When the Troops Stopped Shaving
A famous military report once commented that the end started when the troops stopped shaving. They started letting the little things go. Before long, discipline had eroded so badly that they were easily overrun by there enemies. Today we're going to talk about those little disciplines add up to big wins, and how letting them slip can have disastrous consequences.
The Little Things
Discipline comes in many forms, but one things is for certain: it is both built and depends on the small things. The little habits you create and maintain on who's shoulders rest the larger and more important tasks that lead to achieving and maintaining victory and success.
Countless high ranking military leaders and wildly successful business leaders recommend disciplined habits like making your bed every day, and with good reason: they work. By training your mind to push past the trivial inconvenience or discomfort of the small disciplines, you train your mind not to avoid larger and more serious obligations for the sake of comfort. In addition, you develop a sense of pride in the discipline you build. Studies abound concerning the positive mental effects of clean and organized spaces, both at work and at home. Find your wins. Discover the small things you can do each day to put yourself in the right frame of mind to go forth and crush the larger and more challenging tasks.
Conversely, when you allow yourself to make excuses to skip your basic responsibilities "just this once," you open the door for bad habits and negative feelings. It can sometimes be a slow process, but it does eventually lead to downfall and failure. The troops in our example weren't defeated the same day they stopped or shaving or even because of it. They were defeated because their discipline gradually eroded further and further until they weren't even engaging in the most basic soldiering duties, and that is when the enemy struck hardest.
Laziness, excuses, and complacency are your enemies in the war against yourself, and they are always watching and waiting for you to be "too busy" or "too tired" to that "little thing" on this "one time." There is no such thing as "just this once" when it comes to your discipline. You are either getting better at it, or you are backsliding. Make the right choices. Every day. Every time.
Setting the Example
No matter who you are or what you do, someone is watching you. Whether it's your children, your friends, your superiors, your subordinates, or any combination thereof. More often than not, they are watching you when you least expect it.
Self discipline is where things all start for you, but also need to be willing to set the example for others. This goes double for leaders, but does not apply only to them.
Let's return to our military example. Imagine you are a front line trooper who diligently shaves every day, cleans your weapon, goes on patrol, stays awake on guard duty, and keeps your uniform in a constant state of the standard. If you your squad leader developing a stubble, how long would you keep shaving? If you saw them napping on guard duty, how long would you feel obligated to give up that sleep yourself?
Always be conscious of the impact your decision to maintain discipline has on others. This applies to your physical choices as well as your behavior. Hold yourself to the highest standard on the smallest things, and let others observe the benefits. Set the standard and let it speak for itself.
Do You Make Your Bed?
As always, I want to hear from all of you. What are the small disciplines you maintain to keep yourself in the right mindset. If you've only recently started developing some, tell us what you've been trying and what has worked for you.