Lesson #9 - The Price Tag of Leadership: Self-Discipline
Question #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them?
Question #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline?
“If you wouldn't follow yourself, why should anyone else?”
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Answer the two questions and reply to posts by others
Question #1
ReplyDeleteI believe in self- discipline. Maxwell states,”Self- discipline moves you from good intentions to good actions. It is what separates words and ideas from actual results”. Anyone can talk about what they want to do, but putting it into action is a lot harder.
That is a daily choice right! Self discipline almost becomes habit if exercised.
DeleteLove that point
DeleteGood point, Tommy. If you’re going to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk!
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteEverything worthwhile is uphill. Maxwell states… “ALL THE WAY” Anyone can climb for a short time. Nearly everyone does- at least once. But can you sustain it? Can you climb every day, day after day, year after year? I have good self-discipline, but I need to work on sustained success, to be able to reach my full potential as a person and leader.
Speaking of climbing. Follow the link below for a good picture regarding growth and potential. I just wasn’t able to add the picture to the blog. Technically challenged!
Deletehttps://www.parentsinsport.co.uk/2018/07/21/ladder-of-potential/
Mike, thank you for sharing this!
DeleteQuestion#1
ReplyDeleteWe all possess habits in life, taking a step back to view my own. I can focus my attention and stay oriented on a project without being distracted. Unfortunately, this has not always been a strength for me. I can't pinpoint exactly how or when I started to develop this form of discipline. However, I know it's been an evolution and has become more comfortable with age.
At minimum, just complete one positive task or project daily. Everything else that is completed that day will be icing on the cake.
DeleteContinue to evolve and grow as a person, be the best YOU everyday.
DeleteHealthy leadership habits definitely come with time. Our experiences are the good and bad baggage we carry, it’s what we do with those experiences is what matters.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them?
One of the positive habits I have is to always look at the bright side as a leader. Sometimes it might come off as annoying, but if you take a positive step forward to a conversation that might be going in the opposite direction, you would be amazed how people can change their perspective.
It Is not easy to always be positive. It takes work. Whenever I find myself going down the wrong path, I remember that there is good in everything; you just may need to search for it. Be slow to speak (considering all angles of the conversation before I respond) and be aware that positive intentions are at the forefront of my conversations. Lastly, when problems arise, I focus on being solution-oriented. It is important to be proactive instead of reactive.
Good advice: Be slow to speak. This a something that is a challenge for me.
DeleteMark, this is excellent advice. "Considering all angles" Is something I need to work on as well!
DeleteVery well said Mark. Don’t be reactive, find the good in everything and always be slow to speak. Thanks for that.
DeleteYou do have a way with guiding peoples perspective and helping them stay positive. You have been a good example for me to follow.
DeleteQuestion #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self-discipline?
ReplyDeleteBased on what I learned this week, I need not let my emotions interfere with my self-discipline. Humans are emotional beings, but we are very rational also. We can’t let our emotions get in the way of our decision-making. I have to remember that, as a leader, my decisions not only affect me but those around me. I have to be selfless in my actions. When I show self-discipline, I build self-respect, and when I have self-respect, others will respect me. This week to grow in this area of self-discipline. I will avoid putting myself in a situation where I might be tempted, I will complete a task before I reward myself, and if I fail, I will acknowledge the failure and get right back on the wagon.
Mark, I've always know you to be a selfless person. Always willing to step up for others and help when possible. I agree, avoiding situations in which you could become tempted is a great tactic to avoid the possibility caught in the vortex. I often think about this one at work. Hanging out in the TV room or around the kitchen table with the guys is certainly a place we all want to be, however, if we have the self-discipline to get the required stuff done first then maybe we can enjoy that following dinner.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteMaxwell writes, as leaders, our greatest challenge in leadership is leading ourselves first. We can’t expect to take others farther than we have gone ourselves. In life it is much easier to become comfortable and possibly complacent with our growth, whether that be personally or professionally. It is often more difficult to continue the growth due to pain, the feeling of there is more time ahead, I’m too busy now or it’s not a good time. It truly does take a self-disciplined mind to continue forward. Self-discipline paves the road to results. I certainly possess self-discipline and am motivated to continue forward but don’t always feel that it is in the right areas. In order to change this, I need to identify the areas in which I want to improve the most and then allocate proper time to them. I also need to employ the attitude that Maxwell has, “it’s not what I’m going through, it’s what I’m going to”. This week I will begin to read daily, something that I have intended to do for far too long. I have several books that I’ve read very little of or none at all. This self-discipline component is what Maxwell refers to as the “pay now, play latter” idea. Pick small winnable tasks that you can do before rewarding yourself with fun or relaxation.
That’s great Travis.” It’s not what I’m going through, it’s what I’m going to” and making them smaller tasks is rewarding. Well said.
DeleteWell stated. Good navigation gives you the best route to follow, however you still have to put in the travel time. Find where you want to go, determine the best route to reach that goal and most importantly put in the time to get there.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteI am commitment driven, make principle-based decisions and continue when problems arise. I feel that I have always been driven to please others. I do not like letting people down and that helps me to keep my commitments. It also prevents me from over committing. As far as my principles are concerned, I have to give the majority of the credit to my mom. She is an amazing woman with strong values and an exceptional ability to teach. I truly believe she is the reason that me and my brothers are successful and thriving. My motivation to be successful keeps me moving forward, even when setbacks occur. While it is important to do this in general, I want to set the good example as a father. Life can be tough sometimes for everyone. I try to teach my kids to focus on the positive in life…even if they are faced with a difficult challenge. Remain focused and move forward.
I feel the same way as you Travis, I want to set a good example to my kids to never quitting anything you want or do. If you are determined to make it happen it will.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteAs I continue down the path toward my life goals, I need to remember to ensure ample time for my top 20 percent (Lindsay, Jacob, Luke, and Grayson.) It's easy to get caught in the grind of wanting more and racing to be the best. Taking time each day to ensure their wellbeing and happiness not only brings me joy, but allows me to focus on my work to the fullest. Having a successful and happy home life affects not only the ones we love but our friends and coworkers alike. Leaders need to maintain a consistent mental state to ensure the success of their team. This week I plan to “Margin” more time for the ones I love.
Really good point Steve! We always have to make sure our family is#1.
DeleteFamily first brother. One day this job will end and our family needs to be at the finish line. Thanks for that.
DeleteSteve and Kyle I could not agree with you more. The unconditional love and support you get from your family is special. That happiness you have with the family will translate over to work and make everything more enjoyable.
DeleteQuestion #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them? The positive habit that I like to embrace is to just keep going even when I hit a stumbling block. No matter what happens just keep pushing forward. No matter how hard something is, I just stay disciplined and focused. By staying disciplined and focused you just might surprise yourself.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline? As Maxwell says, anything you do that is worthwhile will always be an uphill battle. That’s what makes you appreciate it, grow, and learn from it. I know that I am going to start working on climbing more hills often and encouraging others to climb more hills. This is the only way you will succeed.
ReplyDelete“ If it was easy everyone would do it.”
This analogy of climbing hills is relatable to me due to my love of hiking. The effort required to reach the end of the trail or the peak of the hill many times is exhausting. When climbing an unfamiliar trail I often wonder, “is it around this next bend?”, but it usually isn’t. Many times I’ll pause to take a picture of a plant or perspective but I won’t stop long, even if my body wants me to. I don’t want to lose my momentum, however slow it may be. For me it’s harder to come back up to pace after pausing than it is to just press-on. When I reach the turnaround point the view is so rewarding. It makes it worth all the effort. Even the effort to get back down. Sometimes, that’s the hardest on my body. I need to apply this reality to other “uphill” parts of my life that I’m working on.
DeleteI like it Brian. Everything we do was difficult at one time.
DeleteGood for you Brian. Challenging ourselves and stepping outside of our comfort zones will help us grow.
DeleteLesson 9 Question 1:
ReplyDeleteWhat positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them?
My biggest area of self discipline is not drinking alcohol. It wasn’t hard to stop drinking, breathe in, breathe out and don’t drink in-between. Its be an uphill battle to manage life without that as a coping mechanism. That poem written by Dennis P. Kimbro about habit hit me pretty hard. The last line “I will destroy you”. I had to make a change to keep my Family and potentially career.
This self discipline was developed from shame and guilt. Its been 832 days since my last drink and 832 days to reconnect with myself and my Family. The shame and guilt has mostly been conquered. Life is certainly better.
That's powerful, Kyle. It takes a lot of courage to look inside of yourself for answers. We are always here for you brother.
Delete2: Based on what you’ve learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline?
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest changes is the secondary detox from drinking. The emotional and physiological battle. To grow from those struggles is by attending meetings and having a strong network of people around you to talk and coach you through it. A quote from the book written by David Keller “Make sure everyday you know what matters most”. That is to continue to feel better about myself. Another quote “if you win the battles within, all the other victories become within reach. Reading this blog for the past couple weeks we have all conquered some sort of battle within. It’s been an honor to read all of them.
Great stuff Kyle. I agree with you about the posts we've seen the past few weeks. Lots of inspiration and encouragement here. So proud and honored to work with all of you. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteQuestion #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them?
ReplyDeleteFor myself a positive habit of discipline I practice is being accountable. Being accountable to my kids, my, family, and my friends. We are all human and we all make mistakes. God knows I have but being able to be accountable for your actions speaks volumes about ones character. Chapter 3 was titled "The Foundation of Leadership: Character". One of the best quotes I took from this chapter reads." Having good character does not ensure that you will be successful in life or leadership. But you can be sure that having poor character will eventually derail you personally and professionally". This really stuck with me in that I am proud of my character and re- emphesised that my rank or position does not define me and who I see in the mirror is someone with character and being this example for my kids and family and friends is what matters most.
I believe accountability takes humility Joel. You’ve got it. I appreciate that about you. I used to think to be accountable meant I had to be self-deprecating and grovel when mistakes are made. I don’t believe that now. Accountability for me is not just taking responsibility for my actions but also accounting for my ability. Doing what I’ve been made to do. Being who I’ve been made on purpose to be.
DeleteJoel you hit the nail on the head. Our kids and our friends/family who are not in fire service don't know or care about our position/rank. They care about the person you are. Your character and accountability to be the best father, friend, son you can be. That character then translates onto the floor here. Keep being you, your doing a great job.
DeleteI agree Joel. I too was drawn to Chapter 3, The Foundation of Leadership: Character. True leadership is not possible without that foundational piece. Our positions at work definitely do NOT define us. A persons true character means so much more than a position or title.
DeleteWk 5. Lesson 9. Q1.
ReplyDeleteOne example of this in my life is the idea of working now and playing later. This is something I’ve tried to impart to my adult kids for years. This isn’t a habit that I developed naturally or without thought. This started to develop in me as I was single function medic working for a private ambulance. My goal was to get into the fire service and part of my preparation was being in very good physical condition. Being disciplined to work out every day, including jogging 3-5 miles, took much effort and eventually became my habit. After being hired by Montebello Fire Department I quickly learned about station maintenance. Deep cleaning and daily chores meant the station stayed very clean and orderly. Everything was in its place so when you needed something, everyone knew where it was. Very much like my dad would want us to do when we were kids. This work habit became my home habit when Tami and I bought our first house. I liked to have everything in order, clean and put away, but having little kids made that nearly impossible. Even now, when I come home from work and yard work needs doing, I prefer to get the work done so I can relax and enjoy things being clean. In fact, I find it hard to really relax at home when there’s work that needs to be done. For the past many weeks having the addition of this assignment, the email questions and the pre-assignment work to do I’ve had to learn to prioritize my time. The weather has been windy and raining which means the yard is messy, but I’m choosing to do the important work rather than the yard work. There hasn’t been much relaxing time lately, but it’s a season. Much like the seasons of weather, this season will end and another will begin.
Wk 5. Lesson 9. Q2
ReplyDeleteI’m finding myself in a place that I need to trust God more and not let current challenges and time pressures determine my attitude. Daily I’m making the choice to be positive, realize that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Keeping awareness that everything worth having is going to take uphill movement to get. Even though I may not be enjoying this part of the journey, I’m going to do my best to glean from the fields along the way.
Question #1
ReplyDelete“Anything and everything you desire in life, everything you would like to strive for, is uphill, meaning the pursuit of it is challenging, grueling, exhausting, strenuous, and difficult”. I think I got a pretty good lesson on this last year. Exactly 1 year ago today I got my cancer diagnosis. My positive self- discipline habit is to live each day with intentionality. The time I spend with my wife and kids, the time I put in at work developing myself, and the time I put in my community are all done with the intention of giving the best I can. You never know what tomorrow holds, so make today your best.
Tomorrow’s not guaranteed for any of us. ❤️ Always try to give your best
DeleteYour courage and resilience was an inspiration to all who know you Travis. You are a great friend and amazing husband and father. You have always been there for me and I am proud to call you a friend. You have so much to be proud of and keep pushing forward.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteGary Keller said, “Make sure every day you …. Know what matters most”. I think that is great advice. I too often think I need to give my all in everything I do and my priorities get shifted around and maybe sometimes my focus is not where it matters most. I think to be successful I need to be better at planning my day to better manage my time and energy. An example of this would be for me to set aside time every day to stretch and take care of my body. This might sound a little silly for some, but for me it is an issue I don’t address enough. I don’t plan time or prioritize this task consistently enough and because I don’t, it effects how I feel physically and eventually emotionally. My goal that I can set for myself is to set aside time to accomplish a simple task of stretching every day. I have to take care of myself first, then I can take care of everything else. The ability to prioritize and know what matters most is an area I need to change.
Question #1 – I came across a saying years ago, and it has stuck with me, “it isn’t easy, nothing worth having ever is.” This goes along with the lesson in the book, “Everything worthwhile is uphill.” I have used this saying throughout my life and have been able to apply it to almost any area when I feel discouraged. Having this mindset gets keeps me going when things start to get complicated. I have a sense of accomplishment because of it. I know what I was doing, what I was going through, was difficult. I had two paths, I could shy away, or I could rise up. Repeating that saying to myself has led me to overcome and accomplish many things.
ReplyDeleteMike, I like what you said about the two paths. You are right. We have to work hard for what we want in life, and it will never be given to us. I think you do a great job of pushing yourself to complete your goals.
DeleteMike this resonates with me. I like those old adages as well. There are two paths “the easy way or the right way” or “if it was easy, everyone would do it.” A saying that I use quite often is “Being mediocre is easy and popular, and if you want to be anything other than mediocre, it won’t be easy and you won’t be popular.
DeleteQuestion #2 – I need to keep the momentum going and not allow myself to get complacent. I have enjoyed this process, reading new books, answering questions, actively engaging and provoking thought. I don’t want to get past the captain’s exam and stop there. I want to continue to learn and sharpen my skills. The book states, “Do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” Getting started is usually the hardest part, but I know I need to continue to challenge myself.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them?
ReplyDeleteI have a few positive habits of discipline. I work out 5 days a week. That is a habit I developed at a young age. I think it stems from connecting being strong and fit has a direct connection to being able to provide, support and protect my family. A recent habit I developed about a year and a half ago is prioritize reading at least 15 minutes a day. This habit developed because to be able to have more of an impact you need to have more input to be able to output and impact people. In order to have a life go significance you need to impact others. to impact others, you need to take you eyes off yourself. Mindset is huge. Once you've had a taste of significance, success is never enough.
Thanks for sharing Phil. Glad to hear you have areas you have developed that make you stringer physically and mentally.
DeleteQuestion #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline?
ReplyDeleteprioritize my time with key people in my life. I need to spend more time building the strategic relationships with the people that are going to help me progress in life. What I need to do now is plan my day week and month better. Go to sleep with a plan so I can be more productive on a daily basis.
Question #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline?
ReplyDeleteContinue to grow, this process has been very thought provoking and taken me out of my comfort zone. I want to continue to grow in my personnel and professional life. Leadership is a constant work in progress and I am looking forward to continuing to build on my successes and learn from my failures.
Glad to hear and I agree with your sediment.
DeleteWeek 5, Lesson #9
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
A positive habit of discipline I practice is consistency. I have areas in my life that I need to improve my consistency but for most things I am very consistent. If I give someone my word on something they can count on me coming through. If I commit to something and I come up short, you can count on the fact that I will get back up and try again. In this chapter the author writes about consistency being a prerequisite to excellence and only through consistent practice are improvements possible. I believe my consistency developed through my determination to win. Nobody wins every time they try but I have found that through self discipline and consistency I will accomplish my goals.
Week 5, Lesson #9
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2
I need to change by getting back into the gym. As I get older the physical aspects of this profession that used to be easy are becoming more difficult. Strength, endurance, and flexibility decrease as we age and are essential components to a successful career. I want to ensure that those I lead understand this. In doing so I have to lead by example. This week I will push aside the excuses of COVID-19 and other commitments and start making physical fitness a priority again.
Great perspective Bobby.
Delete🙏🏼
DeleteQuestion #1- What positive habits of discipline do you currently practice? How did you develop them? One habit that I focus on practicing is learning. Taking an hour of my day to go learn and relearn areas of my work. Knowing that a lot of what we do needs reinforcement.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2- Based on what you've learned, how do you need to change? What can you do this week to grow in the area of self discipline? For me not becoming comfortable, finishing probation is not the finish line but just the beginning of a long career. Continuing to peruse growth in all aspects of my profession is my goal. Showing up to work with a drive to learn something new and honing my craft to be a better asset to the district.
Well said Cory. Never stop learning. There is so much in life to learn not only at work but outside also.
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