Discipline – Page 5 – Disney Employee Engagement Speaker

Only Give Advice

Our differences make the world interesting, don’t they? And they also cause conflict.

We all know others who have some expertise where we don’t and vice-versa.

Sometimes we pay cash for the exchange, but mostly we just try to help each other out.

Yesterday at Gold’s Gym, a friend talked of running a 5k. It would be his first.

I’m a good runner, but more than that, I’m an expert at focus and discipline (and motivation).

Do you know what you are an expert at?

I caught myself doling out advice (after it was asked for), but then caught myself a second time – and backed up, to ask a simple question.

“Why do you want to run a 5k?”

(next blog)

Learn How To Pace

If you want to practice discipline, there are many ways. Mostly though, it requires an inspiring goal. You’ll need to figure out yours.

And if you don’t have one, then what? Consider yourself in a very exciting time – a time to work tirelessly until you’ve got something that makes you cry it’s so good.

I don’t like running 5k’s or 10k’s because they’re too far. No, seriously. Hard to believe, but I prefer 400 meters – 57 seconds or less, and you’re done.

Run a 5k or 10k at a leisurely pace? Preposterous! The primal, competitive urges overtake any rational ability to run slowly.

It is what it is.

Learning pace take practice, determination, and patience. Great news though, these skills are transferable to every other aspect of our lives.

The Art Of Pace

In running, most sports, and life, pace is a crucial factor.

Real life. There’s a runner I know that recently ran two 5k’s. He preaches pace, trains pace, delivers pace. He says pace is key.

His goal was to run the first two miles at exactly 7:00 each, and then gradually run faster the third mile, aiming for sub-22:00

First 5k mile splits:

7:00 (perfect)
7:00 (perfect)
6:40 (nice)
:40
21:20 result

His other 5k was the same plan, first two miles at seven-minutes each, final mile gradually faster.

6:40 (way too fast – the adrenaline of 12,000+ runners)
6:55 (back on track – almost perfect)
6:25 (wow)
:35
20:35 result

Few things more rewarding than practicing what you preach.

What Motivates People?

A million things probably.

What motivates you?

What many people waste time doing is focusing on what doesn’t motivate them. Ya with me?

It’s the complete opposite of where people should spend their “emotional labor”.

Here’s an overlooked tip: One of the best ways to get and stay motivated is to find a way to alleviate, or eliminate, those things that demotivate.

Good luck today.

Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover

Some people are gifted. Mentally, physically, spiritually, financially.

Where do you place yourself in this mix? Honestly, on a good day, I’d give myself an average at best, and quite possibly a below average in some.

And yet, there s a popular saying that says, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

And so it goes for all of us. We look inside ourselves for our motives, our values, our determination, and even for the ever elusive indomitable will. And we have varying degrees of success. But mostly, failure.

And a few years ago, while taking a “coffee break” by the proverbial water cooler, two colleagues were talking about the Atkins diet they were following. And so I asked antagonistically.

“Why doesn’t anyone ever ask me what I do for my diet?” And their ignorant, but honest, reply was instantaneous.

“You don’t need to worry about it.” To which I replied.

“I worry about it every single day, that’s why I don’t need to worry about it.”

Put up or shut up. But please don’t judge a book by it’s cover.