“Confidence comes from discipline and training.”
– Robert Kiyosaki, American author, financial literacy advocate, speaker
The negative-or-positive-connotation of the word “discipline” has been written about forever. So, no “it’s derived from the word disciple and no lecture on whether it’s good or bad, because it’s good.
Another word that has become kinda tarnished is “routine.” A quick look on the Google brought up 75 quotes on “routine,” most of them suggesting it’s as dangerous as cancer, as destructive as our Presidential election process and as debilitating as a coma.
Bull.
Think of the best free throw shooter you’ve ever seen. Steve Nash (statistically the best ever), Rick Barry (old school)…you pick. Pick the best sprinter you ever saw. Nehemiah, Bolt, Owens. The best public speakers. Ziglar, Maxwell, Robbins, Kennedy. They all — all of them have a lot in common, but one thing in particular.
Disciplined routine. (Like how I combined those? Me, too!)
Every time Steve Nash shot a free throw he did the exact same things at the exact same pace. Every time. Watch Usain Bolt get in to the blocks at the beginning of a race. The exact same routine, at the exact same pace. Every time. Zig Ziglar, before every speech (and there were a bajillion of them!) did the exact same things at the exact same pace. Every time. When Zig glanced at his wrist watch, there was a 1-second pause and then, “BOOM!” A check up from the neck up — game on!
It stands to reason that if our goal is to make a difference, to differentiate by influence and by performance, we ought to adapt their approach to disciplined routine.
Rise early. Quiet time to start the day. The Word. Reflection (prayer, meditation, journal, etc). Prioritizing activities for the day. Execute.
That’s one example. Yours need not be like mine. Mine need not be like anyone else’s. But we need to have one. And to get out of the blocks fast, shoot well and speak / act confidently, we need to do the exact same things at the exact same pace if we want to squeeze the most out of our gifts, experiences, abilities and talents.
Mick kirisits says
Wow, I always felt disciplined routine was a great thing, now ya got me Wonderin! This is more based on my heavy reliance on Google than your post. Wonderin at my age ain’t always good! Routine is like a cancer; not sure I can sleep tonight! Let me end like it started, wow!
Steve Heston says
DISCIPLINED routine IS a great thing. Too many pop culture folks want us to think that free-wheeling and going with the flow is better, that discipline is boring and that routine is crippling. On their own, they may take on those characteristics / effects. But TOGETHER, as part of an intentional, committed course of action — there’s magic in getting it right! I love how willing you are to engage in the conversation. All these years later, you still make me better!