How Discipline Will Empower Freedom in the New Year

Finding My 3 Words for 2020

It’s exhilarating to me when a calendar-year turns–not in a noisy way, but in an inner, hopeful fashion. And, without hope, the soul withers. Finding my annual ‘3 words’ enhances my hope.

For the past seven years, I have participated in Chris Brogan’s 3 words exercise. In addition to inaugurating the new year, I also use the 3 words exercise to draw a framework around the next 12 months. However, this year, I struggled to identify my words. As December began to expire, my interest in the exercise waned. Perhaps, I thought, the process had run its course. An eighth year wasn’t in the cards.

But then, boom, I was listening to a Jocko Willink podcast, and his words struck me: Discipline Equals Freedom. But it wasn’t just the words. Willink’s explanation behind those three words resonated, deeply.

The way he described discipline-in-action made sense.

It wasn’t about depriving myself; instead, I felt empowered.

• If I were to discipline my eating, for example, I would reap the rewards of a better figure and improved health.
• If I managed my time better when I was at work, I would have more time for play.
• If I managed my energy better, I could be more flexible.
• If I arose earlier each day, I would enjoy some ‘me’ time at the front-end of the day, before being consumed by the obligations, interruptions and deadlines necessary to deliver quality results to my clients.

The three words, ‘discipline equals freedom,’ also aligned with recent-months’ determined initiatives.

I had begun arising earlier each day – upwards to an hour or even hour and a half earlier than heretofore. Instead of arising at 6:30 or 7 am, I now regularly get up at 5:15 or 5:30 am.

It is liberating not only to exercise earlier, but also to be situated productively in my office significantly earlier. As well, I’ve missed fewer workouts, because a hit-the-ground client appointment schedule doesn’t crowd out gym time.

Moreover, in addition to arising earlier, I’m working on giving myself more space with each and every project. My time is heavily scheduled. In the past year, I’ve taken on new corporate clients and continue to have a regular stream of individual executive clients. My goal is to go deeper with each client, and this requires a disciplined process.

Writing takes thought-work, simmering, editing, stepping away, more thought-work, editing–rinse and repeat. This requires starting projects sooner to provide brain-space to move through the proper processes. In also requires managing client expectations, as well as my own. Quality first; not speed (hat tip to my friend Christy Dodson for hammering that message home with me many many years ago).

The discipline empowers freedom. It is hopeful, not inflexible, strict or dispiriting.

My goal is to be as consistent as possible with my disciplined processes. At the same time, I must be agile and open to life’s changing winds and tumultuous seas, adapting my sails as needed. Doing all this without sacrificing joy at the altar of discipline is a mighty challenge, but one I’m willing to work hard for!

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If you are looking for a more disciplined process to manage your executive career story, let’s set up a time to chat. I’ll help you map out a plan to eloquently translate your value into words.