“Character and discipline:
The tools that can Protect Your talent”
Many people with talent make it into the limelight, but the
ones who have neglected to develop strong character and discipline to back the
talent they have rarely stay on top for long.
Absence of strong character and discipline eventually
topples talent. Why? This is because you
cannot climb beyond the limitation of the discipline and character you develop
and portray.
Talented people are sometimes tempted to take shortcuts so
as to succeed in life before their time but character and discipline prevents
that. These two tools help them to know better and focus on the long term
benefits rather than the short term gains. Talented people are praised for what
others see them build and achieve, all of which is only achieved through a
strong character and a disciplined attitude. Talent is only built to a high
level of efficiency through discipline and character as they both protect the
gift that is inside of them.
Remember that you cannot build anything that is sustainable
without discipline and character. This is a fact.
Components of
Character and Discipline
People are like icebergs. There’s much more to them than
meets the eye. When you look at an iceberg, only about 15% is visible. That’s talent.
The rest – their character is below the surface, hidden. It’s what they think
and never share with others; it’s how they react to terrible traffic and other
everyday aggravators; it’s how they handle failure and success that defines the
strength of their character and discipline. With Icebergs just like people
also, the greater the talent, the greater the need is for a strong character
with discipline below the surface to sustain them.
What exactly
comprises character and discipline?
Ask a dozen people and you will get a dozen different answers.
Although all can be saying the same thing in different ways, I believe it all
still boils down to four elements:
1.
Self Discipline
2.
Core Values and Principles
3.
A sense of Identity
4.
Integrity and Loyalty
Let’s Consider them:
1. Self-Discipline
At the most basic level, self-discipline is
the ability to do what is right even when you don’t feel like as well as even
when no one is around to question your motives and put you through.
Oswald Sanders said “without self-discipline,
a leader’s other gifts, however great will never realize their maximum
potential”
2. Core Values
Our core values are the principles we live
by everyday. They define what we believe and how we live. Ideally we have to
incorporate our core values in everything and avoiding compromising them so
that they become an anchor that holds us firm when we need balance as well as a
clear beacon we can always use to guide us. One person I must admire is John Wooden who
said: he is always with a written copy of his creed which states clearly what
his core principles for living are and it says:
-
Be true to yourself
-
Help others
-
Make each day your masterpiece
-
Drink deeply from good books, especially the
Bible
-
Make friendship a fine art
-
Build a shelter against rainy days
-
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your
blessings everyday
3. A Sense of Identity
When it comes to character, each of us must
answer the critical question: “who am I”. that answer you must come to has to
be sincere, true and absolutely original. That answer will then provide the
motivation for you to adjust and work towards building up the person you really
want to become. A sense of identity is the fundamental for the identification
if what makes you unique and different from others and this helps to establish
the much need emotional security and confidence needed to build the strength of
character and discipline. Our sense of security and confidence drives what we
do, thus we must be sincere to ourselves if we want to bring out the best in
us. Remember that photocopies cannot compete with originals.
The world’s richest man Bill gates said “
if you compare yourself with others, then you are insulting yourself”.
4. Integrity and Loyalty
Integrity and loyalty helps your character and discipline by aligning
your values, thoughts, feelings and actions towards that which spells honest,
pure and sincere motives backed with a high level of trustworthiness which
protects your talent and allows your character and discipline to build up strong.
People who possess the consistency and strength that comes with integrity and
loyalty can be compelling. If you want your talent to take you far and evolve
to maturity, you need to protect it with integrity and loyalty. Integrity gives
you the heart to act from honest and sincere motives while loyalty ensures you
have the ability to stick around long enough to see your talent evolve to
maturity
What Character
Communicates
A strong character and discipline will make
sure that you don’t make the least of your talent and it does that by what they
communicate to people which are:
1.
Character and Discipline communicates
Consistency
2.
Character and Discipline communicates Choice
3.
Character and Discipline communicates Influence
4.
Character and Discipline communicates longevity
5.
Character and Discipline communicates
Persistence
Thus, never forget that talent is a gift and only when you
develop it will it become a wonder. This can be done through character and
discipline. For you to evolve with your talent and become someone of talent plus
passion in any area of life:
-
Don’t give up or give in to adversity, see
challenges as motivation to build strength
-
Do the right thing
-
Take control of your life and Never Give up
A contribution from: Engr. David Chior
Editor: trillionairethoughts
