A Lesson in Self Discipline

Kishore C.S. (Nov 1999)

To be in the conference room by 09:00 AM was my GOAL

Plan was to start at 08:30 AM and reach with 5 minutes to spare.

Intention was there, goal was known but attitude mattered a lot.

The following has been my experience:

I thought I would get ready and start at 08:30. And at 08:30 I knew I was 10 minutes behind schedule in my preparation. I was excited. The fact of crashing the planned time and still believing that I can make it to the hotel by 09:00 AM was in my mind.

Setting impossible targets and trying to achieve them gives a thrill. We enjoy this game. It generates more passion. The thrill we experience is different. We believe in doing miracles will take us past the target somehow. By some last minute effort things will happen without any problems.

I started at 08:40 and believed that actual time it takes to reach the hotel is 20 Minutes. If the traffic is less and if all traffic lights turn green when I approached them I can manage in 15 minutes.

At the back of mind I thought of using my two-wheeler and made an assumption that it will be in working condition when I need it.

It is not that I had not anticipated any hitches. I had done enough home work on where and how I should reach my goal. Had doubts about where the parking lot will be. I don’t know the actual place of conference but was confident that I able to manage. The actual time to reach the place includes Travel + start up time (starting the scooter etc.) + end time (the time needed to park the scooter, locate the venue and reach the venue). The startup time and end times are ignored at the time of estimation. If minor details like this are ignored reaching the goal as planned will be difficult.

As I started by journey I started thinking. What if I reach at 09:05 AM and the conference has already started.

1. Will someone question you why you are late?

Chances are less. There are other people who come late. Why would someone question me?

2. If asked can I get away with it?

You can always blame it on the factors about which no one will hold you responsible for.

Blame it on the traffic jam, blame it on your vehicle which didn’t start, blame it on your memory you thought the conference was at 09:30 AM, blame it on watch which is running slow. Creating such alibi is never difficult. You can get away very easily and never admit mistakes own mistakes in planning. I could have done the risk planning and budgeted for more startup time. I could have planned for leaving at 08:25 instead of 08:30 given the peak hour traffic.

3. What if still someone try to blame it on me?

Why not blame it on culture. If someone asks you why you are late, you go off into a lecture: culture of following ‘delayed’ time standards. No meetings start on time. It happened so many times that you reach on time and the program started late. Blame it on the work culture. You can still get away with it.

As you can visualize, my thoughts were taking me away from accountability. I realized that the problem lies within me. It is only my individual ethics and self-discipline that can change my attitude.

In the above situation, I was given goal of reaching the hotel by 09:00 AM.

I had complete freedom and choice to plan, execute and succeed.

• I should have done more accurate estimations. If I can’t estimate the effort or time required with very few variables how can I do with many variables.
• I should have done risk planning and budgeted time for it.
• I should have not have taken for granted the time for startup and end. Should have included those factors in my estimates.
• I should have tested the tools: the clock, the scooter or whatever tool was used and effects the schedule.
• I had complete control of the situation and still I am not successful in execution of this.

I realized if I have to reach my goals I need to have self-discipline. I am the loser if I don’t reach my goals. After all they are my goals. I realized that I should take complete responsibility for my failure to reach my goal. It has been a lesson that I will never forget.

Being truthful with oneself is very important. This can be achieved through high self-discipline. I am sure many go through the kind of experience I went through. This has been relatively trivial goal. But this builds the character and it becomes a habit. We keep doing the same mistakes, try to blame the result on our fate or the world. One can’t afford to make the same mistakes with more important goals.

Realize that no one is more bothered about your goals than YOU. Take control of your life. Achieve your goals through self-discipline.

Feedback on the article

Hi Kishore:

Read your article regarding 'Lesson in Self-Discipline'. I felt you were talking about me. I do struggle myself every day in trying to reach my goals successfully.  I agree, being truthful with oneself is very important. You are right, no one is more bothered about my goals than ME. Well said. Thanks for sharing your experience.

-Cheers,
Vani.