Create Opportunities, Don’t Just Hope for Them: The Benefits of Discipline

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized” — Sun Tzu

Are you going to get better, obsessively discipline yourself in your craft, or coast through life hoping an opportunity comes to you instead of building opportunities daily that multiply?

We all face these questions at some point in our lives.

Do we put in the hard work and dedication necessary to become truly great at something, or do we hope that opportunities will come our way without putting in the effort?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of hoping for opportunities to come to us. We may dream of getting a promotion or landing our dream job without putting in the effort to seek out these opportunities and make them happen actively. Likewise, we may wish for our artistic talents to be recognized or for our business to take off without putting in the time and energy to hone our skills and promote ourselves.

But the truth is, opportunities don’t just come to us. They are created through hard work and dedication. So if we want to succeed, we must be proactive and work towards our goals. This requires discipline — the ability to focus on what needs to be done and to follow through with it, even when it’s difficult or not immediately rewarding.

Discipline is a powerful tool, and it’s essential for achieving success.

Without discipline, it’s easy to get sidetracked and lose sight of our goals. As a result, we may procrastinate or allow ourselves to be swayed by distractions and temptations. But with discipline, we can stay focused and progress towards our goals, no matter how challenging. But discipline isn’t just about working hard and following through on our commitments. It’s also about being proactive and taking control of our lives. This means seeking out opportunities and creating them for ourselves rather than simply waiting for them to come our way.

For example, if you’re an artist, you might take the initiative to reach out to galleries and curators or to create your exhibitions and shows. If you’re an entrepreneur, you might seek partnerships and collaborations or develop new products and services to meet your customers’ needs. The key is to be proactive and to take control of your destiny. By building opportunities for ourselves, we can create the life we want and achieve our goals.

So, are you going to get better, discipline yourself in an obsessive manner in your craft, or coast through life hoping an opportunity comes to you instead of building opportunities daily that multiply? The choice is yours. But if you want to succeed and achieve your dreams, embracing discipline and actively working towards your goals is essential.

3 Actionable Tips To Get Started:

1. Set specific and achievable goals: One of the best ways to apply discipline is to have clear goals in mind. This can help you stay focused and motivated and give you something to work towards. Set specific and achievable goals and break them down into smaller tasks that you can work on regularly.
2. Create a routine: Discipline is often easier to maintain when you have a consistent routine. This could be a daily routine, a weekly schedule, or a long-term plan. By establishing a routine, you can create habits that support your goals and help you stay on track.
3. Find accountability: It can be tough to maintain discipline, especially starting out. Consider finding an accountability partner or joining a group or community that can help you stay on track. This could be a friend, a colleague, or even an online group or forum. Having someone to check in with regularly can help you stay focused and motivated.