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Success Requires Discipline

Guest post by: Manny Nowak

Article Overview: So you have spent the last week working and getting to understand persistence and are now ready to roll forward with discipline. I think one thing you may just have learned, persistence requires discipline. But you will now also learn that discipline requires persistence.

Success Requires Discipline

So you have spent the last week working and getting to understand persistence and are now ready to roll forward with discipline. I think one thing you may just have learned, persistence requires discipline. But you will now also learn that discipline requires persistence.

“The everyday process of focusing on what you want. And striving for it relentlessly until you get it.” Jeffrey Gitomer – Sales Bible.

“The secret of discipline is motivation, when a man is sufficiently motivated, discipline will take care of itself.” Alexander Patterson.

Two excellent quotes. How are you doing with discipline in your life, business, career and family. Do you have or don't you?

Today a want to share with you some simple keys of being disciplined. I will share them though the use of an acrostic of the word discipline. What discipline means and how to make it happen in your life. How to take control and create greater success in all you do. So here we go.

D – Decision making ability.

To be disciplined you have to be able to make decisions and make them at the time they need to be made. This is one of those great skills that so few ever get hold of. But it might just be the most important skill you ever attain.

I learned it in my first real management job. My boss, Nate was just plain the best. He did not beat me up for doing the wrong thing, he did not give me a hard time about what I did. He gave me a hard time about not making a decision. He taught me the principle I have lived and work by since that time in my 20's. Simply put – make a decision, if you make the wrong one, then make another one. At least you are moving. You all know that is how I operate and try to teach you, it is simply easier and more effective to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

I – Integrity

The lost art of living and telling the truth. How can you have disciple if you have to keep remembering what is truth and what is not. If you live and work and operate only under the truth, life becomes so much simpler and discipline becomes so much simpler.

If you want to have great discipline, then keep it simple and always tell, live and work the truth. Try it an see what happens.

S – Short cuts

Forget short cuts. Instead learn to take the narrow road. The wide road, or the road of least resistance is also the road of least success. That road is not for you. When you get to those forks in life, when you have to make those tough decisions, remember, take the right road, not the easiest road.

This is a major problem today and why fewer and fewer people today have integrity. We are always looking for the easy way out. We know what has to be done to get the job done. But instead of just doing it, we try to find the short cut. Disciplined people know what has to be done to make it work, and they do it.

C – Character.

Do what you said you where going to do, when you said you where going to do it, the way you said you where going to do it.

“The ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” Elbert Hubband

Imagine the difference when you walk this way.

I – Investor.

To be disciplined you must be an investor, not a gambler.

When I tell people it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, they sometimes put that into the realm of gambling. I think it is actually the other way around. You see by doing nothing, you are gambling that it will be OK. In most cases doing nothing makes nothing happen, that is a gamble. Make the investment in taking a risk, in making the decision, in doing what you need to do. Then watch what happens.

P – Prepare.

You cannot prepare when it is time to get rolling – it is to late.

For many of us, our mom's taught us this simple principle, but as we grew we though we knew better – we didn't.

Prepare for what you have to do.

Get the stuff together.

Get what you you need to do the job.

Be ready, have it together when the opportunity presents itself.

When you are prepared – you cannot be stopped.

L Listening.

When you open your ears and shut your mouth you will be amazed at how different things look. You will be amazed.

Listen to what is going on around you.

Listen to those on your team.

Listen to your inter self.

Then make a decision and move forward.

I Initiative

It doesn't just happen and if you think it does, you are wrong. You have to make it happen through your action. Stop thinking about it and start moving forward.

How many are sitting around still waiting for it to happen?

To many.

Discipline requires you to do something, to move forward, to make it happen.

N – No.

Busy people don't know how to say no. That is why instead of being productive, they are busy.

To be disciplined you have to know how to say “NO”.

You have to be willing to say “NO”.

You have to say “NO”.

Think about all the times you got into trouble.

You got to much to do – because you could not say “no”, now you have to take short-cuts.

You knew you couldn't do it, but you could not say “no”.

You know you shouldn't, but you can't say “no”.

Am I getting through? Learn to say no and say “NO”.

E – Extra mile.

Discipline people don't just get it done, they get it done right. They do more than the minimum.

They go that extra mile.

They do things, but they don't just do them. They do them to the best of their abilities and then even more. Are you ready to do that? Can you do it?

Simple enough right?

Can you do it?

This week, start working these simple steps and watch what happens to your life. Once you learn real discipline you will be amazed at the results.

So stop thinking about it, stop hesitating and get moving.

Build yourself into that very disciplined person – starting today.

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Article Tags: business coaching, discipline, life coaching, persistence



Related Forum Posts
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Success = Thinking (Head) + Heart (Feeling / Interest) + Hand (doing/ action). Success - H3 Robert
Re: Make millions with this software - Hi ideasprosperity, Very good post. It is a real challenge. I think we all can benefit doing a '30 day challenge', especially as we face so much distraction. One thing I learned from a Internet marketer, do not read the emails several times a day. It results in responding and consequently wastes the time. Just one point I will raise, life can get in the way. Discipline is very important factor to keep going on without getting sidetracked. We benefit by being on course like Mike Dillard suggested: Make a list the night before for the following day. It is good to read the previous post several times so that it will sink in to make a difference. Be encouraged
Re: Cash up front ... or Royalties? - There are so many amazing stories here. Most my inventions were created on the job and are the property of my employer. Cash up front if you are out of options is what some people must do. These people may consider a 5 year contract. This would allow them to renegotiate another license when they are stronger financially. Truth is most people that are in financial trouble today are still in trouble 5 years later. Discipline and control of your own life is priceless. An example of cash up front versus royalties is "Star Wars" Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) took cash up front. He needed the money. Alec Ginness (Obiwankonbi) took royalties. I believe the force is still paying.
Different types of funding - Business Relationship Funding This is another source of funds that can be overlooked. It may be possible to introduce potential alliances to add value to both parties. It may produce an ultimate exit route in the medium to long term. Joint Ventures: Requires a legal agreement embodying the deal and another company Partnerships: Two companies collaborate with possible funding. Joint working relationships: These are an informal partnership which may be more project specific where the parties can share resources. Agencies: These can be geographical or product specific and generally incorporates a payment for the right to the agency. Distributors: Very like an agency but may not necessarily involve up front payment. Alliances: These do not require a separate company and can be embodied by a legal agreement to work together. Trade investors: Otherwise known as Corporate Partnering. This can be a good way to involve a much larger company in the business with a view to possible trade sale further down the line. Associates: This can be a loose arrangement with no fundamental commitments either way, rather like a preferred supplier. Equity Swop: Two companies exchange shares to a similar value to develop both businesses. Franchises: This can allow the business to grow without further direct investment. Licensing: This involves licensing a product or service to enable others to sell it. This requires you to own the intellectual property.
Re: Success - I study success intently, and would like to share: Here's two excellent and nearly identical success-formulas from a couple of the world's masters. FIRST FORMULA: 1. Passionate Desire 2. Clear, Definite Purpose 3. Committed Decision 4. Take Action In Faith (Bonus Secret Sauce: 5. Repeat Consistently) I made a video about this, but am not allowed to link it yet. Google "Ryze Success Steps" for it. Oh, and this is Napoleon Hill's (Master Of Success Laws)'s Formula. SECOND FORMULA: 1. Passionate Desire 2. Understand It Is Already Done (Faith) 3. Relax & Allow It To Unfold (Go about your life calmly) This one is courtesy of Abraham-Hicks (inspiration for the movie The Secret). Hope that helps!


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