I’m part of an organization, the U.S. Navy, where consistent self-discipline is the key to success. Some parents send or threaten to send their children who misbehave to military school hoping they will get the discipline needed to turn their lives around. While I’m a big fan of this type of approach, I’m an even bigger fan of self-discipline.

Self-discipline comes from within. When people have it, they take the initiative to get things done without being told. It’s hard to get up at 4:00 a.m. and go to bed at midnight or to say no to expensive cars while putting money aside for your kid’s college fund. Even more difficult is saying no to McDonald’s while opting for healthier food choices.

But self-discipline helps with all of it, and people need consistent self-disciplined to succeed.

Famous Successful People

If we look back at the most successful people alive or dead, they all have one thing in common; they are all self-disciplined. Furthermore, they consistently practice self-discipline in all they do.

For instance, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James are all very talented basketball players. It can be said that they were born to play ball. However, all of them, despite their talents, have worked extremely hard and have had a great work ethic throughout their careers.

Examples of successful people in the technology field include Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs. Both attained wealth through self-disciplined behaviors; they would both wake up early and go to bed late to compete.

I can keep talking about successful individuals who are talented and live a disciplined lifestyle. Additionally, I can conclude that to be successful, people must be self-disciplined, and I don’t mean those who are smart, good-looking, or born into a wealthy family. I mean people who understand that it takes self-motivated discipline (self-discipline for short) to improve themselves enough to be successful.

However, this week, and in the next three weeks, we’ll have a chance to explore the importance of self-discipline in education, relationships, food, and finances.

Education and Self-Discipline

What does self-discipline have to do with one’s education? The answer is simple: everything. If one is not self-disciplined, it will be hard to commit to studies. Not long ago, I found myself in a college classroom. I was not the smartest person in the class. Quite the contrary. I sometimes would look for the smartest kid to explain certain things to me. What I had at the time that most students didn’t have was a self-disciplined attitude.

When it came to socializing with friends, I understood I had to balance working multiple jobs with study time first; therefore, I learned how to say no to classmates who invited me to parties. I also completed the homework assignments when I got them before leaving school because I knew I would not have time to once I arrived at work.

I succeeded mostly by following the three-step method below that I developed to help improve my self-discipline when I was having issues in school.

The Three Step Model

1. Have a priority list.

To help develop consistent self-discipline, you could create a priority list based on your specific needs. That list can have three items like mine, or you can have 10, with No. 1 on the list as the most important.

I can’t tell you how long your priority list should be, but if your education is important to you, I suggest you rank it within the first three items on your priority list.

2. Find an accountability partner.

Once you have your priority list done, you should have an accountability partner. Not a yes-person, but someone who will call you out on your excuses.

3. Don’t be afraid to fail.

You may fail steps 1 or 2, but don’t give up. Always remember it’s hard to develop a new habit, so keep working at it.

When I start to falter, I keep this quote in mind from the book Freedom from Fear, by Mark Matteson.

“Good habits are hard to form and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form and hard to live with."

As a reminder—to be self-disciplined, you need a plan, and to be successful, you need both. The items in my three-step method above should be part of your plan.