Now that we’ve clarified discipline’s primary function (to drive or restrain action—to do or not do something), it’s time to consider it in relationship to discipline’s secondary duties.
On Monday, I mentioned that discipline’s secondary duties are only relevant and valuable if its primary functions are fulfilled. You might be wondering, “What are discipline’s secondary duties?”
Here are some of the more common secondary duties of discipline:
- Define goals
- Choose a starting direction or aiming point
- Find and focus on your “why” (purpose)
- Pick a strategy and develop an action plan
- Set and enforce clear standards
- Establish a routine
- Stay consistent
- Give great effort
- Execute with precision and skill
- Deliver high quality
These matter, but only if you’re driving disciplined action and restraining undisciplined action. Read through the list again and ask yourself, “What will this list accomplish if I am slow or resistant to take action?” The answer is obvious.
The list could just as accurately represent excuses people use for not taking action:
- I need to define my goals first
- I’m not sure where to start or what direction to go
- I don’t have a strong enough “why” yet
- I’m still working on my strategy and plan
- I’m deciding what standards I want to set
- I need to make it a routine
- I need to make sure I can stay consistent
- I can’t give it my best effort
- I want to get better before I really commit
It’s common for people to use uncertainty in a secondary duty of discipline as an excuse to not take action. They tell themselves a story that they can’t drive or restrain action until the secondary duty is fully established and stabilized. In the meantime, they waste time.
They drift further from discipline and seemingly find a way to never quite establish enough stability to take action.
Does this story sound familiar? Can you recognize it in yourself or others?
Event + Response = Outcome. Do the work.
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