Two groups of my friends are on different sides of this debate: when it comes to entrepreneurship, should one lead an organised life with dedicated, scheduled work tasks, or does this hinder productivity?
I must say that I have experienced both sides of the argument and I enjoy a good conversation that lasts for hours.
But as much as I love all of that, I found that self discipline and sticking to some sort of self discipline regimen is a vital ingredient of staying on the achievement and success track.
Up until five years ago, I was not disciplined enough when it came to pursuing my dreams or goals. Looking back, I do not know how I led such a lifestyle. It was as if I was two different people.
Sticking to specific plan that caters to entrepreneurial goals has some of my family members and friends thinking I am a workaholic.
I admit it is very hard to derail me from my routine. My days are organised and rarely do I end up with no plan at all. But I find that my extreme insistence to stick to some projects while maintaining a work-life balance is better than those who welcome any sort of distractions instead of working on their projects. I found that self discipline kept me focused on work and on what needed to be done.
And I have discovered its advantages. A display of self disciple with respect to time and deadlines, for instance, could be your winning advantage to earn new clients compared with your competitors.
Take a look around and see how many people out there apply self discipline such as arriving to a meeting or work on time, answering emails promptly and following short- and long-term goals.
I had a discussion with a managing director once who told me that tardiness was one of the issues he faces with his employees. It is an issue chief executives and directors often complain about. Some people are not disciplined enough to arrive at work on time. It was not that he loved to micromanage his employees, but to him, arriving on time translated to commitment and respect — something that he looked at when it was time for a promotion or a raise.
When it comes to the entrepreneurial world, it is more than just arriving on time for your meetings. Commitment to deadlines, catering to your clients’ needs on time and keeping your word will make you stand out from the crowd like an oasis in the Arabian Desert. I know that because I have experienced it first hand.
Applying discipline to turn into a productive entrepreneur may not be easy in the beginning, especially if you are used to a free lifestyle. But it is simple.
First, realise the importance and value of time. Analyse how your daytime is divided, how much is dedicated to achieving your goals and how much is consumed by people or things that do not push you towards them.
More importantly, take a moment and contemplate the goals that you wish to achieve.
Once you have done that and considered how you could achieve your goals by proper planning and dedication of time, it is time to move to action.
When you have made a decision about your time, you have to do something about it. You could start by making small changes every day. Perhaps start with a daily achievement plan, or just a list of goals or tasks to be done, and then move on to a monthly plan and so forth. I found that setting deadlines for goals and tasks helped me focus and kept me on track.
Sticking to a regimen after you have established one perhaps is the hardest part. That is when your mind should assume control, reminding you of the rewarding feeling you will experience at the end of the day. Make self discipline permeate every part of your day. Stick to your deadlines and meeting time.
A little self discipline could go along way for entrepreneurs. It may even be the holy grail.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer based in Abu Dhabi. Follow her at @manar_alhinai
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