Is the Environment Really More Important Than Motivation?

It may be tempting to attribute failure to a lack of will or a scarcity of talent and to attribute success to hard work and determination. These things are certainly important, but the interesting thing is that if you look at how human behavior has been shaped over time, you will discover that motivation and talent are often overrated. In many cases, the environment is more important.

Note: This article is taken from the writer James Clear, who tells us about the effect of the environment on acquiring good habits and sticking to them easily.

Form of human behavior

In his book Guns, Germs, and Steel, anthropologist and biologist Jared Diamond points out the simple fact that different continents have different shapes. At first glance, this may seem intuitive and somewhat insignificant. Still, it later turns out that it has a profound impact on human behavior, as the main axis of the Americas runs from north to south, and this means that the landmasses of North and South America tend to be long and narrow, not wide. And the same applies to Africa, while the land area that includes Europe, Asia, and the Middle East is the opposite, as this vast expanse of land tends to be more from east to west in terms of shape. According to Diamond, this difference in form played an important role in the spread of agriculture over the centuries.

The amazing power of the environment

When agriculture began to spread worldwide, it was easier for farmers to expand along east-west routes than north-south routes. This is because regions located along the same latitude generally have the same climate, sunshine, rain, and seasonal changes. These factors allowed farmers in Europe and Asia to domesticate many crops and grow them across the entire land area from France to China.

In comparison, the climate varies greatly when traveling from north to south. For example, imagine how different the weather is in Florida compared to Canada. Even if you are the most talented farmer in the world, it will not help you grow Florida oranges in Canada during the winter because snow is a poor substitute for soil.

Farmers needed to find and domesticate new plants to spread crops along the north-south routes as the climate changed. As a result, agriculture spread across Asia and Europe two to three times faster than it did in the Americas, and this small difference had a significant impact over the centuries. Increased food production led to faster population growth, which helped these cultures build stronger armies and better develop new technologies.

The changes started small in these areas as crops spread a little further; the population grew slightly faster, but these changes compounded over time.

The invisible hand

The environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior, but we tend to believe that our habits are the product of our drive, talent, and effort, and these qualities are certainly important. But the surprising thing is that the environment trumps your personality traits, especially over a long period.

There is no evidence that farmers in Europe and Asia were more talented or motivated than farmers in the rest of the world, yet they were able to spread agriculture two to three times faster than their peers. If you want to increase your chances of success, you need to work in an environment that accelerates your results rather than hinders them.

Designing a better environment

There are several ways to design an environment that promotes success, and here are three strategies:

1. Automate good decisions

Design an environment that makes good decisions for you. For example, buying smaller plates can help you lose weight by limiting your portion size. A study by Brian Wansink at Cornell University found that people ate 22% less when replacing 12-inch dinner plates with 10-inch plates. Using apps to block social media sites may help you overcome procrastination by automatically taking appropriate actions.

2. Going in the same direction

A few years ago, the PetSmart chain changed its checkout process. After customers swiped their credit cards, a screen appeared asking them if they wanted to donate “to help save stray animals.” PetSmart Charities raises only $40 million a year through this strategy.

You, too, can apply a similar strategy by designing an environment in which good habits lead to your normal behaviors. For example, if you want to play a musical instrument, you can place it in the middle of the living room. You're also more likely to go to the gym if it's on your way home than if it's just five minutes away in the opposite direction. So, build your habits to fit the trend of your current patterns whenever you can.

3. Getting rid of negative influences

Ancient farmers did not have the opportunity to remove their obstacles, but you did. For example, Japanese TV manufacturers have rearranged their workspaces to save time by eliminating unnecessary bending and turning. You, too, can reduce negative impacts on your environment. For example, you can avoid unhealthy foods by storing them in inconspicuous places. Foods placed at eye level tempt you to buy and eat them frequently.

Environment Impact

We are quick to blame our environment when things go wrong, so if you lose your job, it's because the economy is bad; If you lose a match, it is because the management was bad; If you are late for work, it is because of crowding; But when we win, we completely ignore the environment; If you got a job, it was because you were talented and popular; If you win a game, it's because you played better; If you arrive at the meeting early, it's because you're organized and punctual.

It is important to remember that the environment drives both our good and bad behaviors. People who easily adopt good habits often benefit from an environment that makes their behavior easier. People who struggle to succeed may be fighting an uphill battle against their environment. What often appears as a lack of will results from a bad environment.

Life is a game, and if you want to ensure better results over a long period, the best way is to play the game in an environment that suits you. Winners often win because their environment makes winning easier.