Develop Your Self-Discipline to Succeed as an Entrepreneur
You've got a cup of coffee, your ipod, and a full tank of gas, and 500 miles to cover
by sundown. As you cruise onto the highway and get up to speed (exactly 4 miles over
the posted speed limit), you set the cruise control. Why? Because the cruise control
is an excellent tool for keeping you on schedule and out of trouble. Sure, you will
have to accelerate around those semis and brake when you encounter the 1970s school-bus-converted
motorhome, but for most of the trip, you can count on the consistency of cruise control
to get you there on time.
For would-be entrepreneurs, solid self-discipline provides the same benefit. Honing
your self-discipline means managing your time and tasks effectively, setting clear
objectives and holding yourself accountable, and maintaining a steady trajectory
to startup. With these skills developed into habits, you will be more productive,
more efficient, and far more likely to succeed. Sure, there will be times when you
feel extra-motivated and speed through, other times when you encounter obstacles
or frustrations and slow down a bit. But, a strong dose of self-discipline will even
out those anomalies and keep you on the right track.
For some, self-discipline comes naturally. There are ten-year-olds who have the internal
drive to consistently and methodically work toward their goals. For most of us, self-discipline
must be developed, honed, and forced into habit. It's not always easy -- just ask
90% of those who adopted tough New Year's resolutions -- but it's always rewarding.
Entrepreneurship demands discipline. There are just too many details that can slip
through the cracks, too many opportunities that can be missed, without the steady
efforts that self-discipline drives.
The first step to developing your self-discipline skills is to assess where you are
now. Look at the areas where self-discipline is effective in your life -- Do you
exercise regularly? Get to work on time every day? -- and where it's not -- Do you
put off important tasks? Forget about commitments? Once you acknowledge where you
are now, it will be much easier to decide what to work on.
There are a few self-discipline basics that can make the startup process much easier.
First, set a schedule. Use a planner to schedule out your days. If you just never
seem to have enough hours in the day, try writing down what you actually do for several
days -- every minute. Then evaluate how you are spending your time. Very often, people
find that they waste a significant amount of time each day doing things that do not
get them where they want to be. Look for these red flags and evaluate your options
for making your schedule reflect your actual priorities.
Once your time is under control, work on task management. Most necessary tasks can
be grouped into logical, more efficient groups. By planning ahead, you can save time,
money and effort. For example, if you find yourself running to one store or another
several times per week, developing a comprehensive shopping list and getting it all
one at once saves time and aggravation. Take a few minutes each morning or night
to put together your to-do list for the day. Keep it to ten items or less and reward
yourself for completing the tasks. Break big jobs into smaller bites and include
one piece on your task list each day. It may seem to take longer to finish, but the
odds are you weren't going to even get it started otherwise.
The most critical time for any startup is the pre-launch planning. Many would-be
entrepreneurs find themselves stuck in this stage for months or even years because
they lack the self-discipline to stay on track. Work on your time and task management
skills, set your priorities, and develop the discipline to see them through. Set
your cruise control to work through developing your business idea and it will all
be downhill from there!
About the Author
LaunchX.com is dedicated to training entrepreneurs to turn their good ideas into
great companies. The LaunchX System provides step-by-step education in the mindset
and skill set entrepreneurs need to succeed. Our program includes intensive seminar
training, key business software, and specialized workbooks that teach you the fundamental
skills you need to achieve your financial and worklife goals through entrepreneurship.
Register today for our introductory course and see what LaunchX can do for you!
Contents copyright © 2009-2011 by LaunchX LLC. Permission granted to reprint this
article in its entirety provided that the “About the Author” section and all hyperlinks
are included.
