Discipline Of A Successful Businessman :

                                          

I've been receiving a lot of e-mail lately regarding what role discipline plays in a person's success. The short answer is that discipline is perhaps the most important underlying factor in a person's professional level of achievement.

Success is the result of many things. Hard work, brains, careful planning and execution, and, dare I say, even a little bit of luck. Discipline is to success what the subconscious mind is to the conscious mind. It works in the background, toiling quietly to make sure that the activities at the forefront take place in an orderly manner.

Without discipline, a person would not be able to finalize his plan. He would not be able to execute his strategy continuously or put in the effort required to get to the top. Discipline is what keeps the successful person on track, even when the going gets tough. The disciplined person knows what needs to be done and is able to focus on getting it done according to plan.

it starts in the morning

Speak to almost any person that has achieved success in life and you will quickly find a quiet truth behind each story. It's the common thread in their success that is rarely talked about but is ubiquitous among successful men — discipline is what helped them reach their peak. If hard work moves the ship forward, then discipline is the rudder that keeps it on course.

Discipline starts first thing in the morning. If you wake up and start off on the wrong foot, there's a good chance your whole day will be lessproductive than it should be. Make it a point to wake up around the same time each day. Have a small routine in the morning to maximize your time and keep things efficient. Make sure to fuel up and have a good breakfast(and I'm not talking about 6 eggs, and a pound of bacon here).

optimize work time

Perhaps the best way to stay disciplined and organized at work is to have a detailed schedule of your daily tasks. You should work on many levels and know what you have lined up for the day, week and month; the daily schedule being the most detailed of the three.

By outlining tasks, you set goals for yourself and can better manage your time. Furthermore, you can measure your efficiency each day and see how much work you were able to do. If you miss your targets consistently, either you did not plan properly, were interrupted, or did not have the discipline necessary to follow your schedule. More often than not, we accomplish less than we're able to due to poor discipline.

How many hours can you work in a given day?

when enough is enough

Another important point is that you should know roughly how many hours of high-input work you can perform in a day. What I mean is that if you know you can work solidly for 10 hours, then organize your time around a 10-hour day and try to accomplish most tasks during your daily productivity window.

Having an end time will force you to be more disciplined about your work; it will also reap more productivity. At the end of 10 hours, call it a day and move on to other things. If you are working at 50% capacity, you are wasting time. Rest and tackle the task the next day, when you are at full strength.

a healthy mind in a healthy body

I will not go into great detail about working out and proper eating habits, but I will say that in most cases, proper nutrition and regular exercise will help a person gain more discipline and productivity.

Eating properly requires discipline. You should eat at least 3 sensible meals per day — preferably low-fat meals — at regular intervals. Stay away from fast food and junk food as much as possible. By putting the right kind of food in your engine, you are going to feel (and look) better. This spills over into your work and you will better tackle your job.

With increased success comes more responsibility and work... and morestress. Stress will grind you down over the long haul. It is not easy to control how much stress you are exposed to, but it is possible to get rid of stress by exercising. Try to exercise a little at least 3 times per week. Any exercise is better than none. Go for a long walk, do some weight training, play tennis, or hit the links (wouldn't you like to be playing Augusta or Pebble Beach to kick off your weekend? I know I would!).

balance work with play

Keep in mind that work is only one part of your life. When you leave the office, leave the office . Take time to enjoy your time away from work with leisurely activities that allow your brain (and body) to unwind and re-energize.

Call up that old buddy and go out for a bite. Come on, you've been eating healthy all week! Let loose and enjoy what your city has to offer. Read agood book, watch some sports, or better yet, play some sports. Spend time with your family and friends and you'll feel like a million bucks when you wake up the next morning, ready to face the big bad world of business again.

Those that work hard also play hard. They also understand that they need to balance business and pleasure to get the most out of themselves. They know what they must do and it requires discipline to stay on track. If you feel yourself slacking off when you should be working, remember to put yourself back on course and get the job done.