This is a series of thoughts addressing the theme of excellence based on a famous quote from Rita Mae Brown, the American novelist and activist. She stated that “You cannot invest your life’s spirit into a compromise” and over the next few weeks we will visit some of the key components of this viewpoint and how it relates to your practice.
The word discipline comes from the same Latin root as disciple. Rather than just a being a follower and spokesperson for a wiser one I think that the true meaning of disciple is one who listens to his/her heart and intuition and acts on it. This is where the discipline comes in as they will then translate this insight into action and diligently follow their chosen path in a disciplined way.
It is very easy to get drawn off-track in life, and especially in your practice. It’s easy to be swayed if you don’t have a clear plan and pathway of implementation. If you are not disciplined about your practice you will find yourself being controlled by those who have another agenda, be they your practice members or your team.
Make sure that you have a high degree of discipline in your procedures and policies and ensure that they are written, understood, reviewed and drilled by all concerned on a regular basis.
Discipline in the everyday and ordinary items and events frees one up to capitalise on the opportunities that arise for the person who is prepared and ready – chances are that these people are the disciplined ones.
