Commitment Penalty System

A system for maintaining personal accountability by penalizing broken commitments with increased workload, as described by Sabri Suby.

Core Philosophy

• Binary approach to commitments - either fully commit or don't commit at all
• Avoid lying to yourself about what you'll do
• Build trust with yourself by keeping promises you make
• Penalize yourself when commitments are broken to reinforce accountability

The Penalty System

• When commitments are broken, you must do MORE of the original task
• The "tax" is always increased volume of the thing you failed to do
• Goal is to teach the "little voice" what behaviors are acceptable
• System creates a deterrent against making excuses

Implementation Examples

• Skipping gym → Must do original workout plus extra exercises like hill sprints
• Missing work targets → Increased workload/targets for next session
• Breaking daily habits → Must do additional repetitions to make up for it

Key Benefits

• Creates strong accountability mechanism
• Reduces likelihood of breaking future commitments
• Builds self-discipline and reliability
• Teaches you to be realistic about what you commit to
• Helps silence the "little voice" making excuses

Mindset Approach

• Don't make commitments you aren't sure about
• Better to explicitly not commit than to commit and fail
• Accept the penalty when you fall short - no exceptions
• Use the system to build trust with yourself over time

The system aims to create a feedback loop where breaking commitments becomes increasingly unattractive, leading to better follow-through on personal promises.