The Coach Carter Contract for Life

Article #122 of Life Unlocked - A newsletter by Dr Yath Prem, MD

Dear Friends,

Have you ever noticed how a contract changes everything?

You sign a contract and suddenly rent is due on the apartment every month. You sign a contract at work and suddenly you are required to work X hours a week whilst obeying the terms of your employee contract. There’s something binding about contracts. They create accountability, commitment, and a sense of responsibility.

That’s why I’m writing a new kind of contract. Not with a landlord, not with an employer, but with myself. Why now and what do I mean? I want to get back into content creation. But I know myself all too well. My motivation fluctuates, my inspiration comes in waves, and I easily get distracted.

If I rely on feeling like it, I’ll get nowhere and probably quit after a few weeks.

If you’ve seen the movie Coach Carter, you know where this idea comes from. By the way, it’s one of my all-time favourites. In the movie, the high school basketball players signed a contract, not just to play, but to hold themselves to a higher standard in all of life. Their contract made them accountable, and accountability is what turns their ambition into actual success.

So, from March I’m signing a contract with myself and here’s what it’ll look like.

Dear Me,

Commitment Clause: I, [My Name], commit to creating and sharing content consistently, even when I don’t feel like it.

Minimum Viable Effort Clause: I will post at least [X] pieces of content per week, no matter what. Even if it’s small, even if it’s imperfect.

No Excuses Clause: Life will get busy. I will plan ahead and not let "I didn't have time" be an excuse.

Growth Clause: I will improve with every piece of content, learning from mistakes and iterating.

No Burnout Clause: I will create with joy, not pressure. If I need a break, I will take a strategic one, not an unplanned disappearance.

Signed by Me.

Self-contracts are powerful because they shift your mindset. When you make a promise to yourself in writing, it becomes more real. It’s no longer just an idea, it’s a commitment.

My first contract with myself will be about content creation. But it doesn’t have to stop there. Here are some areas where you could have contracts:

• A fitness contract to finally get in shape.

• A career contract to push yourself toward that next milestone.

• A well-being contract to prioritise sleep, mindfulness, and self-care.

The key is to make it clear, measurable, and non-negotiable.

So, here’s my challenge to you: write your own contract.

Put it somewhere visible. Sign it. Obey it.

If you wouldn’t break a contract with someone else, why break one with yourself?

Have a great week,

Dr Yath Prem, MD

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Quote of the week:

“There’s nothing wrong with planning, but you can spend a lifetime making a plan that never turns into action.” — The $100 Startup

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