There are plenty of examples of people attaining something significant in life despite little to no planning or effort. They stumble into good fortune like Lloyd and Harry stumbling across a briefcase full of money in Dumb and Dumber. But, as with Lloyd and Harry’s windfall, the good times rarely lasts, because unearned success seldom fixies poor habits. Sustained success takes discipline.
NOTABLE
» A 2009 study found that winners of $50,000 to $150,000 in the Florida Lottery were 50% less likely to file for bankruptcy within a year of winning than those who won $10,000 or less.
But given more time, their bad money management habits typically surfaced. They were more likely to file for bankruptcy between three and five years of their windfall. Furthermore, after five years, their net assets and unsecured debts were no different from the small winners.
QUOTABLE
» Winning Words
Discipline is the most practical form of self-respect. And the most productive.
– BRIAN KIGHT
Founder of DIGNVS
Self-discipline without talent can often achieve astounding results, whereas talent without self-discipline inevitably dooms itself to failure.
– SYDNEY J. HARRIS
Pieces of Eight (1982)
DOABLE
» 3 Key Plays
1. Define the Standard
This is pretty straightforward, but it’s often overlooked or given too little attention.
We can’t live to a standard if we haven’t defined our standard. And once we have a standard – a written goal for how we want to live or what we want to achieve – we can move forward with a process for making it a reality.
2. Create the Plan
If we create the plan ourselves (often with the input of others), we’ve deemed it important and therefore worth the discipline required to make it happen. We’re motivated, as Brian Kight points out, because discipline now is connected to self-respect.
“Discipline says you’re worth the effort,” he wrote earlier this year. “Worthy of a higher standard. Worthy of responsibility, even when it would be easier not to.”
3. Own the Process (or it will own you)
Tools are great so long as we stay in control of them. But the tool of discipline becomes counterproductive when we become rigid or dogmatic. We should never sacrifice common sense at the altar of discipline. There are times when we need to be flexible. To shift the plan this way or that way. And to give ourselves a break.
“Discipline doesn’t require guilt, punishment, or grinding until you burn out,” Kight wrote. “The most disciplined people aren’t the ones who treat themselves the worst. They’re the ones who take their goals, standards, decisions, and actions seriously. … You don’t have to be hard on yourself. You have to respect yourself enough to follow through.”
That type of discipline leads to sustained success and keeps us from ending up like Harry and Lloyd – with a suitcase full of IOUs.
The Monday Playbook delivers a quick, motivational plan to help you win your week as you tackle universal challenges in leadership, business, and life.
