Some experts say that being self disciplined is the key to being successful; having the money you want, the health you desire, or the lifestyle you crave. So, why aren’t more agents living the life of their dreams? Excuses, rather than self-discipline. How many times have you chosen not to make those prospecting calls or waited too long to follow-up on that lead, out of fear, laziness or neglect, and then missed out!
Elbert Hubbard, a renowned thought leader, defines self discipline as “…the ability to do what you have to do when you have to do it, whether you feel like it or not.” Hubbard goes on to say that self discipline is the one skill that is “necessary above all else” to becoming successful in any endeavor. He considers knowledge and opportunities to be worthless “…unless you have the self discipline to use them on a consistent basis.”
Here are some ways to help build self discipline, from some of the most successful people of the ages:
- William Johnson said, “if it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Said a bit differently, if you want something to happen, make it happen. Even if you can’t directly influence some one or thing, you can choose how you respond to that one or thing.
- Brian Tracy, motivational speaker, believes that the biggest enemy to success is the path of least resistance. He believes that success requires “…great sacrifice and hard work…every day…” That every day thing is self discipline.
- Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”
- Les Brown, another in-demand motivational speaker, encourages his listeners/readers to keep going whenever they encounter failure or adversity because “…obstacles are part of success.”
- Nietzsche said, “He who has a ‘why’ to live for (an ace to serve, a tune to play, a prospect to contact), can bear almost any ‘how’.”
- Bottom line from every thought leader…decide in advance that you will never give up. Have a clear plan/vision for what you want to do, make a plan as to how you’ll get there (making a certain number of contacts per day), and do it every day no matter how hard it is to do it…every day. That kind of self discipline, that consistent-every-day self discipline, that no-matter-what self discipline will enable you to accomplish your goal. And once you accomplish that goal, you’ll become “successful” and need another goal to accomplish.
