There’s a lot to be said for having the personal discipline to do what needs to be done.
Take writing this blog, for example.
It’s a key part of staying in touch with my readers, some of whom are also customers, because it helps to build trust and connections over time.
I don’t have a problem with actually writing material which has a personal development theme to it – seems like a good way to contribute to the world.
So, why not just get on with it then?
Well, in a way, I am – you’re reading this, aren’t you!
The problem is that there’s an enjoyable but distracting habit I want to own up to…
I love reading other people’s personal development blogs!
Shock! Gasp!
In fact, I love it so much that I’ll read my favorite bloggers first thing some mornings. And spend anything from 30 minutes to several hours NOT working on my own business.
“But what’s wrong with that”, you might be saying. Maybe it’s just the online equivalent of a cup of coffee in the morning. The intellectual caffeine of creativity that unlocks his writing muse?
BS!
I chose to create this coaching and mentoring online business because I believe some people really can benefit from what I have to offer.
That means I have a personal obligation to see this through, one way or the other.
And therefore the TOP priority must be to spend the limited amount of creative hours I have each day doing just that.
Anything else is effectively the manifestation of a failure mindset.
Nah, aint gonna go there.
You know what I am going to do?
Use exactly the same self-coaching tool that worked so well when studying for the Cisco CCIE (The “IT certification equivalent of the MBA”, at least in my eyes lol). I failed that baby 3 times before finally getting my number (10814) back in 2002.
What kept me going were 2 things:
- My self-belief
- limited public accountability (should I trademark this lol!)
I made sure that a small cadre of other IT managers and colleagues around the world knew of my plan to succeed. Sure, it was no fun sending out the “I failed” email 3 times over a period of 12 months – but let me tell you, email #4 “I passed” was the sweetest digital juice I’ve tasted for many a year!!
Public accountability can work wonders.
So, if we should one day ever meet virtually or in person, go ahead and ask me: “what about those enjoyable but distracting habits, Mark?”
A seemingly unconscious but compassionate and supportive part of me is well aware of this accountability I am consciously choosing to be held to. All I have to do is trust in the power behind the self-coaching tool.
Thanks for your help!
- Mark McClure
