Dear High Achiever:
Religion, politics and money management are topics I typically stay away from in my personal conversations and in the FYI ezine. But today, I’m going to use a quote from the Bible because, in my opinion, it best illustrates the importance of Self-Discipline.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28
Or, if that visual doesn’t work for you try this one:
Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
The most difficult thing to master while creating Your Best Year Ever! is YOU. Yes, there are secrets, strategies and skills sets you need to learn and develop in order to have a Best Year Ever!. But mastering the self-discipline to receive the benefits and dividends is where most people stumble.
Clear? Good. But, perhaps surprisingly, my challenge for you today is not, “Are you working on your self-discipline?”
FYI Takeaway: The question you must constantly ask yourself is, “Are my goals, passion and focus driving the decisions, actions and discipline to manifest what I want in my life?”
Below are ten examples of how self-discipline can pay great dividends in your life, from a person I think, and hope, I know fairly well — me.
? The discipline of 45 minutes of cardiovascular training 6 days a week … pays the dividend of a lean healthy body.
? The discipline of resistance weight training 4 days a week … pays the dividend of strength, endurance and muscle tone.
? The discipline of going to bed at 10:30 pm and waking up at 4:30 am … pays the dividend of 6 hours of restful sleep and an 18 hour productive day.
? The discipline of writing daily and polishing at least some part of that to share weekly with you in this FYI newsletter … pays the dividend of 50,000 words of focused thought a year — the equivalent of writing two books.
? The discipline of working 50 to 60 hours per week at a career I love and am passionate about … pays the dividend of creating an income so my family can experience all of the “good things” in life.
? The discipline of investing 2 to 3 hours of quality time each day with my family … pays the dividend of children developing a deep, loving relationship with their father.
? The discipline of eating 5 or 6 well-balanced healthy meals a day … pays the dividend of increased metabolism and lower body fat.
? The discipline of enriching my mind by reading or listening to positive, personal development books or audio programs 30 minutes each day … pays the dividend of higher self-esteem, self-confidence and creativity.
? The discipline of studying and mastering the art and science of sales, marketing and effective communication skills every day … pays the dividend of providing a high level of quality, service and advice to my clients.
? The discipline of nurturing my marriage, focusing on my wife’s needs and understanding what she really wants is beyond my comprehension. (Just kidding; had to break things up with a little humor.) The dividends of being a loving, caring partner and husband have transformed my life.
Easy for me to say? I want to be clear in my communication with you about Self-Discipline. It is the hardest thing for me and most people to master. For me, the things that drive my obsession with self-discipline are my goals and my level of personal expectations. I’m really hard on myself and I like to think, not to a fault. To be disciplined –
You must know what drives you. I want all of the good things life has to offer not only for me, but for my wife, and my kids, and the people I care most about.
It’s important. Sure I wake up at 4:30am every day to exercise for me. But I also do it so I don’t take away from family time and can actually have more energy for family time. My wife and kids are still sleeping when I’m exercising and writing. It’s a beautiful thing.
The importance of my self-discipline to train and write early in the morning so I can be 100% present and focused during Family Time is immeasurable. My hope is that the dividends will be paid when my kids have to make a really hard choice in life and they come to my wife and me for the answer because they know, love, trust and cherish the bond we developed throughout their life.
The BIG 168. You, me everybody else on this planet only get ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY EIGHT HOURS each week. That’s it. I’m like a drill-sergeant about time; it’s extremely valuable and I guard it closely. Self-Discipline and/or Time Discipline will determine your actions, your productivity and ultimately the quality of your life and your legacy.
*** If you enjoy reading our weekly FYI/TGIM Ezine but would like a daily jolt of motivation and inspiration - visit my new website and sign up for the Daily Inspirational Quote *** - www.EmpowermentGroup.com
Eric Taylor is the Chief Inspiration Officer of SelfGrowth.com and founder of New Jersey based Empowerment Group International. He delivers more than 100 energized and interactive keynotes, workshops and seminars each year to corporations, associations and tradeshows. He is the author of the Energy Passport, Co-creator of the Best Year Ever! Success System and Co-author of The Complete Sales Training Encyclopedia. To get complete details about Eric’s background, his products and services, visit Eric Taylor’s Blog and review Eric Taylor’s Profile.