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Self-discipline is inarguably one of the best skills you can have if you expect to be successful in life. There are many ways to build self-discipline, of course. And since not everybody shares the same goals, it manifests differently depending on who you ask or observe. But if you look across the board, you will find a pattern. Here are six traits that most highly self-disciplined people have in common.

                                    Six Traits Of Self-Disciplined People                   

1- Greater Self-Confidence

Do people who have more self-confidence also exhibit more self-discipline? Or is it that those who are more disciplined achieve more of their goals, and thus have more reasons to be confident?

Either way, the first trait many self-disciplined people have in common is greater self-confidence as compared to those with less self-control.

If you want to improve your self-discipline, it’s helpful first to consider your self-perception and self-worth. 

2- Structure & Routine

Secondly, you may have read that successful people rise earlier in the morning than their less-successful counterparts. But many don’t fit this description.

What disciplined people have in common isn’t specific times of day they rise or exact means of scheduling their time. It’s that they value and follow a routine of any variety.

Creating consistent habits in the form of steady routines can help you put much of your life on auto-pilot. Taking the guesswork out of many daily decisions is an effortless way to improve your self-discipline. 

3- Clearly Defined Goals

Third, everybody has goals. But the highly self-disciplined individual will have goals that are crystal clear.

How many people say “I’m going to be a millionaire by the time I’m forty”? That’s a goal, for sure. Someone with a high level of self-discipline would say, for example, “I’m going to be a millionaire by the time I turn forty, and I’m going to do this by…”. They would have a much clearer goal, a plan to execute it, and already be working toward reaching it.

If you want to uplevel your self-discipline, work on clarifying your goals. Select meaningful goals that are specific, timely, and have clearly defined steps that you can work on each day. 

4- Prioritize Self-Care

Next, a common trait of disciplined individuals is that they prioritize self-care. They understand that maintaining optimal health is crucial to remaining productive and sticking to their plans even when they don’t feel like it.

They are more likely to exercise regularly, eat healthfully, and get enough rest.

These people understand the importance of balance between work and play and make sure to incorporate enough of both into their lives. To most successful people work, and play is the same thing. You may look at a successful person and tag them with the title workaholic because you have been taught they can not stop working. You were not taught this from someone who enjoyed how they made their living.

How is your self-care routine? Most people could use a little work in one or more areas. Take some time to consider your physical, mental, social, financial, and spiritual wellness.

Commit to improving just a little in one or more areas, and see if your self-discipline increases as a result.

5- See Challenge As Opportunity

Self-disciplined people also are more likely to lean into challenges and adversity. A benchmark of self-discipline is to be relentless in the pursuit of your goals.

The thing is, there are always challenges in life. Things don’t always go to plan. Obstacles get in the way, and what separates self-disciplined people from those who aren’t, is that they believe every problem has a solution.

Additionally, they recognize that the more problems they solve, the more experience they have. They understand adversity only helps them grow, and they use that knowledge as fuel to keep moving forward despite the difficulty.

If you struggle with sticking to commitments you’ve made to yourself, consider why? Is it because you hit a challenge and backed away? Consider how you may change your response the next time something similar comes into play, and how you can grow from perseverance. 

6- Strong Boundaries

Finally, people with self-discipline and self-control have healthy boundaries. They know their worth, the value of their time, and have a clear roadmap for life.

Whereas many people struggle with saying “no” at times, preferring to “go with the flow,” those with self-discipline know the importance of weighing their options. They make decisions to further their goals once the decision is made they do not second guess themselves and change their minds.

How do you feel about your boundaries? How could you improve?

Final Thoughts

People sometimes assume that self-discipline means living a hard life, waking up long before the sunrise even if you’re a night owl), making extreme sacrifices, and living a dull life of all work, no play. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Self-discipline manifests differently in the lives of different people, yet if you look closely enough, you’ll find common traits that present all across the board.

Building your dream company is no easy task. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of hard work. However, there are seven basic strategies you need to know and understand that can make the difference between “killing it” and “killing your business.” 

1. Love What You Do

If you do not love the company, you are building, and what you are doing daily, then you will eventually end up hating your business. That equates to not reading this article at all. 

2. Build Your Dream Team

Surround yourself and your business with people that will support you and your business. This includes your family, friends, and employees. Don’t just hire an employee to hire someone, make sure the person you are taking on loves your company, loves the job, and can get things done. 

3. Know Your Market

Know who you are creating a product or service for and make sure you are creating a product or service that they will want. You may love your homemade chocolate chip, banana, caramel cookies. That does not mean that the rest of the world will love them or even love them enough to buy some. Know who your target market is and make sure your product is worthy. 

4. Believe in Your Product

Believe. Believe. Believe. If you do not believe in your product or service, then no one else will—end of story.

5. Understand Scale & Growth

In layman’s terms, this means to not get too big for your britches. Companies of all sizes start and end daily. Make sure no matter the amount of financial backing you have, that you are keeping your growth and scale in check. 

6. Care About Your Customers

Your customers are your bread and butter. You need to care about how they receive your product, if they are happy with it, and are they going to return or pass your name along. Without customers, you will not have a business, and word of mouth is the best form of advertisement you can have.

7. Identify Your Advantage

Why should customers pick your business over others? You need to know why you are better, and that needs to be your number one selling point. No matter the product or service, you need to have an advantage over all the others. 

Rocking it as an entrepreneur is no easy feat. Companies are created daily. Companies also close daily big and little companies. Make sure that you have someone to run things past. This person needs to be objective and have experience running a business.

Graduating from college, no matter the level of degree and entering the professional workforce, is a rude awakening. Your schedule is becoming more eight to five and less class schedule. You have bills to pay, dress clothes to wear daily, and new work culture to learn and navigate. There are basic guidelines that you will have to learn to succeed, but below, you will find six tips that will help make you indispensable to your new supervisor and workplace. 

1. Anticipate and Take Initiative

Anticipating needs and taking the initiative applies to your work and the needs of the office. Think through what your results need to be and consider extra steps you can take now to make later stages of the project more manageable. Also, take the initiative around the office. If you just made 200 copies of a document, refill the paper drawer in the printer. No one likes the inconsiderate guy, and little things like that get noticed! You will not have to tell people you did these extras. 

2. Evaluate Yourself

Assess your work as you go. Do you think you could have done better on a project or listened better during a meeting? If so, do your due diligence to be better next time. Self-examination without a billy club will allow you to grow personally, and it will also show your coworkers that you can better yourself.

3. Don’t Stop Learning

Just because you no longer spend your days in the classroom doesn’t mean you have nothing left to learn. Every person you encounter at work has something to teach you. Some of those may be best practices; some of those lessons may be in worst practices. It would help if you also took every professional development opportunity that comes your way. Successful people read.

4. Communicate

There are many ways to communicate at work. First, ask questions, even if you are worried, you should know the answer. Admitting you do not understand something is better than messing something up. It would help if you also talked to your coworkers. Ask how their day is going or compliment a well-done presentation.

5. Show Yourself

Anyone can talk a big game, but keeping your head down and crushing goals and projects is a great way to show that you can complete a project. Show your worth and value to the job.

6. Be Nice, Don’t Be a Doormat

It isn’t that hard. Be helpful to your new coworkers. Offer to help with a project or a jammed printer. However, do not let coworkers walk all over you. It will take work to find the balance between being an enjoyable coworker, and not being the office punching bag.

Learning to find your way in a new office is difficult for everyone. Doing so when you are first starting is even more difficult. Working hard, playing nice, and pitching in will always go a long way.

Are you struggling to find your way to the top of the food chain at work? Do you feel like you are just another employee that shows up, works, and clocks out at the end of the day? You don’t have to be a faceless cog in the wheel of work. You can stand out.

1. Get to Know & Communicate with Higher-Ups

This doesn’t just mean your direct supervisor, but the individuals at every level of the company. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, make small talk, or even talk shop with a higher-up. These individuals are most likely doing everything they can to make the company succeed, and if you stand out as a person who is willing to help make that happen, they will remember you.

2. Look for Leadership Opportunities

Be willing and ready to jump on leadership opportunities that pop up. Showing that you are able and willing to lead others will make an impression. 

3. Stay Professional

Be it in a meeting, the water cooler, or happy hour on Friday, keep it professional. Make sure you are always putting your best foot forward.

4. Show Up on Time

Being late is one of the easiest ways to annoy and be off-putting. Time is money, and being late is disrespectful to those that you keep waiting. 

5. Think Like a Manager

This will have two positives. First, it will show that you can think above where you are and that you are looking ahead to the next goal. The second positive is that managers are not just looking out for themselves, but for the whole team and company. Thinking like a manager will show that you are in the job for the betterment of all, not just yourself.

6. Record & Communicate Your Accomplishments

Every little win or training that you have, you need to keep a record of it. What was the accomplishment? Why was it an accomplishment? That three-hour training that you thought was boring. Write it down too. Keeping a log of your achievements and training will be useful for future employee evaluations and will give you a copy of your proven track record. 

7. Be a Team Player

Being a team player comes in many forms. It can be helping on the part of the project you weren’t assigned to, covering for a coworker, or any other number of issues that come up in an office environment. However, the result will always be the same. Others will see your helpfulness and appreciate it. Your supervisor will know that you are committed to the wellbeing of the team and the company, and it will pay off in the end. 

Becoming an employee of the month isn’t an easy task. It also isn’t something that everyone aspires to. However, consistently showing up and putting in the effort where others aren’t is something that will become apparent to others.

Professional development is a great way to get ahead at work. You can always learn a new trick. Sometimes though, getting ahead at work is about more than learning a new skill set, sometimes it’s about being an intuitive team player. Keying into basic understandings of work can allow you to stand out to your supervisor regularly. 

1. Understand Your Employer’s Goals

It is essential to know what the intended result is of every project. Then see how this project fits the overall goal of the company. Once you understand where you are going, you can plan on how to get there. If you don’t know the overall goal of your supervisor or company, do your homework to track down the mission statement or talk to your supervisor. 

2. Learn Your Boss’ Likes and Dislikes

Does your boss prefer documents to be typed in a specific font and size? Learn that and do it. Every single time. Does your boss believe that if you’re not five minutes early, you’re late? Then be ten minutes early—every single time. The likes and dislikes of your supervisor can be quirky, so learn those likes and dislikes and do your best to accommodate them. You don’t want your hard work and excellent ideas to be buried because of a font type. You have your quirks, but you do not sign the check.

3. Show Up for Your Team

Become ready and willing to jump in when your team needs you for the big and little things will show that you are a team player. It will also show that you put the whole of the workplace before your own minor needs at work. Showing up for your team can also mean supporting individuals. Is Nancy’s daughter fighting a nasty case of the flu? Offer to help her out with her workload while she is off work. The favor might even be returned.

4. Be a Problem Solver

Taking the lead on solving problems big and small will show that you are willing to put in the work, not just point out the issues. This is also an excellent show of leadership. When others see you working to solve problems, they will be more likely to jump in and help.

5. Take Initiative

Taking the initiative around the office comes in many forms. Problem-solving is one form. However, this can mean emptying an overflowing trash can, filling the printer with paper, and offering to plan a monthly birthday party. Taking the initiative shows that you are not just at work for yourself, but that you care about others and the office. 

Blowing your boss’ mind isn’t tricky most of the time. Taking simple steps to learn about others and be conscientious of your workplace manners can go a long way.

Many people are perfectly happy working a regular 9 to 5 job. Heck, some people even love it. Others have dreams of owning their own business or doing work that does not consist of regular office hours. Or, maybe you are someone who needs the benefits offered by your 9 to 5 while also pursuing your dreams on the side. Either way, you can do both, it just takes practice, effort, and a mindset shift.

1. Your 9 to 5 is a blessing

You may not enjoy the job you are working at forty hours a week, but it is

most likely paying your bills. Remember to be thankful for that and keep your head on straight, even on the tough days. Your present job is temporary, as soon as you get your business up and running, you can quit. 

2. Write Down Your Goals

Your written goals have a way of keeping you on track. When you get tired and frustrated reviewing your written goals will remind you of why you are taking on this tremendous task. The written picture of your future will give you the persistence to carry on. 

3. Use Your Time Wisely

Everyone has twenty-four hours in their day, your job (hopefully) only takes up eight of those. Use what is left of your time wisely. Plan your days in advance and stack items so you can make the most of everything. Long commute? Listen to an audiobook or podcast that fuels your passions. Make every minute count. 

4. Lay Bricks Daily

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they laid bricks daily. Make sure you are making steps daily toward your goals. Make sure you aren’t wasting time with useless tasks like cleaning out deleted emails or double-checking something you have already triple checked. Make your to-do list count. 

5. Outsource

If there is a task that you are absolutely no good at and you can afford to have someone else do it (think coding a website), then outsource it. Don’t waste your time on tasks that you hate and/or are bad at when you can have someone else do the work in half the time. Focus on tasks that you are good at and can accomplish on your own. When needed, call in reinforcements. 

6. 9 to 5 as a Reminder

Your 9 to 5 is paying your bills, and you're thankful. That doesn’t mean you don’t hate the job. Use that as a reminder in the late hours of the night when you are still working on your dream. Annoying coworker? Use him or her as a reminder why you want to build a company with a better work culture. Reminders are everywhere, you just need to find them. 

Working hard to get your dream off the ground is no easy task, but it can be done. You have already found the time, now you need to make your mindset and your actions count.

You know you can lead. Heck, you were always the leader in group projects at school and even know you are the captain of your adult softball team. You are a natural-born leader. However, at work, you struggle to find that same edge and confidence that you have in your personal endeavors. In this article, you will learn five ways you can approach leadership at work. 

1. Plan Your Meetings

Meetings are usually horrendous events in general. However, a meeting that isn’t well planned or planned at all is even worse. If you are overseeing a meeting at work, take the time to make an agenda. Put thought into what needs to be covered, the time allotment, and in what order. Email the schedule to all attendees ahead of time, so everyone knows what the expectations are and can come prepared.

2. Communicate Better

Make sure that you are communicating effectively with coworkers and supervisors. You can even ask, “is there a way I can better communicate with you/the team?” Effective communication is different for everyone, and taking the time to learn how others communicate will not only make you better at it, but others will appreciate your effort.

3. Eliminate Interruptions

Interruptions come in many shapes and sizes. If you have a constant distraction that is negatively affecting your work, consider how to eliminate these distractions. If it can not be eliminated, find a way to make it less distracting. 

4. Know Your Weaknesses

Everyone knows their strengths. Knowing your weaknesses, though, can be an uncomfortable road to self-improvement. Learning your weaknesses will allow you to work towards improvement, but also foresee where you will need help from others. There is no shame in asking for help. 

5. Finish What You Start

You’re halfway through a project, and it stinks. Do whatever you need to do, ask for help, take a short break, or call in reinforcements. No matter what, though, you need to finish that project. Completing the project will show that you have the dedication and aren’t willing to let a little mess keep you from seeing through. 

Showing leadership qualities at work can be daunting for anyone. However, starting with these basic approaches, you can begin to build a resume of leadership skills that will allow others to have faith in your ability and follow you through to the end of even the most daunting of projects.

Being your best at work means not only putting your best foot forward but also continually working to better yourself. This doesn’t always mean turning in the best project or attending all the professional developments. Keep reading to learn basic ways you can show up with your best at work every day. 

1. Get to Know Your Colleagues

Learning about your colleagues has many benefits. You don’t have to be out to make friends, but learning about others can benefit you in many ways. First, it shows you care, and people like it when people are considerate. Second, it will help you find things in common that you can come back to when work gets tough. Finally, getting to know people will help you learn how to work better. Derek prefers exact instructions and asks lots of questions, while Suzy is a big-picture type of person who tends to skip over minor details. Getting to know means learning how to work better.

2. Don’t Be a Gossip

No one likes an office gossip, except maybe the other office gossip. Getting caught up in drama can be a distraction and can earn you a bad reputation with your coworkers and supervisors. You want to be someone that can be trusted with information. Keep your business to yourself and remember, loose lips sink ships.

3. Stretch Your Skill Set

Stretching your skills as well as learning new ones allows you to continue growing your tool bag. This will make you a more valuable team member and will help you if you ever decide to look for a new position elsewhere.

4. Become a Mentor

Mentoring can be done in and outside of the office. The new intern that is lost take that person under your wing and help them find their way. You will be a valuable friend and show that you are willing to help others. You can also do outreach in your profession in schools and other community programs. 

5. Be a Friend

You don’t have to be BFFs with every person in the office but be friendly. Ask how others are doing, encourage, visit, or send a small gift if someone is sick. Not only will others appreciate and remember your kindness, but they will be willing to return the favor if the need arises.

Being your best at work is not something that you can achieve in a day. It’s a constant stream of small and conscious decisions that you will make daily. These decisions will build upon each other and allow you to create a work culture and life that will be fulfilling and beneficial.

When most people think of productive and effective employees, they think of the employee that always has their assignments done on time and to the best of their ability. That is not wrong. However, it also overlooks many aspects of an employee that is productive and effective. 

1. Take Charge

When everyone is unsure how to proceed, be the one to start making a game plan. Others will follow and start chipping in as needed. An emergency arises over a project, step up, and act. Again, others will follow and proceed with the appropriate action. 

2. Make Allies Across the Organization

There are always allies to be made in other departments. Sometimes it is the secretary that holds the key to the supply closet. Other times, this is the man that delivers your mail. Take time to get to know and build relationships with these individuals. Every person at a company has a role to play, and you are never too good not to be friends with them.

3. Give Your Full Attention

Multitasking will be your downfall. Give your full attention to whatever you are doing. The assignment you are working on. The coworker is asking you a question or passing along pertinent information. Pay attention. Don’t multitask.

4. Focus on Results, Not on To-Do Lists

Even the most well-intentioned to-do list can go awry. Instead of looking at the checkmarks on the page, look at the results your work is creating. If the result is not up to par or far from the mark, reevaluate how you are working. 

5. Pay Attention but Don’t Compare

Pay attention to other employees that are moving up the ladder and doing well. Take note of what he or she is doing, how they are making things happen, and impressing the higher-ups. However, do not compare yourself. Everyone is different, does their work differently, and will follow their path. There is a fine line between learning and comparing. 

6. Identify Inefficiencies

These can be inefficiencies in your work or in the way the company operates. Is your company still sending out snail mail where an email would be more efficient and cost-effective? Ask your supervisor about a trial run of emails. Inefficiencies are costly in time and money.

7. Own Up to Your Mistakes

You will make mistakes. Blaming someone else or trying to cover it up is unproductive, find a solution and fix it. Then move on.

Being an employee that is productive and effective is about more than completing work on time. It is about thinking outside the box, asking questions, and stepping up when no one else will. Start taking the small steps necessary to be more productive and effective.

No two workdays are the same, most of the time. There are many days merely showing up to work that seems like that is the best you’ll do. Showing up and doing your best work on the daily is what will ultimately set you apart and make you feel like a more productive member of the organization.

1. Set Clear Milestones

You have a project to complete, instead of working endlessly toward that one end goal, set mini-goals for yourself. If you can meet these goals every or every other day, it will be easier to keep your head up and pushing forward with the same vigor as day one.

2. Prioritize and Plan

Many jobs include prioritizing work tasks. Take time at the beginning of the day to look at what you need to do. Then at the end of the day, look at what you have accomplished. Prioritizing and planning your workday (or the next one) will allow you to move seamlessly through your day without losing focus. 

3. Conquer Difficult Tasks First

That one task you are dreading, like calling back an annoying salesman. Do it first. Get it off your list. The rest of the day will seem like a breeze, and you won’t use other tasks as a way of procrastinating.

4. Be Aware of Limitations

Your limitations exist. Everyone has limitations. Be aware and admit these to yourself. You may also need to disclose your shortcomings to your supervisor or a coworker. Being aware of things that are out of your league will make asking for help easier. It will also give you a list of skills you need to work on professionally. 

5. Don’t Stress

The first four tips in this list can be daunting. Numbers 1, 2, and 3 may require that you restructure your workday. Number three might give you heart palpations, and number four, who wants to admit to their shortcomings? Do not let these tips stress you out. Instead, slowly work to implement the easiest of the suggestions (whichever that may be for you), and level up when you are ready. 

Bringing your A-game daily will take time and hard work, two things you are no stranger to. Remember that doing your best work every day of the week will pay off in the long run, even if it seems complicated and scary in the beginning.