willpower

Part of my book dealt with willpower and self control as a cure for procrastination.  Makes sense, but how do you build willpower?  Is it something you either have or don't?  Most people believe you can increase your willpower with a bit of work, but a new school of thought espouses that we have all got a good amount of willpower and it's just modern life that makes it hard to not be distracted and procrastinate.  The New York Times reports on this line of thinking.  What do you think?