Summary

The article outlines the importance of self-discipline for achieving success, emphasizing personal responsibility, planning, goal setting, and delayed gratification as key components.

Abstract

The author of the article shares personal insights into the significance of self-discipline as a foundational habit for success. They acknowledge a recent period of procrastination and lack of direction, marked by a departure from goal-setting and self-care. The turning point was the realization that self-discipline needed to be re-established. The first step in this process is accepting full responsibility for one's actions, which empowers individuals to make positive decisions. The article advises planning days in advance with clear priorities, aligning daily tasks with long-term goals, and consistently revisiting and revising these goals. It also suggests practicing delayed gratification, using the example of engaging in productive activities before indulging in leisure such as video games. The concept of momentum is introduced as a metaphor for the power of consistency in building self-discipline, with references to Darren Hardy's "The Compound Effect" and a quote from Mario Andretti underscoring the role of determination and commitment in pursuing success.

Opinions

The author believes that accepting responsibility for one's actions is a cornerstone of self-discipline and success.
Procrastination is seen as a detrimental force that can derail one's life if not addressed.
Setting goals and writing them down consistently is crucial for maintaining focus and achieving long-term success.
The author uses their own struggle with video game addiction as an example of how delayed gratification can be a tool for cultivating self-discipline.
The article suggests that momentum, built through consistent action, is a powerful force that can lead to the accomplishment of goals and the habit of self-discipline.
The author implies that few people are truly successful, possibly due to a lack of self-discipline and an unwillingness to accept personal responsibility.

How To Be Successful By Using The Art Of Self-Discipline

It’s the number one reason for my successes

Lately, I’ve struggled with the simplest of tasks. My self-discipline habit was no more, replaced by the curse we call procrastination – a thief of life.

I stopped setting goals, ate a disgusting amount of fast-food, stopped valuing my friendships much, and spent most of my time enjoying the latest AC Valhalla game. It was great until it wasn’t.

That feeling started to kick in. You know, the “what the heck am I doing” feeling. I hate that feeling, and I know how it feels because I’ve been here before.

I knew that change was necessary, and fortunately, based on experience, I knew exactly what to do to get back on track. I had to establish the habit of self-discipline.

The first step in establishing self-discipline is to accept full responsibility for your actions.

Learning to accept full responsibility for your actions can be empowering. It expresses leadership, bravery — but most importantly, learning to take full responsibility for your actions gives you the power to make positive, life-changing decisions.

You’d be surprised by the number of people who fail to accept responsibility for their actions. They mope around, pointing fingers at others for their failures, failing to learn from their mistakes. Maybe that’s why so few are truly successful?

Plan your days in advance, set priorities, and get to work.

The best thing you can do for yourself (after accepting responsibility) is to commit to what you say you’ll do before you do it. Plan out your day in advance. Write down at least three big priorities for tomorrow, and tackle those priorities first thing in the morning.

By doing this each and every day, slowly, you’ll establish the habit of self-discipline, which is when you do what you say you’ll do, even if you don’t feel like doing it.

Write down your goals

Your top three priorities each day should be directly related to your biggest goals. Think long-term, because self-discipline is also the ability to put long-term gain over short-term pleasures.

Don’t just write down your goals once, though, and leave the paper to collect dust or get thrown in the trash.

Use a journal or a notebook, and rewrite your goals every morning or evening.

As time goes on, you’ll accomplish some goals, and others will change. Adapt your top priorities to align with these goals as you move forward.

Practice Delayed Gratification

I love to play video-games. It’s a challenge for me to avoid picking up my controller first thing in the morning. That’s why I use my video-game “addiction” to practice delayed gratification.

Every morning I’ll force myself to read for at least 30 minutes — if it’s a good book, I’ll read longer than that) — and write for at least one hour before I can pick up my controller. It’s a challenge, and I don’t always succeed, but that’s where the power of momentum kicks in.

“Consistency is the key to achieving and maintaining momentum.” — Darren Hardy

Darren Hardy wrote a book in 2010 titled The Compound Effect, focusing on the power of momentum — or as he calls it, Big Mo.

You see, we as humans have an incredible power called momentum, similar to a moving vehicle. At only five miles per hour, that vehicle may not be capable of smashing through a brick wall.

But at 50mph? I bet it’d be capable of doing some damage.

The same thing applies to you. Even though it may seem like forever, you can build the habit of self-discipline, you can accomplish your goals — all of them — you can, and you will.

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal — a commitment of excellence — that will enable you to attain the success you seek” — Mario Andretti