Following my post on Monday which featured quotes from five of the most successful, self-made men of all time, I was asked by a colleague within the deVere Group organisation, what do I think is the ultimate key to success.

There are, of course, many different factors that bring success – I have mentioned them before on this blog and they include self-belief, being proactive and the ability to plan – but when asked what my ‘number one’ trait was, immediately I answered ‘discipline’.

So why do I believe discipline is so important for a successful life?  Because those who achieve the greatest level of success are those who are able to think long-term and forgo instant gratification in the short-term so they and their families are able to enjoy greater benefits down the road.

To my mind, it’s an indisputable fact that by being disciplined, you get more done, you do it better, and more efficiently – which means you’ll usually earn more money and get promoted quicker.  It’s true what Thomas Jefferson famously once said that “The harder you work, the luckier you seem to get.”

In addition, discipline instils a sense of self-reliance and self-control, so people actively push themselves towards their ultimate goals. 

And discipline breeds self-confidence and builds character, resulting in a ‘nothing’s going to stop me’ mindset.

But do you want to know the best news of all about discipline? It’s that everyone can, thankfully, train themselves to excel at it, meaning we all have unlimited potential within ourselves. 

We just have to practice – that’s all, practice – at being self-disciplined every single day.  Surely it’s certainly worth it if, rags-to-riches American entrepreneur Jim Rohn, is right (which I suspect he is) when he said “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”

Have a great weekend.

Nigel Green deVere Group

Blog written 10th May