Determination, self-discipline key to success

THIS article was inspired by the events of April 2 in Port Elizabeth, when the city hosted another Iron Man event; an event that highlighted what it means to dream big and what it takes to aim high.

The common denominator, however, was one thing: determination. At the heart of any successful person, is self-discipline.

I believe that the key to being disciplined is to focus your mind on the outcome that you are trying to achieve and, with that clarity of mind, to modify your mental, physical and social environments so they support that outcome.

All this is certainly easier said than done but, in the words of football legend Pele, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”. Focusing on the outcome

Brendon Burchard upset the proverbial apple cart when he suggested that S.M.A.R.T. goals “suck” and that we needed to look at goal-setting differently.

He suggests that goals need to be D.U.M.B.: Dream-driven, Uplifting, Method-friendly and Behaviour-triggered. Here is a modified example he uses to compare the approaches:

S.M.A.R.T. goal: I want to lose 10kg by the beginning of summer so I fit into a size 8. I will do this by dieting and exercising three times a week, starting on Monday.

D.U.M.B. goal: I want to be so vibrant, so full of energy that like-minded people are drawn to me so that, in the company of amazing people, I can live life to the full.

Which goal is more appealing to you? I’m with Brendon! Rethink your goal using the D.U.M.B. model and you will likely find a goal much more inspiring and potentially fulfilling than you first imagined. Find out more at www.brendonburchard.tumblr.com. Fostering supportive environments Mental

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, outlines physiological reasons for the mental resistance and discomfort you feel when you try to break old habits and replace them with new behaviours. This process can be difficult but by making many decisions that support your goals, new behaviours can be turned into habits.

Forgive yourself quickly: slipping into old habits is inevitable and the challenge is to avoid getting stuck when you falter. When you have a setback, acknowledge what caused it, learn from it and move on.

Give yourself a break sometimes: even the toughest soldiers become battle weary, so taking a break and allowing yourself to break some of your new rules for a short time can provide much-needed relief.

Reward yourself regularly to keep you motivated. Physical

Remove temptations and distractions: remember the old saying “out of sight, out of mind”. For example, an important part of being vibrant and full of energy is eating well, so stock your cupboards with wholesome foods.

Build routines that support your goals: order in your physical world will facilitate discipline in your life.

For example, if you have a routine of exercising

on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, you can plan your social calendar (for example, date night on Saturday), you can arrange your laundry schedule so you always have clean kit to put out the night before and you can plan your meals in advance. Think holistically about how your physical environment impacts your ability to maintain discipline. Social

Engage with like-minded people: holding yourself accountable to others and spending time with people who have similar aspirations are well-documented ways to maintain discipline.

Find groups of people that you can connect with both on- and off-line and be an active participant in these forums.

Conversely, there will always be saboteurs in our lives; those who derive a perverse sense of pleasure from derailing others and these people need to be avoided.

There are many important qualities that can contribute to a person’s achievements and happiness, but there is only one that begets sustainable, long-term success in all aspects of life: self-discipline.

Whether in terms of your diet, fitness, work ethic or relationships, self-discipline is the No 1 trait needed to accomplish goals, lead a healthy lifestyle, and ultimately, be happy.