Once again, life is subjective.
I agree with the literature! There is no definition in any of the texts, formal or urban, that define the idiom "crack the whip" as an action given to oneself. The usage is explained consistently as that of a superior or boss making someone else work harder. It also has the propensity to have a bad connotation related to slavery. I don't use it at all. I simply gave an opinion. And you know what they say about opinions?
Of course you can reconfigure the idiom. You can do whatever you want. I am a native speaker of English and I can jumble around any expression, seriously or playfully. But, the normal, well-known idiom is not directed at oneself. If so, show me any works of literature that have done so, even colloquially.