What is discipline?
Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most.
– Paulo Coelho
Who is Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist most famous for his book, The Alchemist.
I’ve never taken the opportunity to read The Alchemist though I definitely want to someday, once I get my current pile of unread books whittled down a bit. I do have one of his books already on the stack though, Warrior of the Light: A Manual.
What Is Discipline?
As a race we don’t exercise a lot of discipline, at least not in the so-called civilized world. We want instant gratification, and if we can get it we will sacrifice what we really want for what we can get right now.
One common phrase is I “have money burning a hole in my pocket.” Instead of saving it toward something that I really want, I will spend it on whatever I can get today. I’ll probably regret it tomorrow, but I just have to spend it now.
With discipline you would be able to save the money and get what you really want down the road. Something that you would be infinitely more satisfied with.
Entrepreneurship
Running your own business takes a lot of discipline. Take a restaurant for example. You have to show up every day because you have customers and employees counting on you, one for food, the other for a paycheck. You might prefer to go to the beach today, but you will be there to unlock the door bright and early anyway.
Network Marketing
I’m an internet network marketer and I work from home. That almost takes more discipline than running a restaurant. I don’t have any customers or employees depending on me to be anywhere at any given time. I could get away with going to the beach, or the mountains in my case. At least in the short term. It won’t be until the 15th of the next month that I will pay the price for my lack of discipline.
Instead, I show discipline, sacrifice what I might like to do right now for what I want most down the road.
Bonus Quote
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
– Paulo Coelho
Check out yesterday’s quote about how to complete your goals.
