There are many aspects of starting a business.
People will be quick to tell you about the importance of marketing, different sales techniques, and everything you need to know about getting a product to market.
But in truth, without the necessary discipline, all the information becomes much less important. However, discipline is not something you are born with. It takes constant work and dedication, but the results are significantly more success and better obstacle management.
Here, we will look at six ways you can improve your self-discipline and give you all the skills you need to become a productive entrepreneur.
Short on time? Here are the key takeaways
- Reframe the concept of ‘discipline’: Many people see discipline as punishment. Reframing it will help you build it.
- Start small: Elite-level self-discipline isn’t born overnight.
- Establish clear (and reasonable) expectations: Expectations are great to aspire to, but only if they’re feasible.
- Make a list: Nothing beats a good to-do list!
- Make conscious steps to minimize distractions: Removing distractions is a great way to help pave the way for self-discipline.
- Technology is your friend: When used correctly, technology can greatly aid your journey to self-discipline.
- Each temptation is an opportunity to grow stronger: Discipline is something you will always have to work on.
The Importance of Discipline for Founders
The world of a founder is certainly a rollercoaster ride! There are days when the business thrives and others where you are faced with challenges you may never have even considered.
However, with the help of discipline, founders can ensure consistent progress, even in the face of adversity.
I for one, often find myself caught out by distractions or unforeseen circumstances that need resolving. But it is the discipline that ensures those situations don’t derail you. Remember, building a business is not a sprint. It’s a marathon that requires structure and focus, which are two things that discipline can provide.
Entrepreneurship is fraught with obstacles, and a disciplined mindset will let you remain composed under pressure, assess situations, and make pragmatic decisions.
6 Ways to Become More Disciplined
Reframe the concept of ‘discipline’
First off, it’s important to address the term discipline. Ever heard of a child getting ‘disciplined’ for bad behavior?
Or perhaps a teenager who people describe as lacking discipline when they show bad behavior? There are countless examples of these interactions when we grow up, and as such, we often see discipline as a response to bad behavior or something we don’t want to do.
But building self-discipline shouldn’t focus on making yourself do things you don’t want to. Instead, it should be viewed as making positive changes for future success.
For example, if you were trying to become more helpful, you would have much more success if you opted for healthy habits you enjoyed. The same can be said for business. Opt for habits and goals that you are truly passionate about first to help instill self–discipline as an ingrained habit.
Start small
It’s also important to start small and not try to work on everything all at once. Going back to our health and exercise example from before, if you’ve ever tried to increase exercise, improve your diet, and reduce your alcohol intake all in one go, then you’ll know how hard that can be!
Sure, you might be able to keep it up for a short time, but ultimately, one aspect will likely slip, demotivating you to the point where you give up.
Instead, you’d like to have much more success by focusing on one of these aspects first, engraining it as a habit, and then moving on to the next.
The same can be said for business. Rather than aiming to run the perfect business overnight, focus on small wins. Start by working on your project consistently each day at the same time in the morning. A small accomplishment like this is great for setting the tone and showing immediate progress.
Make a list
Next on the list? Make a list!
One of the most important aspects of self-discipline is understanding what needs doing. There is nothing more satisfying than ticking things off your to-do list, and that act alone can add valuable motivation as you continue to work through it.
If you’re not used to acting with self-discipline, you may find yourself scratching your head, trying to work out what to do next.
The best way to overcome this is to start the day by writing down everything you want to achieve. As you become more self-disciplined, you may even expand your to-do list to cover a week or a month in advance.
There are several tools that can help you make such a list, but my personal preference is a simple Google Sheet, where I list out my plans per hour, per day, per week, and per month.
It isn’t a perfect system, but then no list-making system is! The important thing is that it gives a great jumping-off point to know you’re being productive and disciplined with your time.
Make conscious steps to minimize distractions
I don’t know about you, but I often find myself looking at the time on my phone, only to see that a solid 20 minutes have passed since I started scrolling through social media.
Mobile phones aren’t the only distraction founders face, but they can be a big one. Unless you are expecting a call or working on your social channels, try leaving your phone outside your office while at work. Little steps like this can greatly minimize your distractions and keep you focused on the matters at hand.
Another solution is to set alarms for certain projects during the day; this will prevent your whole day from getting wiped out by one that overruns.
Technology is your friend
While some technology can cause distractions, other technological tools can also benefit you on your journey to self-discipline. Platforms like Trello are great for organizing your tasks, ChatGPT can be a brilliant tool for content ideation and brand brainstorming, and there are plenty of others that can help speed up your productivity and motivate you to continue being disciplined. When tasks take time it can lead to distractions seeming more tempting, but the right technology can help ensure tasks are resolved quickly, allowing you to move on to the next project without any unnecessary breaks.
Each temptation is an opportunity to grow stronger
Lastly, it’s important to remember that self-discipline is not easy. After all, if it was, everyone would practice it!
That said, each temptation you avoid helps you train your discipline muscle, making it easier to avoid the next temptation.
Removing temptations where you can in life will make a huge difference to the effort you are able to instill into your business ventures and is sure to help you turn your fledgling idea into a roaring success.
You Have the Discipline, Now Get the Resources You Need
Seeking advice on how to attract customers to your website? Or perhaps you’d like a one-on-one coach to guide you through proven business strategies to grow your brand? Foundr+ can help. For just $1, you’ll gain access to more than 30 courses and 1,000 lessons led by top industry experts. You’ll also join a growing community of like-minded founders. Sign up today to get started.
