Everyone wants to be thin, but no one wants to diet. Everybody wants money, but not many people want to work long hours or to follow a budget. Lots of people would like a nice yard or garden, but few want to pull weeds.

The common denominator of success is discipline—forming the habit of doing things that the vast majority of people neglect to do. Individuals don’t accidentally stumble upon greatness. Even those who suddenly gain fame have usually worked hard all of their lives to become an “overnight success.” What we do on some great occasion depends on who we already are; and who we are is the result of previous years of discipline.

It’s fine to praise the quality of discipline, but the real question is where practice to discipline on a daily basis. It’s especially critical for leaders to be disciplined in the following areas:

1) Thinking

Make a point to discipline yourself to think about your values and priorities every day. Values provide you with direction, guiding your decision-making. Meanwhile, priorities give you focus, directing how you spend your time.

Poor thinkers are slaves to their surroundings. On the other hand, leaders make a habit of examining their world and contemplating ways to make it better. Their ideas and insights make them valuable and sought-after teammates.

2) Relationships

Make the decision to cultivate relationships and invest in them daily. You’ll enjoy life more when you share it with others, and you’ll go the farthest in life when you partner with people who genuinely care about you.

3) Talent

Daily choose to strengthen and sharpen your natural abilities, for they can open avenues to unique areas of influence. People don’t pay attention to what’s average, but they will pay both respect and rewards to individuals with exceptional skills.

4) Finances

Make sacrifices and live within your means today so that you can have financial options tomorrow. Avoid debt. While money may not make you happy, owing money is certain to make you miserable. Moreover, give generously. The purpose of wealth isn’t to spoil yourself but to serve those in need.

5) Health

Make the decision to know and follow healthy guidelines daily. Eat in moderation, and exercise regularly. Also, strike a balance between accomplishment and rest. Leaders have ambition, at times too much, and they can run themselves ragged trying to chase down career goals. As John Wanamaker said, “People who cannot find time for recreation are obligated sooner or later to find time for illness.” Be sure to handle stress effectively so that the pressures of leading don’t wear down your body. Taking proper care of yourself gives you the physical strength and mental wellbeing to tackle the demands of leadership.

Summary

If you commit to a set of daily disciplines, eventually you’ll reach a point in life at which you’re absolutely astounded by all the good you have been able to accomplish. In that moment, it will be crystal clear that you didn’t do it in a day but that you did it every day. By doing the right things daily, year after year, one day you will receive reward and recognition for them.

5 Comments

  1. […] Practicing disciplines today that will lead to success tomorrow […]

  2. ramblerr on November 12, 2019 at 6:07 am

    what a great article, I was searching for this article from so long time. Thanks!

  3. Stephanie William on January 31, 2021 at 4:23 pm

    Discipline is indeed a means by which success is achieved. We see this fact more in some areas than in others. For example, a High School teacher for the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade will have less apparent results than the 12th grade’s teacher. On the other hand, the results of a top athlete reflect the quality of his discipline. The one who gets spotted by financiers and who manages to participate in high-level competitions is the one who has been able to make the necessary efforts. Individual training is not very sought after in general because it involves personal sacrifices. It takes a unique determination and strength of character to impose hours of training when everyone rejoices and enjoys life. It is only after a long period that we finally make the difference when we eventually succeed.
    Success is often conditioned by a good physical and mental state. The exercises we impose on ourselves regularly build the confidence and conviction that leads us through leadership challenges. Sometimes a series of failures cast doubt on a possible achievement. At this point, it is possible to complete the action while keeping a resilient mind by drawing insurance from the hours of work done in advance. Warren Buffet is one of the world’s wealthiest people. He confesses his secret and says that his success is linked to his many hours of daily reading.
    In this blog, John C. Maxwell reveals essential points that can be imposed every day to develop concrete leadership qualities. Thinking allows us to be one step ahead of the daily events that we do not control but can anticipate through reflection. Developing one’s talent, as for the top athlete, allows access to spheres that not everyone can reach. Relationships discipline us on the outside with others. Finance and health, when well-managed, support our business. Excellent blog and the points are interesting to ponder.

  4. […] Practicing disciplines today that will lead to success tomorrow […]

  5. Yuke on April 22, 2021 at 10:34 am

    The first sentence of the article hit me. The first paragraph describes almost half of my life. I want to get a good result, but I don’t want to work for it. This mindset is even reflected in my daily prayers. I often wish that God would just give me certain abilities and gifts so I wouldn’t have to participate in learning and training. Even though I knew it was wrong, my lazy sinful nature kept me daydreaming from time to time.
    While this article doesn’t mention any biblical support, the daily discipline it describes seems to be very similar to biblical concepts to me. The first point is to think daily about your values and priorities. This is what the Bible teaches us to remember that it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20). A loving relationship is God’s greatest commandment (Mark 12:30-31). Jesus taught us to love one another (John 13:34). Regarding talent, this is what God teaches us to be a good steward (1peter 4:10) and not to waste God’s grace. Finances are also one of our housekeeper’s duties, we must manage the money given by God, but not to squander and waste. The Bible also teaches us to focus on health because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cor 6:19). What the article says in the summary is to daily discipline ourselves, which is what the Bible asks us to do: to follow in God’s footsteps every day and to be vigilant in our prayers (Matt 26:41).

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