bcg blog

It's a Matter of Discipline

We resist it, even when we understand it. 
We don’t like it, even when those who want what’s best for us suggest it. 
We betray it, even when it paves the path for the results we aspire to.

Yet, it persists. 
Never wavering in its commitment to progress. 
Never demanding credit or seeking the spotlight.
Never compromising the right way for the easy way.

Discipline is funny like that. We can try to deny it, but the reality of its necessity is not debatable. We’ve all experienced the excellence it can lead us to as well as the trouble it can keep us out of. 

In today’s society, discipline is truly the road less traveled. A quick glance at the popularity of diet fads and get rich quick schemes tells us all we need to know about our search for the easy way. Not only that, it’s now become practically vilified as a buzz word to avoid.

Thankfully, the easy way never leads to the same place as the road less traveled.

Why Should We Care?
Discipline can’t be faked. It can’t be replaced. It can’t be avoided.
That is, if excellence is the vision.

There are few things we can choose to do that will have a bigger impact on our lives than establishing a practice, and appreciation, for discipline. Consistency and persistence are the trump cards in the growth and development game. When all else fails, just keep showing up and doing the work.

Progress provides the fulfillment we all long for in our pursuits. In our minds, we’re pursuing things but what we’re really after is the feeling we think that thing will deliver. This is precisely why so many people achieve something they’ve always dreamed of and suddenly have a feeling ‘that’s it’? 

The fulfillment was in the process. 
And, that progress wouldn’t have been possible without discipline.

REAL TALK - Action Steps
The good news is that discipline is a choice. The bad news is that we have to make it again over and over, day after day, even moment after moment. Here’s a few reminders when it comes to choosing discipline consistently.

• Do What Has to be Done 
  
  • It takes what it takes is a very true phrase in the pursuit of excellence. When you choose a pursuit, you are also choosing the process that pursuit requires. They can’t be separated. Discipline is required to do what has to be done. Your feelings have nothing to do with it. Do what has to be done.
    

• The Way It Has to be Done
  
  • Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, is quoted as saying “The standard is the standard.” Discipline requires that we do whatever we are doing to the expected standard. Just doing it is not enough. As a matter of fact, just doing it at a subpar level becomes a clear signal of a lack of discipline. Meet the standard.
    

• Do It That Way All the Time
  
  • Everyone can be really good from time to time. A mark of excellence is being really good day after day. That type of consistency requires discipline in our mind and our actions. Obviously, there will be times when showing up at that level is more difficult than others. Too bad, exceed the standard on those days.
    

I’m tired of people trying to act like discipline isn’t critical to growth, development, and the pursuit of anything worthwhile. We want to give it different names and fancy it up to be something it’s not. There’s nothing sexy about discipline. Accept it and do it because there’s also no replacing it. 

For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. 
We would love to know how we could help!

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