Have you ever wondered how successful people have gotten to where they are today? Did they wake up one morning and have success handed to them on a silver platter? Were they born with a silver spoon in their mouth? Was it magic?
Sure, a few have had the proverbial silver platter or spoon, but for each one that has, there are countless others, the vast majority, who started from the bottom and worked their way to the top. I have experienced those leaders – the ones who have put in the hard work, who have dug deep and ground it out, pouring their hearts and souls into becoming the incredible leaders and people that they are today. It wasn’t by magic.
Do you know what it was?
It was self-discipline and the ability to maintain focus on what they wanted to achieve, never losing sight of their goals and dreams. It was simply hard work and self-discipline, not magic!
So, how do you become more self-disciplined?
Set a target.
It starts with setting goals AND writing them on paper. Would you shoot an arrow without a target? That would be super confusing and pointless really. What are you shooting at? To work hard, you need to have a goal, something to work hard towards. Where is the motivation if you don’t know what you’re working towards? Write down your daily goals, your weekly goals, and your monthly goals. Go on as long as you’d like! This gives each day purpose and intention. It helps to keep you focused and more productive. Not to mention, it’ll make it much harder to quit. When you make that commitment, and set that plan in front of you, you have a clear path to success.
Develop a routine and schedule.
Self-disciplined people may make life look easy but it’s because they have a plan for each day. They are not wandering aimlessly and allowing the day to direct them. They are directing the day. People with self-discipline have a routine, a schedule, and they stick to it.
Practice time management and organization.
Prioritize your tasks and maintain a systematic approach to them. Manage your distractions and write down your daily to-dos. The ability to do so is a key characteristic of the self-disciplined. This helps to create efficiency and an easier path to your goals.
Finally, take care of yourself.
Listen to your body. Self-disciplined people understand the impact of self-care. Being fit, healthy, and taking care of your well-being helps to keep energy high, the mind clear, and the body strong. Get quality rest and sleep. The human body requires the proper time to rest and re-energize. A well-balanced mind, body, and spirit will always contribute to the success of a leader.
None of this is magic. If you know someone who is successful and has achieved their goals and dreams understand that it was not by magic. It took hard work and discipline to get them to where they are today. If you are someone who could benefit from a healthy dose of self-discipline, I would encourage you to surround yourself with those that have it. Self-disciplined people are inspiring and motivating. They will help you to become a more effective leader and human. That’s where the real magic is!
