This breaks down when you stop caring about things. Say I want to learn French but ... not enough to put in the work. Give it up right? Say I want to look like a responsible and professional programmer but I still can't be bothered to show up to meetings. Why does it matter anyway? This yields a cycle of self-loathing and powerlessness.

So I prefer to focus on positive rewards for doing things instead of the consequences of avoiding them. And build from there.