The Discipline of Routine - Kami Tate

Behind every successful person lives a vision that evolves through an executed mission or plan.   Everyone has the innate ability to dream, but do we all have the discipline it takes to turn those dreams/goals into reality?

It is a proven fact; steps must be followed to achieve our desired dreams/goals.  We are all faced with the same opportunity each day and that is to get up out of bed and tackle our goals for the day.  If we are all said to be created equal, what is the difference between a white-collar executive and a blue-collar worker?  The difference is their perception in society.  The white-collar executive is viewed as a leader and the blue-collar worker is perceived a follower. The internal discipline between both is what we need to focus on. For all of us, the questions become, “Do we all truly have the discipline it takes to follow our vision through to the end?  Do we know how to create the plan and finally execute/work the plan?”

My goal is to encourage everyone to change their way of thinking and become a leader. 

You may ask, “How do I do this?”   The process is rather simple.  Step one, define your vision/plan and believe you can crush it.  Step two, create a plan that defines the steps you must take to tackle it. Step three, carry out/work the plan to conquer the mission and achieve the vision.  As the old saying goes, “She thought she could and so she did!” 

Everyone has dreams or goals, for without those what would be your purpose?  Have you identified those dreams/goals?  If you have, have you written them down and identified them in order of importance?  If not, this is a must for Step 1.  Get to it!  Once they are defined and prioritized, you must have the determination to conquer them.  You must believe, “Where there is a will, there is a way!”

Now you are ready to move forward to Step 2: “Begin with the end in mind.” You must be able to see your vision and know where you are headed before you can create the steps that will lead you there.  I always view life through the lens of a child. For years of my career, I would watch children run down the hallway of the school and as they would approach a door frame, they would begin to leap and attempt to touch the top of the frame. Typically, on the first attempt they would fail, but that wouldn’t stop them. 

Instead, I would watch in admiration for the students who would continuously do this daily or even hourly as they transitioned from class to class. They never gave up. It was during those moments that I realized how self-discipline and working a routine breeds success.  These children had dreams to feel the slap of their palms and hear the thump/ringing of the door-frame that would resonate down the hallway and confirm to all: their goal had finally been achieved. 

You see the child did not attempt to run, leap and reach the tallest ceiling in the building on their first try. Instead, they naturally picked the lower threshold (door frame) as they could see that was a goal that they could achieve (a SMART Goal: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.)

Work the plan you made!  Set small bite size steps that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely, so you generate small victories.  When your small victories are achieved and celebrated, you realize that through discipline, following routine and working your plan, you can achieve your goals. Your thoughts will turn from should, could, would to DID!

I believe this is what is unique about TBI!  Our motto is “Love where you work!” We program with our clients and determine targeted goals, so we can first begin with the end in mind.  It is in this initial programming meeting; we all work together as a team to create a plan that demonstrates how our ability to follow a process/routine turns visions into reality and your employees will LOVE WHERE THEY Work!