Excellence is about discipline. Being the best you can be, I believe, relates directly to your ability to practice the following self-disciplines that set you up for success.
1. Always believe in yourself
Be true to your principles and keep faith in your beliefs. Lead a life of integrity, true to your values and principles no matter what.
2. Take care of yourself
Don’t neglect yourself even in stressful times. Watch your diet, find time to exercise, and find quality time for your family, friends and your passions. Use positive self-talk. Read books or listen to tapes that will motivate and inspire you. Take a break at lunchtime; go for a walk, switch off, even if for only five minutes. Make it your time. You will be glad you did.
3. Be decisive
Don’t spend your time waiting for the perfect time to do something you want to do. There rarely is a perfect time to do anything, only a right time, and that time is now. There are too many people, dreaming of yesterday or worrying about tomorrow, instead of living for today. Seize every moment; squeeze all the joy and happiness you can from that day.
4. Take action
If there is anything in your life that you want to change, that is not the way you would like it to be, take responsibility for changing it yourself. Don’t blame other people for things you want to change or expect other people to do it for you. Step up to the plate and take action yourself.
5. Acknowledge those who contribute to your life
Never forget to acknowledge the people you work with, the people who help you along the way. It is so easy to forget sometimes or take for granted the people we admire, respect. We all have busy lives. But take that time to send that note, to make that call, to make someone in your life feel special and appreciated. You can never say thank you enough to people. Remember recognition is the number one value we look for in the workplace.
6. Be prepared to fail
Whatever you want to achieve in your personal or professional life, you have to be prepared to fail at first, to sacrifice along the way. There is nothing wrong in failure; failure is feedback, nothing more and nothing less. There can be no success in life without setbacks. Become a risk- taker, step out of your comfort zone. Remember, every failure brings you a step closer to ultimate success. As Henry Ford said ” Failure is just another opportunity to begin again more intelligently”.
7. Look past fear
Fear is ever present in our lives. There are all types of fear, for example, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, and even the fear of success for some of us. Fear can ruin your ambitions; even destroy your life if you let it. But, if you try to better understand your fears, if you confront your fears instead of running away from them, you will realize that fear is really a coward, more afraid of you than you are of it. In that moment a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities will open up. Remember on the other side of fear lies freedom, if we are only willing to take that all important first step.
8. Have confidence in your ability
Sometimes each of us underestimates our abilities. For whatever reason, you may not think you can do whatever is in front of you. You may not think you are clever enough, worthy enough to achieve something. We all sometimes listen to that little voice inside us, telling us we can’t do something. We need to listen more to our positive inner self, the one that is saying we can. Your first victory over self-doubt and negativity, your most important victory, has to happen first within your own heart. That is where your true strength comes from. Listen to your heart more. Trust it. It will not lie to you.
I would like to leave you with one final thought:
Never, never stop believing in yourself. You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming.
