The Power of Self-Discipline

Do I Self-Discipline?
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When one forces oneself to do what they need to do when they need to do it, even when they don’t feel like it, we say that person has self-discipline.

Anybody can do what needs to be done when they feel like it. The difference between the truly successful and those just getting by is your ability to do it when you don’t feel like it.

There are decisions you need to make today about the course your life is taking. Whatever your circumstance, you are faced with the decision to go with it or leave it. There are some decisions you need to make that can have a serious impact on your career course and possibilities. You need to exercise some self-discipline to lay the choices out in front of you, weight the pros and cons, project yourself into the future, and make a decision about which direction you want to go. Then, get started. Most people never take the time to do this and this one action can get you farther in your career than many people will ever go.

Seven Steps to Achieve Your Goals
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There is evidence to support the idea that having a plan for achieving your goals has a great deal to do with weather you reach those goals or not. Following is one simple variation, among many, of a plan to help you achieve your goals. Successful people testify to the fact that having a plan has helped them achieve more, faster, and it can work for you too.

1. Choose a specific goal. You might have different goals in each area of your life.

2. Record your goal. Be as clear as possible in defining your goal. Leave no room for doubt.

3. Select a time when you want this goal to be in place. You might have to start by breaking a larger goal into smaller goals and decide on a time for completion for each of them in order.

4. Identify all the things you can think of that you will need to do in order to accomplish your goal. Keep this list and if you think of or discover new things you have to do, simply add them to your list.

5. Place all the things you identified in your list from step four in front of you and arrange them in the order they need to be completed. This will be your plan for achieving your goal. You may find there are some things you can do at the same time.

6. Choose the first item in your plan and do something about it. Your goal will only get farther away the more time you spend NOT doing something about it.

7. Keep Moving! Do something about the items in your plan every day. This constant action will keep you always moving in the direction of your goal and will help you to build-up and maintain momentum to get through the more trying times.

How Can I Put This To Use Today
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Start by practicing the seven steps outlined here. Remember to take some kind of action today to strengthen your self-discipline and to develop some momentum toward your goal.

Then, from the list of things you have identified you will have to do, realize the cost (not just monetary) of accomplishing each item and get started paying the price. Consider this and investment in yourself and your future. When you achieve your goal, you will most likely have no problem with the cost you paid. In fact, the higher the price you pay, the sweeter the victory will be.

Copyright © 2006