Discipline is…
Creating. Doing. Acting.
Every single day.
- Even when you don’t feel like it.
- Even when you forget why you’re doing it.
- Even when you don’t think it matters.
Discipline is imposing your will on today. Over and over again. Refusing to be overcome by whatever is staring back at you.
Because someday.
- You’ll wish you “felt” like it
- You’ll remember why you’re doing it
- You’ll realize what you’re doing matters
Someday is too late.
Have some discipline. Do something today.
[Photo Credit]
Joel,
Good reminder! And sometimes when I don’t “feel like it”, just getting started creates a little momentum and I end up doing more than I originally thought I could.
Kurt
To quote a wise little fish “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
I thought “what? a wise little fish?” so I googled the quote and up pops Finding Nemo . . . how could I have doubted you 🙂
O ye of little faith 🙂
100 pushups? Did you make it? 😉
update coming soon!
Just so I feel like I’m still working on my list, I break it down into yearly goals, then quarterly goals, and then still do updates every few weeks. That way, even something as simple as watching a movie can make me feel like I’m accomplishing something (as long as its a movie on my list!)
Me too Jessica 🙂 I talk about that a little in this series, if you’re interested –> The Renaissance Man’s Guide To Doing Everything
Hey, remember this morning when you wanted to cancel running because it was too cold? Glad I could teach you a few things about discipline 🙂 And I don’t even get a shout-out . . .
I believe I was the one who suggested running to you 🙂
“A year from now, you’ll wish that you had started today.”
That’s all I have to say, right there 🙂
I’ve always liked – “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
One of my favorites is “It’s never too late to start, but the best time was yesterday.”
I like how you said it above – Imposing your will on today. Whether you like it or not, feel like doing it or not, whatever it might be – form the habit and you stride leaps and bounds ahead of others who aren’t willing to pick up the pace and have some self-discipline.
That’s one of my favorites too :). Thanks for the comment Brandon!
Good one Joel– discipline is essential to make sure we don’t have too many regrets.
Discipline or self discipline is missing in a lot of today’s young people so it’s always good to be reminded of it.
We need to put the effort in to enjoy the rewards that follow.
Thanks for stopping by David! 🙂 Hope you stick around.
True!
“What you can do today , don’t leave it for tomorrow” One old Serbian wisdom 🙂
This is stimulating post 🙂 Thx
I think that’s old human wisdom. Thanks Jelena!
I always thought of discipline as Mickey Goldmill, Rockey’s trainer—a hard-as-nails veteran of the craft chomping on a cigar and loving me by kicking my ass. Inspiration was this girl Kristen that I fell in love with the summer before my sophomore year of college. Gosh, I wanted her, but if I had waited for her to come around, I would have been waiting forever. Writing or any other creative endeavor needs the gut-busting workouts with Mickey. No one ever won a Pulitzer or Nobel prize by waiting to feel inspired.
Thanks for the reminder, Joel.
I think the constant practice of discipline actually creates inspiration. That’s been my experience at least.
Like John Wooden says “Make every day your masterpiece”. You can’t do 70% today and then do 130% tomorrow.
What if you go through a couple time zones and get 3 extra hours? 🙂
Bonus, unless you go back a couple time zones 😉
love it.
I know from experience that once I get the workout clothes on, I’m more likely to do it. The rule is to go for ten minutes, and if I want to stop then, I can. But I never do. Same thing goes for work. All it takes is getting started, then things build.
Excellent post, Joel. Thanks!
If you can put the shoes on, and get out the door, half the work is already done.
“Someday is too late.”
Couldn’t agree more. Without discipline we might be inclined to push things off to another day until we can no longer do them (e.g., 100 push ups at the age of 60). Haha.
I’m trying to stay disciplined with planning a Kilmanjaro hiking trip and it seems like so much detail but it will be so worth it.
My friend Jim Hodgson climbed Kilmanjaro. He might have some tips for you.
I can think of at least 10 of my friends who should read this post, Joel.
Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. Discipline is a must.
Thanks for the post man,
Howie
Sure thing Howie 🙂 Feel free to pass it along to anyone who it might help!
Discipline is everything. It’s also every day; I agree. The hardest part is making productivity a part of your routine. Once it becomes a habit then you feel compelled to stay on task. You feel guilty if you don’t do what you are/were supposed to be doing.
Turning daily to-do into a habit takes several uninterrupted weeks of designing a new routine. If you can get over the hump; then momentum will carry you the rest of the way.
I’m not sure discipline is about “feeling guilty” about not doing what you’re supposed to. I think discipline is learning to create a routine, even when you don’t feel like it but it’s difficult, but hopefully it’s not about “guilting” you into doing something you really don’t want to.
Right. It came across negatively but perhaps “guilt” can be reworded as “feeling drawn to..” or “compelled to..” I certainly wouldn’t encourage people to grind away at something that they don’t want or like to do. They’ll simply burn out and be miserable. Thanks for pointing this out, Joel.
“compelled” is a good alternative :). Thanks for the great comment Jon!