For those that lack discipline

With rare exception, productivity books the world over claim the price of success is discipline.  There are people like Gary Vaynerchuck whose entire world-view seems built on the idea that success is a product of almost nothing but extreme discipline and commitment.

Personal development guru Jim Rohn said “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.”

I’m sure I’m not aware of all my shortcomings, but I’m self-aware enough to know that discipline is not my strong suit. And yet I’m 41 years old, surely halfway through my life, and my days are filled with joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment that feels to me exactly like success. None of the pain of regret and disappointment that I’m supposedly due to suffer for my lack of discipline.

Mostly, to be frank, I’m just lucky. My family and friends are incredible and make my life seem like a game played on “easy mode”, and if you’re reading this without the benefit of the world I was born into my intention is not to gloat. Whatever your personal situation, I simply don’t believe the claim that discipline is the necessary (or at least, main) ingredient to success. Which is not to say that I eschew it entirely. As you probably know, this essay is being shared on day two of a quest to write and share something every day for the month of October. I’m sure discipline will have some contribution to making the quest a success. But it won’t be the main ingredient.

Enthusiasm is what drives me, not discipline. I suspect I’m not the only one.

For many years, I tried to emulate my long-time business mentor and surrogate older-brother Peter Cook. Pete is the kind of guy you might compliment by describing him as “a machine”. When he makes a decision and sets his mind to something, he will Just. Do. It. He was born with a well of discipline I spent a long time feeling envious of. He can set himself a task and sit and work through it no matter what barriers stand in his way. He is productive in a manner that very few people I’ve ever met can be. He is diligent to a degree that I will never comprehend. I tried to be like him, I studied the same books he studied, I copied his productivity habits.

I failed.

I’m not like Pete. I never will be.

First I came to terms with that being okay. Only later—fairly recently—I came to see it as a blessing. Pete is amazing because he’s Pete. Equally, I can be amazing because I’m me.

Now that I’ve realised discipline is not my mechanism for success, I’ve been able to properly tap into my real superpower: enthusiasm. I make stuff happen by cultivating a source of energy greater than most other people can. I share encouragement that helps people access a new, higher version of themselves that allows them do things they didn’t realise they could do.

Maybe if I was more disciplined, I wouldn’t have that ability.

So if you’re reading this and discipline is not your strong suit, please let me leave a word of encouragement for you. You’re not consigned to wallow in "the pain of regret and disappointment”. The universe didn’t write that rule into the fabric of reality. Your lack of discipline likely corresponds with an abundance of something else. For me, it’s enthusiasm. For you, maybe it’s compassion, insight, creativity, or understanding.

Whatever your superpower is, please don’t let it be diminished by spending your life trying to address a lack of discipline. Discipline is just one of many available paths to success.