Discipline is The Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishment
Do you have goals and tasks you know you should be working on but just never feel like doing them?
Yeah me too.
But that’s where discipline comes in. You have to just do it.
Because guess what, you’re never going to feel like it. And if you’re always waiting for some motivation or until you feel like it, well… you’re not going to achieve your goals or get things done.
At least not anytime soon.
American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Jim Rohn is famous for declaring “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
It’s a phrase that resonates deeply with me and many others.
But What Exactly Does It Mean?
The journey from the thought of our goals to their fulfillment might be complicated and tough, but you don’t have to go through it blind.
You can plan it out and change your plan as needed along the way. Until you eventually reach where you’re going.
And with the proper steps outlined and a plan in hand, you’ll be able to understand for yourself how discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
Here are some steps you can take to create a solid plan:
Step 1: Define Your Goals
It’s harder to pursue what you really want when your vision is blurry and unclear.
This is where discipline is the bridge.
It keeps you focused on the day-to-day task. While at the same time encouraging productivity by creating a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
So How Do You Go About Clearly Defining Your Goals?
Joe Stump, a renowned American consultant, describes this process as a sort of self-analysis that goes “seven levels deep.”
He emphasizes not only envisioning what you want but… also WHY you want it.
So identify the driving force behind the pursuit of your goals.
And when you do, you’ll be more motivated to continue on your journey towards success even in the face of failure and roadblocks.
Another important task you should write down or have in mind is both your long-term and short-term goals.
The long-term goals should be more like desired outcomes; they are the ultimate end result you hope to achieve over the course of your journey.
The short-term goals should be goals you can complete within a small and defined time frame, or ones with a set deadline.
And finally, you should break your long-term goals into smaller daily goals.
Not only does this reinforce your self-discipline by giving purpose to your achievable day-to-day tasks.
This will also give you clarity and direction.
And with more clearly defined goals, the steps you need to take are simple and straightforward. Discipline is all that stands between your goals and accomplishment.
Step 2: Eliminate Distractions
Look at any of the most successful business people today, and you’ll see a pattern.
Something that sets them apart from everyone else and those who want to make it but never have.
They’re so disciplined in their craft, THEY rarely indulge in the distractions of everyday life.
For Us, These Distractions Can Include (But Aren’t Limited To):
- Social Media
- Television
- Parties
- Videogames
- Social Events
And while you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice all of these in order to achieve success. The phrase “everything in moderation” plays a key role here.
For example, BEFORE chillin and focusing on your hobbies, ask yourself: “Have I accomplished all of the tasks I’ve set for myself today?”
This is how discipline is developed.
By focusing on your goals and everything you want to accomplish rather than the simple pleasures of the moment.
Your goals, not distractions come first.
And when this happens, you’ll start to complete and move from one goal to another on your journey. Eventually achieving the larger goals you set for yourself.
Because discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment
Step 3: Manage Your Time Efficiently
When it comes to pursuing any long-term goal, time management is key.
But, creating the discipline required for efficient time management is far easier said than done.
One important task you can do at the beginning of this step is narrowing down the number of different tasks you have to complete.
Focusing only on those that actively generate progress towards your main goals.
This is important. And it will prevent burnout and a sense of being overwhelmed by how much you have to get done.
Only spend time and energy on tasks that provide clarity and lead towards accomplishing your vision. This will strengthen your discipline and help bring your vision to life even sooner.
The next important aspect of time management is looking back and auditing the time you’ve spent on tasks in the past.
Once you’ve identified where you spend most of your time, you can easily evaluate whether or not this time is helping or hurting you.
This will help with your time management in the future. And also bring clarity to your process and what you are doing.
Businessman and author Robert Kanaat, more commonly known by his pen name R.L. Adams, is a proud supporter of the Quadrant Time Management System.
It’s Organized as Follows:
- The basic design is a large square divided into four smaller squares of equal size. (Think of a Punnett square, normally used to chart the probability of specific genetic traits). You’ve most likely seen one before in a high school science class.
- Starting in the top left box and moving clockwise around the diagram, the boxes are each labeled: Q1, Q2, Q4, and Q3.
- The lefthand column is labeled “urgent”, while the righthand column is labeled “non-urgent.”
- The top row is labeled “important” while the bottom row is labeled “unimportant.”
Using this system, you’re able to effectively organize the tasks you need to complete each day. Sorting them into categories based on the level of importance.
This will help you create the discipline needed to stick to your goals and manage your time and schedule better.
As discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment
Step 4: Surround Yourself With Successful People
This step might seem controversial at first, but the research and reasoning behind it are concrete.
Why?
Because we are easily influenced human beings. And we unknowingly change our behaviors and mindset to MATCH those of the people we choose to be around.
Think of it This Way:
When you’re trying to strengthen any sort of skill, from playing a sport to learning an instrument and everything in between. You seek out the friendship of those who are more skilled and educated than you.
These are people who have experience in developing their discipline.
And sculpting it into the bridge that so famously connects our goals and accomplishment.
These are the types of people you want to be around.
They already hold the secret to success. And by spending time learning about their experience and technique, you’ll be able to get an idea of what did and did not work for them.
Which will give you a better idea of what may or may not work for you and your specific situation.
Learning from them will make your journey and accomplishing your dreams and goals easier.
Find a mentor, make a new friend, ask for help.
Because yes, while each individuals’ situation is going to be unique. An experienced mentor will help guide you through the moments where you’ll need your discipline at its strongest.
And when you surround yourself with successful people they’ll rub off on you. Creating a
If your friends also have big dreams, you’ll be more motivated to actively push and accomplish your own. And together create a system.
A support system to encourage those around you while receiving the same amount of encouragement in return.
Support systems create discipline. And discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment
Step 5: Learn How to Properly Cope With Failures and Setbacks
Failure is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of the journey to success.
One which many of us plan for and yet can never truly prepare for. Whether you’re taking the first steps or the last.
A sudden and unexpected problem is enough to derail your entire mindset. No matter how disciplined you are.
So, How Do You Bounce Back From Failure?
First, it’s important to recognize that there is a purpose to failure.
It forces you to think back to your original goal. The object and accomplishment waiting for you at the end and on the other side of that bridge.
Because if you really want it, you’ll find a way to carry on despite the discouragement and setbacks.
And if you don’t really want it — Well… in the words of Robert Kataan: “You’ll just find a great excuse.”
But when you fail and remind yourself of your initial goal and make the decision to press forward:
What’s Next?
Well, the hardest part of recovering from failure is getting back up and carrying on.
Having strengthened your discipline so far. This commitment to your goal and ability to overcome roadblocks will provide a source of momentum, and inspiration to – carry on.
Remember: further on down the road, Your failures and setbacks will appear NOT as obstacles that barred the way.
But rather as bricks that helped pave the way.
Summary – Discipline is The Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishment
Bridging the gap between goals and accomplishment can seem like a daunting task as you look out over the path before you.
But like all journeys, much of the anxiety and confusion can be relieved by developing discipline. And creating and then sticking to a detailed plan.
Each person’s experience will be different. As our journey and the deadlines and obstacles, we face along the way differ.
But knowing these five basic steps will make your journey less difficult:
- Define Your Goals – dive “seven levels deep” into what you’re working towards and what’s motivating you
- Eliminate Distractions – track what you do with your spare time and don’t spend time consuming when you could be completing tasks that’ll bring you closer to your goal(s)
- Manage Your Time Efficiently – audit your time and use a system, like the quadrant time management system to prioritize and allocate time for your tasks
- Surround Yourself With Successful People – you mirror the people you choose to surround yourself with, so make sure they’re people who will help you develop into a better, more disciplined person
- Learn How To Properly Cope With Failures and Setbacks – failure in some form is, unfortunately, inevitable, regardless of the pursuit: just remember that it’s never the end-all, be-all of your journey as long as you have the dedication and discipline to press forward
And with these steps in mind, planning your own success story should be less intimidating and become more exciting.
After all, passion and dedication drive our life and dreams. Discipline the bridge.
A bridge between our goals and accomplishment.
