Discipline
I don’t really do New Year’s Resolutions; instead, I like to choose a word that embodies my focus for the year–kind of a theme word for the upcoming year. “Simplicity” was my word for 2023, and I had no idea how much I would simplify my life in the last 12 months.
Personally, it’s pretty much taking care of my Self, spending time with my family and close friends, and expressing my creativity.
Professionally, it’s pretty much RLS Wealth (taking care of existing clients and expanding into life planning), expanding my brand with all things “authentic life”, The AGC™, and creating content.
A big part of my “simplification” in 2023 was finding a belief that unifies everything I am doing professionally–the authentic life. For years, I was all over the place trying to find my “thing”, but now that I’ve found it, it has become easy to go “an inch wide and mile deep” as my friend Adam Cmejla has told me for years.
“Simplification” will carry over with me in 2024 as I see opportunities to continue to simplify guided by “the authentic life.”
Moving into the new year, my word for 2024 was easy to choose: discipline.
I’d like to consider my Self a disciplined individual, and for the most part, I believe I am. However, if I’m being brutally honest, I can give my Self too much grace when relaxing on my discipline.
For example, I know without a doubt what I SHOULD BE doing each morning to feel and be my best–20-minute meditation, 15-minute Peloton ride, 20-minute Tonal workouts, 10 minutes of yoga, morning writing, and hot yoga at 9:30 after the family morning routine is over–add in an afternoon nightcap of weights and I’m unstoppable; however, I don’t follow this routine every day. There are plenty of reasons that I accept for not starting my day off with what I know makes me my best—I lack the discipline to never miss a day of my morning routine.
I have an ambitious year ahead of me, and starting my day off without this morning routine is not going to be an option–I’m going to need to be unstoppable every day.
Another example of where I need to increase my discipline is managing my calendar; I’ve tried to block my calendar for each day and I’ve never been able to stick with it. I do have my calendar blocked for RLS Wealth client meetings, but the rest of each day is filled without structure. As much as I don’t want to become a robot, I am going to be scheduling the majority of my day so I know when I’ll be doing administrative work, recording podcasts, checking social media, and even eating lunch. Thankfully, the blocks are filled with things I enjoy so I don’t think I’ll feel too constricted by the additional discipline on my calendar.
Earlier this fall, one of my friends shared with me after one of the Keep Pursuing Series how much he enjoyed Ryan Holiday’s latest book, Discipline Is Destiny; I’m a Holiday fan but had not dove into his last couple of books, but on the recommendation of my friend I picked up a copy and immediately knew it was going to be a book I’d love.
I didn’t know that discipline was destined to become my focus for 2024.
I’d love to know what your word for the new year is—hit reply or shoot me a DM to share it with me!
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
