“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” Lao Tzu

How many times on average does someone attempt a goal before giving up? Would you guess one, two or three? The real answer is less than one. Many people give up before they even try.

Self-discipline is the trait that makes the difference. It goes hand-in-hand with determination and resilience. If you know you can rely on yourself to be disciplined in your approach, you know that there is a possibility of success. Without it, it is easy to feel defeated before you even start or to become easily distracted from your goal.

I work daily with experts who are at the pinnacle of their chosen profession in business, sport and every area of enterprise. When I am asked what is the one thing that sets those who succeed apart from those who fall short of their true potential? Or what do successful achievers do that others don’t?, the answer is always rooted in their self-discipline.

Successful people are willing to do the things that they don’t necessarily want to do in order to get the results they want. They tend to put the needs of the goal ahead of instant gratification. It’s all about desire, not denial.

They put in extra hours and effort to achieve the outcome they want because they always have an eye on the long-term goal. Rather than stopping to question whether they want to do something, self-disciplined people are more likely to get on with it!

A self-disciplined approach delivers improved performance and successful results – and keeps people on track. They know that, without self-discipline, nothing will ever happen and nothing will ever change. They will fall behind and lose control.

You can plan, dream, create and think positively all you want and still not make your business a success if you don’t take action in a self-disciplined way. Self-discipline feeds self-esteem and puts winners in the driving seat. I believe it is the core trait that sets successful people in every field of endeavour.

Mastering the art of self-discipline is like investing successfully in time. Those who plan ahead and who complete tasks within the time allocated develop the confidence to know they can achieve their larger goals.

Mastering The art Of Self-Discipline

• Self-discipline creates self-reliance, which feeds self-confidence. If you know you can rely on yourself to deliver results, you are more likely to aim high in your ambitions.

• Self-discipline goes hand-in-hand with effective planning and time management. It ensures that you are in control – and leading the action, rather than reacting to the others demands.

If you know what you are doing, and when and why you are doing it, you will be less likely to be taken off-track.

• Self-disciplined people have a long-term plan that sets out their goals and ambitions, supported by a short-term plan in the form of a daily ‘do it!’ list. The devil is in the do its! Don’t just list them – do them!

If you create a plan and stick to it, you will achieve more, more efficiently, and create more hours in each working day.

• Being self-disciplined sends a clear message to others that you can be relied upon. You will attract like-minded people to do business with you and work with you.

• A self-disciplined approach to life enables your auto pilot on those occasions when the going gets tough.

•   Self-discipline drives action. It turns targeted thinking into focused doing, even when you’d rather be doing something else.

Self-discipline is easier to maintain when developed as a habit in every area of our lives. Build your self-discipline muscle, daily. Ask yourself what changes in my own approach will make the most difference to my success?

Watch your attitude to food, exercise, watching TV, using social media, playing computer games and so on. Be honest with yourself – what are your distractors?

Do you get up as soon as your alarm clock rings – even when you don’t want to? Or do you tend to press the snooze button and start your day with a delay?

Do you eat only when you are hungry or do you tend to treat yourself even though you ‘shouldn’t’?

Are you the kind of person who is punctual, who is always on time for appointments? Or do you leave everything to the last minute?

Do you spend first and worry about the money afterwards, or do you always save up for what you want?

By becoming aware of your current behaviour, it becomes more possible to be increasingly self-disciplined in your choices and efficient with your use of time.

From the very moment of waking up and getting out of bed each morning, through each area of your working day, become watchful and aware of the diversionary tactics you may use to avoid doing essential tasks.

By matching your desires to the actions you need to make your dream a reality, you can begin to apply the self-discipline required to make your future a certainty. It is a skill that those around you will begin to learn and benefit from too – by following your example.

Connect with Bev on Google+

Positioning itself in the “Top 10 Free Business Apps” during the launch week, the reviews are already coming in and are glowing. We love sharing positive news here at The Coaching Academy so read on to find out what all the fuss is about:

“Just what I have been looking for – Useful, On-Point and Inspiring – This app is amazing and for me personally, perfectly timed. Attempting to start my own business I have struggled to find information which covers all the current aspects of starting up in an interesting, informative way and in ONE place!! This app is a God send – great that I can access the resources on my phone as well as my laptop! LOVE IT!” – Abigail Sekwalor

“Awesome – Great app Bev. Clean, fresh style and look. Packed with so much practical help and advice and a great DISC tool that comes as the icing on the already tasty cake! Well done!” – Tim O’ Rahilly 

“Wonderful – Great app, love DISC even more than the book version. Free too, I’d have paid for it happily!” – Hattie Jacques

“Extremely impressive app. What I like about it is it’s simplicity, the information and the ongoing support via the Daily Do Its. Great little app – Love it and won’t be ditching it!” – Steve Jones 

“Do It! – If first impressions count (and of course they do), this app really stands out in excellence for resources and tips at your fingertips (literally!). I say Do It! Download it!” – Mariola Mayer

If you haven’t yet downloaded Bev’s app then you can do so by clicking on the button below. If you have already downloaded the app (thousands of you already have!) then do feel free to leave your review direct on the app store. Look forward to seeing them soon!

It’s been long awaited but I am truly delighted to announce that the DO IT! OR DITCH IT app is now available to download from the app store!

For a limited time period, the app will be completely free to download.

Download the DO IT! OR DITCH IT app now

Despite the apparent doom and gloom, the rate at which businesses are starting up is strong, with a 30% increase in the number of businesses since 2000. This, coincided with the fact that coaching as a profession is continuing to attract a significant proportion of newcomers, it seemed only sensible to merge my business mentoring and coaching knowledge together to create the DO IT! OR DITCH IT app.

There has never been a better time to launch an app version of my bestselling book DO IT OR DITCH IT, with 29 billion apps downloaded last year and with 47% of mobile users now owning smartphones.

Thank you to everybody who has bought the book and made the effort to contact me with their thoughts and thanks. I do hope you’ll enjoy having DO IT! OR DITCH IT “on the go” and in a more interactive format.

As well as including new video content and new business building resource for app downloaders, I am particularly proud of the mini DISC assessment which provides a truly interactive snapshot of your personality type and how that might influence your decisions and actions – great to share with friends and colleagues!

I do hope you enjoy using the app, do feel free to leave your review on the app store. I’ll be checking in as often as I can.

Thanks again to Gary Gallagher and his team at Paper Bag Ltd for all their hard work and patience over the last 12 months. This day wouldn’t be possible without you!

Look forward to keeping you posted

Bev

Connect with Bev on Google+

For those who are already familiar with the world of DO IT! OR DITCH IT, I’m delighted to announce the official launch date of my new app.

Drum roll please…

For a limited time period, the DO IT! OR DITCH IT app will be completely free to download.

Visit the App Store from Tuesday 21^st August (next Tuesday) to download the app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. (other platforms to follow later)

Effective decision making lies at the heart of progress in every area of life & DO IT! OR DITCH IT thinking enables decision making to become a clear process.

I really can’t wait to share the app with you which has been rigorously tested over the past  months! As you’d expect from an app.

My Daily Do Its!  feature to help you accelerate your success and allows you to easily share your favourites with friends and colleagues. I’ve also included workbooks, downloads and templates to maximise the effectiveness and usefulness of the app and last but not least….

I’m especially excited to include the mini DISC assessment which provides a truly interactive snapshot of your personality type and how that might influence your decisions and actions. I was so delighted that the beta testers loved this section and was humoured to hear an unnamed member of staff took to administering the mini DISC to their friends on a Friday night in the pub! I took this to mean that the app is engaging!

A huge thank you must go out to Gary Gallagher and the team at Paper Bag Ltd who have worked (very patiently) with me during the last twelve months. A special mention too for all those that came forward to test the app. You have helped make this the best app it could possibly be and ready for launch to reach the mobile masses.

I’d like to share some of their lovely comments:

“I really enjoyed every bit of this powerful app. It’s fantastic!” – Ildi Haraszi

“Loved the mini DISC assessment! So easy to use, really engaging and incredibly informative” – Jennifer Hopkins

“Very useful and enjoyable app. I like the clear, direct information. Staight to the point” – Varai Unique 

“I love the Bev video intros. They make the app really clear and accessible” – Merete Langler 

“A very innovative app which was very easy to get engrossed in. Really clear and easy to use and it looks great!” – Sally Ransom

More news to follow next week but put the date in your diaries – The DO IT! OR DITCH IT app is coming – Tuesday 21^st August.