Self-Discipline: A Difference Maker

Coming out of an incredible Team Major Leadership Convention in Louisville, KY, many of us are very conscious of turning all the encouragement and vision we have been given into progress and results. Discipline is singularly the most important attribute needed to achieve any type of excellence:  personal, organizational, or other.  It is the ability to control one's impulses, emotions, desires and behavior. It is being able to turn down immediate pleasure and instant gratification in favor of gaining the long-term satisfaction and fulfillment from achieving higher and more meaningful goals.
Discipline means learning how to focus your mind and energies on your goals and persevere until they are accomplished. It means cultivating a mindset whereby you are ruled by your deliberate choices rather than by your emotions, bad habits or sway of others.
Self-discipline allows you to reach your goals in a reasonable time frame and to live a more orderly and satisfying life.

I remember hearing Orrin Woodward say a long time ago that every single one of us will be disciplined.  Either we will discipline ourselves from within and enjoy the rewards of doing so, or we will be disciplined by someone else.  Self-discipline makes the difference: Achievers get it, keep it, and employ it every day of their life.  Others don't.  Here's a great article on Discipline that I just read this morning.  Great timing indeed!

Discipline

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.

All disciplines affect each other. Mistakenly the man says, “This is the only area where I let down.” Not true. Every letdown affects the rest. Not to think so is naive.

Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is built. Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure.

Discipline has within it the potential for creating future miracles.

The best time to set up a new discipline is when the idea is strong.

One discipline always leads to another discipline.

Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.

You don’t have to change that much for it to make a great deal of difference. A few simple disciplines can have a major impact on how your life works out in the next 90 days, let alone in the next 12 months or the next 3 years.

The least lack of discipline starts to erode our self-esteem.

“Vitamins for the Mind” is a weekly sampling of original quotes on a specific topic taken from The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn. The burgundy hardbound book with gold-foil lettering is a collection of more than 365 quotes on 60 topics gathered from Jim's personal journals, seminars and books and spanning more than 40 years. Click here to order The Treasury of Quotes.

The Wealth Found in Reading Good Books

I read this article this morning from the Jim Rohn site and found it to be yet another independent endorsement of just how important a system of personal development like the Team System really is.  I know Orrin Woodward has always put such a premium value on reading with the specific intent of learning.  Orrin has always taught to read in search of finding a few practical nuggets and to put them into practice immediately.  It's the best way to take ownership of those traits and get the most from the lessons and experience the author has to offer you.  after reading the short article below, I would suggest reading the Learning For Life article written by Orrin some time ago that offers a great sampling of certain lessons that good books offer each of us.  I snapped a quick photo of the current reading books on my desk right now.  I happened to pick up 5 autographed leadership books at a local bookstore.  Now, it's time to get mining in search of the gold that lies within them in order to tap into the gold of the potential that lies with ourselves.  Happy reading!  Happy mining!

Knowledge Resources: Books -by Denis Waitley

Why do fewer than 10 percent of the public buy and read nonfiction books? One reason is that many would rather get home than get ahead. They are motivated to get by and get pulled along by the company, the economy or the government.

Another reason is that many individuals believe that information found in books, computer programs and training sessions has no value in the business world. How self-deluding!

As the new tools of productivity become the Internet, the DVD,direct digital download of text, audio and video, and the combination of the interactive computer with telecommunications, the people who know how to control the new technologies will acquire power, while those who thought that education ends with the diploma are destined for low-paying, low-satisfaction jobs. In almost the blink of an eye, our society has passed from the Industrial Age to the Knowledge Era.

Increase your reading by 100 percent. Decrease your television watching, and that of any children in your family, by 50 percent. Surf the Internet and subscribe to book summaries, or download free chapters from different sources. By reading book summaries, you can gain the essence of all the top business books in a very brief period of time.

Action Idea: Read at least one book each month, and listen to at least one additional audio book during your commute or downtime. One of the best sources for business audio books online is MP3audiobooks.com.

All kinds of reading and listening to fiction and nonfiction will increase your vocabulary and writing and presentation skills. Incredibly, a mere 3,500 words separate the average person from those with superior vocabularies.

Keep a dictionary beside you when you read and look up every word you don’t fully understand. Doing that on the spot helps make those words part of your vocabulary forever. And don’t depend on your computer’s spell checker for your spelling. Not all e-mail service includes spell check. Also, you maybe called upon to write longhand notes, memos, or information on whiteboards or black boards at meetings. You not only want to use the right words, you also will want to spell them correctly.

Start your own library of success books—or add to it—right now! Get 12 top-selling personal-development books, including Denis Waitley’s Safari to the Soul, in one special package—at extraordinary savings and with a special audio book bonus! Click here now for details or to order.

Orrin Woodward- Top 100 Blog Posts That Will Make You a Better Leader

The Online Degree website recently ranked one of Orrin Woodward's articles, Define, Learn, Do - 3 Keys to Success, at number 15 of the Top 100 Blog Posts That Will Make You a Better Leader.

In an older article I just recently read, a survey was conducted by Executive Development Associates to study the trends in executive development with 100 chief learning officers and heads of leadership-development departments from top companies around the world.  The survey asked these leaders who were responsible for the executive development of their respective companies ad organizations what learning methods they would use the most to develop their talent.  Specifically, the survey wanted to know how will their leaders learn? And to determine the most effective ways for leaders to learn.

The survey discovered  that 3 learning methods widely regarded as especially effective dominated the methods that would be heavily utilized. 

1. Senior Executives as Faculty,  (or leader-led learning)
2. Action Learning, and
3. Executive coaches

When the EDA followed up with those responsible for the executive development, here's what they found in utilizing these top methods of training and development:

Again, 100 companies responded when we asked those responsible for learning and leadership development to tell us if these three powerful learning methods had increased in importance, stayed the same, or decreased in importance. Here's what we learned:

Leader-Led (using our own executives to teach)
43% - Increased
52% - Stayed the same
5% - Decreased
Action Learning
41% - Increased
55% - Stayed the same
4% - Decreased
Executive Coaching
51% - Increased
38% - Stayed the same
9% - Decreased

In looking at each of the 3 methods, here is what the article reported:

The use of senior executives as faculty (leader-led learning) is the most popular method for developing leaders--the first time in the 21-year history of our Trends Survey that this method has topped the list. Three-quarters of the companies say they will be using their top executives to actually teach in their programs, not just show up for the kick-off or closing ceremonies. 

 From as far back as I have been involved with Orrin Woodward and the Team, this has been probably the primary method for everyone participating with Team to develop their own leadership.  From the Men's and Ladies' Leadership events, the monthly Seminars and Ticket-Holder Meetings, certainly the Major Leadership Conventions and even at the local Open Meeting level, the Team has always employed "Leader-Led" learning at every level.  Orrin calls it a meritocracy where those with the greatest degree of results, would, of course, be the most qualified to teach.

Closely following this method is Action Learning (working in teams on current problems or opportunities; both to address real business challenges and to develop the participants simultaneously).

Again here, Team has continuously employed what the EDA survey finds to be one of the top methods employed to train & develop leaders.  "Action Learning" is simply a matter of course on the Team and with the Mona Vie Team.  There is no better classroom or lab than the real world and building a real business with real people.  All of which demands your ongoing leadership development.  Since the Mona Vie Team business builds gradually, it is the perfect setting in which to develop the interpersonal relationship and leadership skills necessary to take your team or organization to its next level.  The speed of the team is the speed of the leader (or leaders) leading it.  The Team has always known and practiced the principal that personal leadership development is necessary for ongoing business growth.

The other significant finding is the high ranking of executive coaching--the first time this sometimes controversial learning method has cracked the top five. It appears that after recent years of both hype and sniping on the benefits of executive coaching, it has gained favor, even though some believe its popularity has peaked. Nevertheless, with executives increasingly under the gun to move quickly and make complex decisions, it makes sense that companies would want a coach to walk managers through challenging situations with a potentially big payoff from the performance improvement that can be gained

This last finding is basic common sense and shows just how 'uncommon' that sense can be.  It almost sounds as if this is a surprise that people who are being coached by executives further along in the process would become more proficient themselves.  This is the whole idea of being 'mentored'.  Trying to 'go it alone' or 'figure it out myself' is certainly one way to do things and acquire the experience and knowledge to grow and succeed.  But wouldn't it make a lot more sense to learn from someone who has already encountered that obstacle, resolved that issue, been down that path, and any other way to say it.  Successful leaders leave a footprint and create a path for those to follow.  Many times leaders find the pitfall themselves and can point out the dangers the next leaders will face or at least prepare them for what will most certainly be encountered in their own journey.  Coaching and mentorship opportunities are invaluable to anyone seeking to expand their horizons whether it be in a personal setting or a professional endeavor. 

I am thankful to have been exposed to a System that has always focused on developing the individual first, equipping and encouraging them to become whoever & whatever they can knowing that the rest that is required for success is almost academic.  It's simply a matter of putting it all into practice.

It can start here in Louisville, KY.

A Tribute to Ernie

Below are a couple of wonderful articles worth reading.  It is humbling to contemplate the impact this one man had upon multiple generations. 

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?
Robert Browning 

I know we're all going at some time, and I'm ready for whatever God's got. I have a great feeling of peace about it. Serenity.  What a great thing Heaven's gonna be.
Ernie Harwell from an interview in Sept. 2009.  Surrendered his life to Jesus Christ from an invitation of Dr. Billy Graham himself at an Easter service held in Bartow, Florida 1961.

Rest your soul in Heaven Mr. Harwell. 

May 05, 2010 

The Sound of Silence in Tigertown

American Thinker Blog | Matthew May
Ernie Harwell died last night. He was 92.

Ernie Harwell: Gone now but never forgotten
Mitch Albom | Detroit Free Press | May 5, 2010

Self-Education & Learning

Education & Learning

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

We must learn to apply all that we know so that we can attract all that we want.

Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.

If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around.

Don't see the mind for more than it is, but don't misread it for all that it can be.

Sharpen your interest in two major subjects: life and people. You will only gather information from a source if you are interested in it.

Education must precede motivation.

While you are in school, make sure you get the information. What you think about it, that's up to you. What you are going to do with it that will soon be up to you. But while you are there, make sure you get it. In fact, my advice is: Don't leave school without it!

Never begrudge the money you spend on your own education.

If you step up the self-education curve, you will come up with more answers than you can use.

Quotes by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher, reprinted with permission from Jim Rohn International (c) 2010.  As a world-renowned author and success expert, Jim Rohn touched millions of lives during his 46-year career as a motivational speaker and messenger of positive life change.  For more information on Jim and his popular personal achievement resources or to subscribe to the weekly Jim Rohn Newsletter, visit www.JimRohn.com.

Jim Rohn understood the importance of tapping into learning resources for our self-education. The Team exists to serve that very purpose- to produce, provide and deliver the best personal and organizational leadership development resources to help build you as an individual and you as a community builder.  Whether you are looking for the industry specific Mona Vie resources, or an independent line of LLR Leadership materials, Team has them for you and your organization.

Not too long ago Orrin Woodward wrote an article regarding the importance of self-education and how crucial it is today to read and educate our minds to have an impact in our culture and preserve the fragile freedoms guaranteed by our US Consitution.