I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to be the central challenge facing our clients right now, along with the rest of our society. It's not an original concept by any means, but more and more I come to believe that it is the key to unlocking every success principle in existence.
Discipline.
Discipline may seem like an odd thing to emphasize- but I see the results of real discipline every day. I also see the results of the lack of discipline every day. Here's what I mean:
Think about anyone who you would consider to have "made it". You know the person- the woman who is the number one producer in your office and also has a family that loves her and is very close. Maybe you think of the guy who consistently outperforms everyone else and still has time to take numerous vacations AND train for a marathon. Perhaps you are envisioning the manager who genuinely loves developing the team and does a great job of it. Maybe you are considering your own track record right now. Whomever the example, picture clearly why they popped into your mind as an example of success. Now, if you watched that person very carefully, I guarantee you that you will see that nearly everything they do is purposeful, focused and disciplined. They are disciplined about setting goals and achieving them. They are disciplined about maintaining a great attitude, and they're likely very disciplined about how they use their time. You'll notice that when it's time to work, that individual WORKS- so that when it's time to play they can do so freely and without baggage.
On the other hand, consider the individual who perpetually seems to get the short end of the stick. You may know someone who is extremely intelligent, or is very positive and upbeat, or perhaps has a great sense of humor and everyone loves them. Everyone either knows somebody or is somebody who seems like they should be extremely successful in Life, but for some reason they just keep struggling and scraping by. If you watch that person very carefully, the underlying cause is almost always a lack of discipline- about Goals, about their Attitude, about how they use their Time, or about how they communicate- or maybe all of the above. Either way, I notice more and more that the most frequently occurring theme in the lives of truly successful men and women is the theme of discipline. As Albert Gray says in The Common Denominator of Success, they have "formed the habit of doing what unsuccessful people don't like to do". They are motivated by pleasing results rather than just pleasing activities. In other words, they are disciplined.
So then what I got thinking about was the question: "What is discipline?"
Well, I had heard once before that the word discipline has the same root as the word disciple. As in "a follower". Now I didn't want to get all super-religious or cultish on anyone, so I started thinking about what it actually means to be a disciple. I couldn't really put my finger on it until recently when the answer was physically handed to me in church. The sermon was called "Majoring in the Minors" and the notes at the bottom read as follows:
"?a disciple is one who stays focused on what really matters, and is careful about letting other less important issues or concerns get in the way."
Says it all, really. Again, I'm not trying to create some Cult of Personality here. I just encourage you as you begin this day, this week, this month, Your Life- stay focused on what really matters to you- at Work and in Life. Be careful about letting less important issues or concerns get in the way. I urge you?be a disciple of your own success.
Roger Seip is co founder of Freedom Speakers and Trainers www.deliverfreedom.com a national training company that focuses on memory training, goal setting, attitude management, time management and effective communication. He is an instructor as well as personal coach. Roger can be reached at 888-233-0407 ext 113 or www.deliverfreedom.com
top rated cleaning service Deerfield ..The Winner's Walk is a key strategy in the sport... Read More
I am unashamed to copy the peak performance techniques of... Read More
There are two things that will determine your success or... Read More
Reggie Yates, a pop song presenter, was singing on 7th... Read More
There is a difference but what constitutes a life... Read More
Unless you have been living in a cave, you have... Read More
When I was in college, I heard someone say something... Read More
A couple days ago I was listening to a CD... Read More
Often just one self-help principle can increase your power to... Read More
I've just sent an email to my mailing list based... Read More
The starting point of all great success and achievement is... Read More
Because Not All Skills Are Equal?Public Speaking MasteryHello,Tom Cruise is... Read More
Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More
This article is about a subject that few people think... Read More
Self-sabotage is one key factor that keeps our business from... Read More
If you ask most people whether they would like to... Read More
What if I told you that you could be more... Read More
There are so many internet marketing schemes out there so... Read More
How's the weather there?We use small talk to connect with... Read More
Routinely, I rise out of bed before the birds, and... Read More
Your mind is the only tool that can create success... Read More
This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More
The First step to success is to think and decide... Read More
Being organised is a major step to success and the... Read More
Many among us, on many instances, have the habit of... Read More
local house cleaners Highland Park ..Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds, was over fifty when... Read More
Most dictionary entries would define failure as the simple lack... Read More
If failure is the roadway, then Perseverance is the vehicle... Read More
I used to see a chiropractor who handed out a... Read More
Mike, his feet dangling above the city, opened his lunch... Read More
"When I think back on all the crap I learned... Read More
We all want success in life. We want success in... Read More
What if I told you that you could be more... Read More
Along with time and money, energy is one of your... Read More
Several years ago, I attended a "success" seminar in northern... Read More
Why is true success so rare?Why does research show that... Read More
You will have the greatest success if you read the... Read More
You teach others how to treat you by how you... Read More
"If you think you can or you think you can't... Read More
I am writing this article to cement two key success... Read More
How's the weather there?We use small talk to connect with... Read More
A company entitled "Made for Success" begs the question: Just... Read More
Walt Disney coined a special phrase for persistence and determination;... Read More
Formula For SuccessThe winners in this life know the rules... Read More
Coaching is about living great lives. It's about living lives... Read More
If you'd like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a... Read More
Perfect the fine art of the end run From time... Read More
Many people consider reading books a waste of time. It... Read More
The best way to predict your future is to create... Read More
An effective self- concept generates the desire to strive for... Read More
Success |