discipline systems to deliver sustainable results, create a strong identity (personal traits that characterize us), and establish personal standards that make success automatic. How to achieve this – ‘prioritize what truly matters and understand how to achieve goals.’

One of the many reasons this book is so valuable as a guide is the manner in which the authors communicate: ‘With your new systems, identity, and a higher set of standards, you become unstoppable in every area of life – from the boardroom to the living room.’ ‘To find true discipline, you have to back up. First, you must figure out what matters in your life. We call this identifying your values and vision…’ Reading and absorbing this excellent guide provides meaningful concepts for a healthy and successful life. Very informative and valuable!!!
Profile Image for Eric F.
283 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2025
I really liked The Dark Side of Discipline by Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum. The book made me rethink what discipline really means. Growing up, I always thought discipline was about sticking to a strict routine, pushing myself hard every day, and never taking a break. I used to think this way about sports too. I remember forcing myself to train for hours without really thinking about how to focus my energy in the right areas. But after reading this book, I realized that true discipline isn’t about relentless grind, it’s about focusing on the most important things and making smart decisions.

What I liked most about this book is how it challenges the traditional idea of discipline. Instead of pushing yourself through unnecessary suffering, it teaches you to prioritize what truly matters. The book helped me understand that discipline can lead to success without burnout. It’s more about working smarter, not harder.
Profile Image for Maps  R.
396 reviews10 followers
March 20, 2025
Social media puts a lot of pressure on us, making it seem like everyone is successful, and discipline has become a defining characteristic for many. We see people doing all sorts of random things recommended by coaches to strengthen their discipline, but is it actually worth it?

This book opened my eyes to these concerns. I was once part of these trends, following random advice from coaches. What I loved about this book is its perspective on discipline, it’s not just about achieving what I want, but also about how to approach life reality with discipline. It teaches how to face challenges and problems by giving your best effort. True growth happens when you tackle a level 10 problem with level 10 effort, this is when your life truly transforms, and you start seeing things differently.

Reaching a level 10 effort in tasks we might want to avoid is not easy, but this book will guide you through the process, and in the end, you will be grateful for it.
Profile Image for Rocio.
342 reviews4 followers
June 14, 2025

This book challenged everything I thought I knew about discipline, and I loved it. The Dark Side of Discipline isn’t about cold showers or waking up at 4:00 a.m. just to prove something. It’s about clarity, priorities, and building a system that supports your actual goals, not someone else’s version of hustle. Craig and Daniel cut through the noise and offer practical tools that feel doable, even for someone juggling work, family, and life. I especially appreciated the concept of putting “Level 10 effort into Level 10 problems.” It made me realize how much energy I’ve wasted chasing distractions. The book also helps you rethink your identity and how to align it with your vision without burnout. I’d recommend this to anyone tired of feeling like they’re “doing everything” but getting nowhere. It’s focused, honest, and surprisingly motivating. Discipline doesn’t have to be punishment, and this book proves it.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,389 reviews32 followers
March 20, 2025
When we think of discipline, we automatically think of some kind of restriction to achieve something, but discipline is a habit that each person develops based on their commitment and self-control, also factoring in their behavior and personality. As individuals, we plan, define our objectives and goals, and design the step-by-step process to achieve them.
In "The Dark Side of Discipline", authors Ballantyne and Woodrum share simple yet effective strategies for doing what you should do, when you should do it, regardless of how you feel about it. They also help readers navigate and create their own personal standards of excellence that will allow them to achieve the life of their dreams without sacrifice or extreme suffering.
I think this is a great read with many tools at the reader's disposal to benefit from.
Profile Image for Melissa Hernandez.
412 reviews17 followers
April 4, 2025
This was a nice book to read. I appreciate that Craig Ballantyne laid out the fact that there is not a "one size fits all" approach in discipline and in becoming a better person for yourself. We always see these videos where folks are doing this set routine and say how everyone else should do it, too. Ballantyne argues that routine fits them and we shouldn't expect it to fit us. Everyone is different, every situation is different, thus every discipline is going to be different. The one thing I really resonated with in this book is just the self reflection after trying to do better things after one day, after ten days, after a month, and so forth. It's okay if you fall off the wagon, but acknowledge why you did, and get back on the wagon. It's a reminder to reflect and focus on yourself truly.
Profile Image for Ivana S..
546 reviews11 followers
May 31, 2025
The Dark Side of Discipline is a refreshing take on productivity and goal-setting that challenges the overhyped hustle culture. I found this book incredibly practical and honest. Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum strip discipline down to its core: focusing deeply on what truly matters and saying no to everything else. The advice isn’t about trendy routines—it’s about clarity, priorities, and building systems that actually work for real life. I appreciated the blend of motivational tone with concrete strategies, especially the emphasis on identity shifts and creating personal standards. It feels like a mindset reset more than just another productivity manual. I always felt overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and chasing unrealistic habits but this book provided me a simpler, smarter path to success. Clear, grounded, and highly useful—it really delivers.
Profile Image for Carlos Romero.
302 reviews6 followers
March 19, 2025
Honestly, the title "The Dark Side of Discipline" initially gave me some doubts about what I was going to read, I was expecting some kind of harsh approach. But this book is anything but that. It's actually a really smart and surprisingly amazing declaration on how to actually get things done without burning yourself out. He turns the speech on the traditional idea of discipline being all about endless sacrifice.
What I really liked about this book is his emphasis on focusing on the right things, those "level 10 problems" as he calls them. It's so easy to get caught in busywork, but the author gives clear and actionable advice to identify what moves you to do the work and aim for a bigger objective.
Profile Image for Lina Perea.
389 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2025
A new concept of discipline

This book breaks the paradigms about the concept of discipline and how to act to achieve it.
The Dark Side of Discipline teaches that you should give importance to the problem that really deserves it, and not spend energy and time on those that are not worth it. In other words, it teaches to prioritize, with this attitude avoids wasting energy, time, that we can use in other things that are truly important.
Through a series of strategies, with an easy-to-understand vocabulary, authors Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum teach how to prioritize problems.
It is a reading that takes the reader by the hand from the easiest to the most complex about the new concept of discipline, making it easier to understand.
Profile Image for Rodrigo J.
377 reviews5 followers
March 20, 2025
A paradigm shift.

Wow, I found this book really interesting because it challenges an old belief and takes us into a new way of thinking about discipline. The authors are right in pointing out that the way we used to view discipline often led us into a constant world of inner struggles, stress, and exhaustion, which frequently did not lead to anything and made us feel frustrated when we did not see the expected results.

With the advice provided by the authors, we can ensure a much calmer, more effective, and, above all, healthier lifestyle by being smarter and more strategic without falling into the trap of burnout.

From this book, I learned that discipline should not be synonymous with suffering or extreme sacrifice.
Profile Image for Chico's Mom.
959 reviews9 followers
March 22, 2025
This book shares an interesting take and approach to discipline, a real one, not something that others set for you—identifying what's important, the real problems, and working through that and for that. As we go through stages of our careers and even our lives, we find things that we lack or are envious of others for having and thinking how they did that. The peak performance pyramid helped me understand what the author is sharing: motivation drives performance, and your standards keep you on track. We did our perfect life vision as husband and wife and saw how we had accomplished big things and the path we had to take to overcome one of our significant challenges. It is a great book; it would motivate you to do better and have a more positive outlook.
Profile Image for Gianfranco.
571 reviews7 followers
March 22, 2025
God thank you for this book

I was always reluctant to believe that in order to achieve success you had to have that excessive discipline. Now, with this book, I confirm that true discipline is in practicality and in learning to prioritize and attack the bigger problems that need to be attacked faster. The book has motivated me to be much more skeptical of the theory that everyone has of “everything is urgent” because when you look at it in detail and with a more sensitive eye, there are definitely more urgent and important things to take care of in your daily life. It is not about putting out daily fires, on the contrary, it is about analyzing to know how much time you have before the fire starts. Excellent book.
Profile Image for CarlitasFox.
1,471 reviews28 followers
March 22, 2025
A great read
I came across “The Dark Side of Discipline” by the coaches Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum, who give readers strategies to achieve their objectives with discipline and vocation. There are several steps that people can follow to do what they wish at the right moment. It's not a matter of luck, it’s a matter of commitment, discipline and responsibility. With those qualities, anyone will be able to chase the right path and success in life without suffering.
Along the pages, the authors explain a formula that will aid people to get what they want and live a dreamed life.
It’s an interesting, complete and useful read that teaches to refine objectives, habits and goals. Without a doubt, I recommend it.


Profile Image for L Becerra.
394 reviews10 followers
March 23, 2025
Life-changing book!

Undoubtedly, this is a life-changing book! I’m really glad I read it. This book caught my attention at first because I’m a long-distance runner and a triathlete. Of course, to prepare myself, I must be highly disciplined and have well-defined routines. However, what I didn’t expect when I started reading it was that it would challenge the way I had been practicing discipline in my life.

Reading this book completely transformed how I viewed discipline and how I approached my passions and daily tasks, often prioritizing things that weren’t truly important. The authors, through real-life examples and personal experiences, help readers understand discipline, shift their focus, and channel their energy into what is truly essential and meaningful.
Profile Image for Daniel Moreno.
842 reviews16 followers
March 23, 2025
Amazing book!

I haven't been very disciplined in my life. I truly believe that discipline is born with you, not built. And this book has changed my way of thinking a bit, as it shows us that each person is an individual and can align their discipline. I really like the main story, as it tells of a friend who is participating in an online challenge. He successfully completes it, ruining his marriage in the process. Instead of being disciplined about what matters, he lets someone else define what a disciplined life looks like. With this story, I realized that other people can often overrule my decisions. I also realized that every decision counts. I really liked this book, its structure, and everything it contains.
Profile Image for AMR CAMI .
370 reviews12 followers
March 25, 2025
Wonderful and useful book.

What an amazing book. This powerful exploration made me comprehend and understand how discipline in some cases can harm rather than help. Through the use of real life examples and psychological insights, the book highlights how excessive control can leave lasting emotional scars on people. I really loved how the author ended up making the readers reflect on how discipline impacts self confidence, mental health, and relationships. The author emphasizes the importance of balancing boundaries with empathy, wanting to empower rather than to suppress.
Overall, this thought provoking book challenges us to reconsider how we use and apply discipline, offering tips to endurance growth and understanding, rather than fear or conformity.
Profile Image for Píaras Cíonnaoíth.
Author 143 books206 followers
March 30, 2025
How True Discipline Creates Freedom...

In a society obsessed with rigorous routines and incessant self-denial, The Dark Side of Discipline deconstructs harmful myths, encouraging readers to direct their energy towards what genuinely matters. Ballantyne and Woodrum contend that success is not achieved through random suffering, but by harmonizing effort with purpose—eliminating distractions to facilitate development. Their framework relies on identity transformations, optimized systems, and steadfast standards, converting discipline from a conflict zone into a guiding principle. This approach is both practical and profound, freeing achievers from burnout and demonstrating that clarity, rather than chaos, drives enduring outcomes. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Steven Finkelstein.
983 reviews12 followers
May 24, 2025
Many people attempt to live their lives with discipline, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you have discipline, that often enables you to achieve great things that you otherwise could not. However, discipline can work to your disadvantage as well, particularly if you allow the rigidity of your actions to take the joy out of your life.

This book explains how you can have discipline for the parts of your life that matter while still finding enjoyment in it. If you follow the tips in these pages, you can go from someone who is successful but who frets over every little thing to an individual who only applies discipline when it is absolutely required. The difference should mean less stress and an enhanced sense of general wellbeing.
Profile Image for Marina  Lujan .
926 reviews15 followers
May 30, 2025
Discipline has always been a problem for me. I battle with it every day, and I frequently get upset when I don't get the results I'm hoping for. This book gave me a lot of motivation because it teaches you how to concentrate on the important things rather than trying to sell you unachievable routines or excessive formulas. My inability to say "no" to things that divert me and my need to do everything at once became apparent to me. It gave me specific tools to begin creating behaviors that are more in line with my objectives and assisted me in reevaluating my priorities.

I believe that by maintaining my attention, I may develop my discipline in a way that is more organic and long-lasting for me. It was definitely a much-needed read. I highly recommend it.

Profile Image for Almiria.
746 reviews10 followers
May 31, 2025
If you have ever struggled with sticking to a diet plan, an exercise regime, a budget, a New Year’s resolution (isn’t that all of us?), then you need to read The Dark Side of Discipline by Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum. Many of us want to live a life of discipline and achieving goals in theory but fail at in practice. And blame ourselves for the failure. The authors of this book teach an invaluable lesson: society teaches us the wrong approach to discipline and that is the reason many (most?) of us chronically fail at it. With the insights and guidelines this guide provides, you will learn how to revolutionize your approach to setting goals and “being disciplined” by focusing on what matters the most to you.
Profile Image for Lauraforero.
287 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2025
Reading The Dark Side of Discipline felt like a relief. I’ve always struggled with discipline because it seemed harsh and joyless. But this book reframed everything. It made me realize that discipline isn’t about doing more, but in fact, it’s about doing less of the wrong things. I appreciated how real it felt. The advice wasn’t dramatic or overwhelming. It actually made me pause and think about how I’ve been approaching my goals. I liked the tone, firm, but not pushy. The authors write like they care, and that made a difference. It’s helped me let go of guilt and focus on the few things that really count. I didn’t expect a mindset shift, but that’s exactly what I got. I feel calmer now, and oddly more motivated too. It’s a book I’ll revisit often.
Profile Image for Francisco Stábile.
19 reviews
June 19, 2025
Challenging

This book kind of punched me in the gut—in a good way. It made me see how much time I waste pretending to be busy. I always thought discipline was about willpower, but this book helped me understand it’s really about clarity. I liked how the authors didn’t sugarcoat anything. They challenge you without shaming you. It made me reflect on my excuses and rethink my standards. I even changed how I structure my mornings after reading it. The writing is simple but powerful. I didn’t feel judged, just guided. What stood out most was the message that you don’t need to suffer to succeed. That gave me hope. It’s rare for a book to feel both motivating and kind, but this one does. I’m glad I picked it up.
Profile Image for Camilo.
397 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2025
Rechargable

This book is truly inspirational, and leads the reader to stop and reflect and make changes in their life. From the first moment, I felt that the reader was speaking directly to me, the language, although at certain times can be "harsh" and strict but is necessary. In my case, I felt it was what I needed with the right words. He is precise in his advice and really approaches it differently than traditional books or narratives Discipline and change are nothing more than an internal disposition. The great message of the book is what I would summarize in the following phrase "it's up to me, from me depends”. Great book and highly recommended.
Profile Image for Diana.
386 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2025
The Dark Side of Discipline is a read that made me reflect and opened my eyes to everything I thought I knew about discipline and success. Before reading this book, I believed that being productive meant being a multitasker, and I filled myself with too many tasks to do more. However, with this book, I discovered that, contrary to what I thought, to be fully productive, we must focus solely on what will truly make a significant difference in our lives. It's no longer about doing more things, but rather doing the right things with maximum focus and effort. I feel like I unlocked a very important level of success with this book, and that's why I  recommend this book.
Profile Image for Margarita Garcia.
1,027 reviews22 followers
March 20, 2025
Helpful book!

Being disciplined is not always an easy thing. Lack of discipline often leads to a variety of problems, including lack of productivity, health issues, financial problems, low self-esteem, and more. ''The Dark Side of Discipline'' offers a different perspective on how discipline should be approached so as not to fail in the attempt. This book will help you set clear goals, eliminate distractions, develop self-control, and generally stay motivated. This is a book that will help you change your way of thinking and challenge you to be better. This is a helpful book with strategies that will take you to the next level. It is easy to read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for S Tyty.
1,276 reviews29 followers
March 20, 2025
On point

I never thought I would buy a book with this title since I consider myself a disciplined person. I’m glad I picked it since these authors have helped me open up my eyes.
The main objective of this book seems to be helping us achieve more while enjoying more and get rid of those limits we set up for our daily routines.
The narrative makes us think about what discipline really is through the challenges the authors propose.
After reading this book, success, discipline, feeling that I don’t have time, and feeling tired do not mean the same to me.
I absolutely loved this book! It is a life-changing reading experience.
Profile Image for Ivan M.
838 reviews22 followers
March 21, 2025
Having discipline in life is one of the keys to achieving success, something that the authors of this book understand perfectly. Over the pages, Craig and Daniel share their expertise and deliver a book that is highly intuitive and easy to follow, helping the reader to focus on what's important while avoiding procrastination.

Personally, it was a mind-changing book. It's always been hard for me to focus on the important, always choosing the easy way out. This book made me think about the future and concentrate my efforts on a single target. I recommend this book for people who struggle with organization or want to trade bad habits for healthy ones.
Profile Image for Mariana.
653 reviews13 followers
March 21, 2025
We have all felt overwhelmed at some time with the subject of discipline, it is something that we are taught from an early age, but in this book I discovered that it is something totally different from what I have always thought. With this book you will understand what discipline really is and above all that it should not be the same for everyone, just because you don't get up at 5 am, exercise, eat healthy, it doesn't mean that you are a disciplined person. I loved each of the steps and strategies in the reading, I think I managed to better understand how to achieve my goals, how to overcome the obstacles and above all, to create my own personal standards of excellence.
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