Cocktails with Carl
Is a Lack of Discipline Holding You Back?
Am I a disciplined person? I got to thinking of this question recently, urged on by a specific decision I had to make. It was the end of a long day. I was tired, hadn’t eaten since the morning, and didn’t feel particularly great. At the same time, the goals I have set for myself (and that are written down in my phone) were speaking to me. It was time to hit the gym for my daily workout. At that moment I was regretting my decision to alter my regular routine. Ordinarily, my workout would have been completed in the morning and I would have returned home after work to eat dinner and relax. But on this day an important morning meeting would push exercise to the evening. Would I stick with my altered plan and follow through on getting the exercise I know I needed or opt for food and comfort instead?
In these types of scenarios, we already know that most people are going to take the path of least resistance. How do we know that? There is a lot of easily attainable data available through a simple internet search. Here are some statistics that I found in just a few minutes:
According to Forbes, 80% of people will abandon their New Year's resolutions by Feb 1.
The exercise app Strava used over 800 million user logged activities to conclude that most people will give up on their New Year’s goals by January 19th. They pegged this “quitters day”.
A study conducted by OnePoll measured why goals were so quickly abandoned and they found the #1 reason was a “self aware lack of discipline” (53%).
There is a lot more interesting information you can read about this topic but the conclusion is quite clear; we simply lack the discipline necessary to carry through with our goals and objectives consistently.
If discipline is the key, how are we defining what that looks like? Below I’ve shared some qualities that I associate with disciplined people. It’s not everything on my list, but for me these are the most important.
Vision
Vision creates the blueprint or master plan that we need to be disciplined to follow. Without vision we end up meandering through our days accomplishing low priorities in the wrong order. Disciplined people have a long term vision documented that they can refer to on a regular basis in order to make sure they are on the right track.
Focus
Disciplined people have an uncanny knack for ignoring distractions and interruptions, keeping a laser-like focus on what’s most important. They pass on checking cell phones/social media status and remove unnecessary meetings over coffee.
Discernment
Learning to say no is difficult while saying yes is easy. There is always pressure to do more. Disciplined people resist this urge and have learned how to say no graciously.
Accountability
Disciplined people don’t engage in the blame game. They own their decisions without making excuses for their failures. They are also open to constructive criticism and desire to learn how to get better at whatever they are doing.
Tireless
Most of the time, success requires working harder than everyone else. Disciplined people are not satisfied with the status quo. They are willing to push the boundaries and do whatever it takes (ethically) to accomplish their goals.
Healthy
Staying healthy both physically and mentally is critical to performance. Disciplined people keep sharp by engaging regularly in exercise, meditation/prayer, reading, etc. all while adhering to a consistent sleep schedule.
Punctual
Time is our most valuable commodity and disciplined people demonstrate that by arriving early and prepared for meetings with others.
Organized
Disorganization leads to chaos, inability to focus, and lack of execution. Disciplined people have a defined operating system that they follow which guides them through their days without interruption, allowing them to maximize their time to the fullest.
We all know the easy part is writing the goals and to do lists. The hard part is the execution. If a lack of discipline is holding you back from accomplishing your goals, I would recommend compiling your own list of characteristics you would use to describe a disciplined person. Next, figure out from that list what you are missing, then consider how to incorporate those characteristics into your own life. Alternatively, if you know a person that is well disciplined, ask them to share any strategies or tactics that might help you improve with your own discipline.
In my own experience, I’ve learned that the initial discomfort in sticking with something I’ve planned to do even when I don’t want to, is quickly replaced by a sense of pride and accomplishment when completed. That dopamine hit provides enough motivation to keep me disciplined, but it took me a long time to figure that out. And yes, I ended up going to the gym that night and still had time to eat and relax, which is usually the case. Win, win!
Good luck!
Cocktail Recipe: Sidecar
A throwback/classic cocktail with a citrusy kick for spring!
1.5 ozs VSOP Cognac
¾ ozs Cointreau
¾ ozs Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Orange Peel for Garnish
Sugar for Garnish
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice combine cognac, cointreau, and lemon juice. Shake for 30 seconds. Use a lemon wedge to coat the rim of a coupe glass and then dip into the sugar to rim the coupe. Strain the drink into the rimmed coupe glass and garnish with the orange peel.
Enjoy!
